Facts summary and sources
Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark: speed field: Mach 2.25 (database value; evidence basis not recorded). First flight: 2009.
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✈️ Full Specifications
| Country | ✈️ China |
| First flight | 2009 |
| Max Speed (Mach) | 2.25 |
| Speed evidence basis | Published specification |
| Max Speed | 2,400 km/h |
Quick answer: The Shenyang J-15 “Flying Shark” is China’s first fixed-wing carrier-based fighter. It first flew on 31 August 2009 and made its first arrested landing and ski-jump takeoff aboard the carrier Liaoning on 23 November 2012.
China’s first carrier fighter
The twin-engine J-15 family was developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute for People’s Liberation Army Navy carrier aviation. Its folding wings, strengthened landing gear, arresting hook, and naval systems adapt a large Flanker-family airframe to the demanding launch and recovery environment at sea.
The original J-15 operates from the ski-jump carriers Liaoning and Shandong. Ski-jump launch avoids a catapult but links takeoff weight to wind, deck run, and aircraft performance. That can constrain the combination of fuel and weapons compared with a catapult launch.
Missions and carrier operations
Official Chinese sources describe the J-15 as a multirole carrier fighter able to carry air-to-air, anti-ship, and air-to-ground weapons. Carrier operations require precise approach control, arresting-wire landings, corrosion protection, compact deck handling, and repeated high-load launches and recoveries. J-15 units have progressed from initial deck qualification to night operations, distant-water training, and dual-carrier exercises.
J-15T and J-15D variants
The J-15T is a catapult-capable development with reinforced nose landing gear and changes for launch from the electromagnetic catapults on the carrier Fujian. Chinese official reporting says catapult launch permits more fuel and munitions and supports a higher sortie rate. The J-15D is an electronic-warfare variant intended to add jamming and support capabilities to the carrier air wing.
Performance caveat
Open references commonly place the baseline J-15 around Mach 2 at altitude, but authoritative public sources do not provide a complete standardized performance sheet. Carrier payload, launch method, fuel, weapons, and altitude all affect useful performance, so a headline top speed does not describe combat radius or deck-launch capability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Flying Shark” refer to?
“Flying Shark” is the official nickname used for the J-15 carrier-based fighter family.
Which Chinese carriers use the J-15?
Baseline J-15s operate from the ski-jump carriers Liaoning and Shandong. The catapult-capable J-15T is designed for those ships and the electromagnetic-catapult carrier Fujian.
What is the difference between the J-15 and J-15T?
The J-15T adds structural and landing-gear changes for catapult launch, supporting heavier launch configurations and higher sortie potential.
Primary Sources
- China Ministry of National Defense — J-15 Flying Shark overview
- Xinhua — J-15 family milestones and variants