The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has officially signaled its arrival as a top-tier maritime power with the unveiling of the ‘Carrier Five-Piece Set.’ This integrated suite of carrier-based aircraft—comprising stealth fighters, heavy multi-role strikers, airborne early warning systems, electronic warfare platforms, and anti-submarine helicopters—marks the completion of a decade-long pursuit of technological parity with the United States Navy. The development represents a fundamental shift in China’s naval doctrine, moving beyond coastline defense toward an expeditionary ‘far-seas protection’ posture.
At the heart of this transformation is the J-35, China’s first dedicated carrier-based stealth fighter. Designed for air superiority, the J-35 is intended to neutralize fifth-generation threats and provide a low-observable edge in contested airspaces. Complementing this stealth capability is the J-15T, a catapult-compatible evolution of the ‘Flying Shark.’ By utilizing electromagnetic launch systems, the J-15T can take off with significantly higher fuel and ordnance loads, enabling the kind of high-intensity ‘saturation strikes’ that define modern carrier-borne offensive operations.
Perhaps the most critical piece of the puzzle is the KJ-600, a fixed-wing airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. Known internally as the ‘Nezha’—after the rebellious deity of Chinese myth—this platform serves as the ‘Air-Sea Command Center.’ Without the KJ-600, a carrier group is effectively shortsighted; with it, the PLAN gains the ability to detect incoming threats from over the horizon and coordinate complex multi-domain engagements, a capability previously held only by the U.S. and French navies.
The successful integration of these platforms is inextricably linked to China’s mastery of electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS). By bypassing the limitations of older ski-jump ramps found on the Liaoning and Shandong, the newer Type 003 Fujian-class carriers can launch heavier, more specialized aircraft like the KJ-600. This technological leap allows the PLAN to field a balanced air wing capable of sustained power projection, fundamentally altering the strategic calculus in the Indo-Pacific region.