J-15S

Biodata

Design and Configuration

The J-15S is a tandem two-seat Flying Shark variant designed to train carrier-based pilots while improving long-range patrol and combat-transition efficiency. Its front-seat pilot flies the aircraft, while the rear-seat weapons officer manages weapons and onboard systems. 10 16

• The rear cockpit has control priority when both crew members make inputs, reflecting its usual instructor role during training. 19
• Its tandem ejection system launches the rear seat slightly before the front seat, giving the weapons officer a marginal survival advantage in an emergency. 16
• The aircraft is over 22 meters long. 30
• Folding wings, canards, ailerons, horizontal stabilizers, and elevators are inspected before carrier launches. 16
• Two WS-10H engines provide its thrust. 61
• Its canards, elevators, and leading-edge root extensions give it strong low-speed handling in atmospheric combat. 76

Avionics and Defensive Systems

• Flight and fire-control system — Automatically places the aircraft in an optimal firing attitude after weapon safety is disengaged. 17
• Radar and data link — Aircraft 139 used its active radar and data link to guide the PL-12 launches of four J-15Ss simultaneously. 17
• IRST — Used by the rear-seat officer to identify and track aircraft when other sensors or communications are unreliable. 71
• Ultraviolet missile-approach warning system — Warns the crew of incoming missiles during close engagements. 70
• Countermeasures — Carries flares and can disperse resin particles to form a defensive belt against hostile weapons. 69 266

Armament and Stores

• PL-12 active-radar air-to-air missiles — Used by J-15S formations in long-range attacks; aircraft 139 provided radar guidance for eight missiles. 17
• PL-10 infrared air-to-air missiles — Used against triangular alien aircraft and later carried alongside PL-12s. 18 87
• PL-11A medium-range missiles — Launched alongside PL-10s during the disengagement from the Spindle encounter. 78
• 30 mm autocannon — Used by aircraft 139 to shoot down triangular alien aircraft during its first major combat sortie. 22 24
• External fuel tank — Mounted on the centerline hardpoint for long-range missions. 16

Known Crews and Aircraft

• Aircraft 139 — Flown by Zhang Peng (“Fatty”) from the front cockpit, with Liu Jun operating weapons from the rear during the battle near the 815A reconnaissance ship. 16 24
• Aircraft 202 — Flown by Liu Jun with Leng Pei Qiang (“Warhawk”) in the rear seat during a mission launched from the Shandong. 60 61
• Little Chicken and unnamed radar officer — Operated a J-15S during the Guam interception of a specialized Type 2 alien craft. 265 266

Service History

Battle near the 815A

Zhang Peng and Liu Jun launched in J-15S 139 to defend the 815A electronic reconnaissance ship from three unidentified triangular aircraft. Aircraft 139 acted as the radar-guidance platform for a four-J-15S PL-12 salvo, though later PL-10 attacks failed to strike the highly maneuverable targets. 17 18

During the ensuing dogfight, 139 fought for firing angles against the optically deceptive aircraft. Its crew ultimately destroyed all three hostile craft, with the 30 mm cannon achieving the confirmed kills. 22 24

Star Virgo and the Spindle Engagement

Liu Jun and Leng Pei Qiang launched from the Shandong in aircraft 202 to confront Sentinels and train personnel with real combat experience. 60 61

The pair broke through a dangerous overlap between pursuing Sentinels and the American destroyer Stout, passing the ship at supersonic speed before climbing away. 69 70 They subsequently encountered a spindle-shaped aircraft using advanced optical camouflage; it exploited an altitude advantage and laser attacks to drain the J-15S's energy. 72

Inside the atmosphere, the J-15S used its low-speed handling to contest the Spindle in a rolling-scissors engagement. The crew later launched four PL-11As and one PL-10 before diving away; explosions and falling wreckage were observed as they disengaged. 76 78

Later Alien-Conflict Operations

J-15Ss continued to deploy alongside newer carrier fighters. Zhang Peng's aircraft was prepared with PL-12 and PL-10 missiles during Liaoning operations involving J-35s and J-15Ts. 87

During the Sky Pit identification-zone mission, Zhang Peng and Little Chicken encountered a Type 2 alien craft that disabled communications and radar, prompting their withdrawal. 91

Two J-15Ss later joined two J-15Ts in intercepting low-flying Type 2 aircraft near Guam. Little Chicken, leading one J-15S, used high-G maneuvers, chaff, flares, and resin-particle countermeasures to lure a specialized alien craft toward Guam’s air defenses. 265 266

Trivia

• The J-15S’s two-seat arrangement is explicitly treated as advantageous for combat because it divides flying and weapons-management tasks between two crew members. 16
• Zhang Peng considered the later single-seat J-15T superior to the J-15S in pure dogfighting performance, while the J-15S retained the operational advantages of its second crew member. 85