According to the South Korean press, J-35 stealth fighter jets deployed on China’s Fujian (Type 003) aircraft carrier are facing engine performance problems. The claim that the WS-21 is being used instead of the WS-19 has brought range and loiter time into question.
J-35 Alarm on Fujian: Engine Debate on China’s New-Generation Aircraft Carrier
According to a report by the South Korea-based newspaper Chosun Ilbo, J-35 stealth fighter jets deployed on China’s most advanced aircraft carrier Fujian are facing operational limitations due to engine performance problems. The engine choice identified in the footage has sparked debate over the aircraft’s range and endurance capacity.
Footage Mobilized Analysts
According to the report, promotional footage released earlier this year by China’s state broadcaster CCTV included takeoff and landing operations of J-35 fighter jets deployed on the Fujian (Type 003) aircraft carrier.
However, the footage raised questions among military commentators, particularly regarding the performance of the aircraft’s turbofan engine. Maritime-focused military commentator Haixian Xianfeng claimed in an assessment published on the Tengxunwang portal that the J-35 can operate only about seven minutes at a distance of 900 kilometers from the aircraft carrier.
WS-21 Claim While WS-19 Was Expected
According to defense industry analysts, the J-35 was expected to be equipped with the new-generation WS-19 engine, which has been under development since 2017. However, it was suggested that the older WS-21 engine was used in the released footage.
Engine performance in carrier-based fighter aircraft is critical during short-runway or catapult-assisted takeoffs. Insufficient thrust directly affects both payload capacity and operational range.
China’s “Heart Disease” Problem
The report recalls that China established the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) in 2009 to coordinate aircraft engine development efforts and invested more than $40 billion between 2010 and 2020.
Despite this, fighter jet engine technology continues to be a chronic weak area in China’s defense industry, and this issue is reportedly referred to domestically as a “heart disease.”
Fujian: Showcase of Chinese Naval Modernization
Commissioned in November, Fujian is China’s third aircraft carrier. Unlike the previously commissioned Liaoning and Shandong, it is the first Chinese aircraft carrier equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system.
Designed similarly to the U.S. Navy concept, the system aims for takeoffs with heavier payloads and increased sortie generation capacity.
Role of the J-35 and Possible Limitations
The J-35 is introduced as a new-generation stealth fighter jet capable of carrier deployment, developed with reference to the design concept of the U.S. F-35 Lightning II.
The platform’s main missions include fleet air defense, strike operations, and power projection with carrier strike groups.
However, the endurance and loiter-time limitations mentioned in the report raise questions, especially regarding sustainable operations at long distances from the aircraft carrier.
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