What to expect at 15th Airshow China

The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, is scheduled to open on November 12 in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province.

The six-day event will showcase some of the latest Chinese aircraft, including new fighter jet models such as the J-35A, J-15T and J-15D.

The show's highlight is the much-anticipated stealth fighter jet J-35A, which completed its first adaptive training in Zhuhai on November 8.

Military expert Li Li told China Media Group in an interview that the J-35A is China's second stealth fighter jet alongside the J-20, making China the second country after the U.S. to possess two types of stealth fighters. Li also noted that the J-35 is likely to be developed as a series and could potentially serve as a carrier-based aircraft in the future.

For the first time, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will participate in Airshow China 2024, showcasing a flight performance featuring J-15D, a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, and J-15T, a carrier-based fighter jet.

J-15D conducted an adaptive training session on November 9 and is ready for its full debut at the exhibition. The two-seat electronic warfare aircraft combines electronic jamming capabilities with strike abilities, potentially playing a crucial role in securing air superiority for aircraft carrier battle groups.

Meanwhile, J-15T landed in Zhuhai on November 6 and is set to make its first public appearance during the show. As an upgraded model of the original J-15, the J-15T is equipped with the latest radar and weapons systems and is compatible with catapult launch systems, Chinese military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times.

Since 1996, Airshow China has been successfully held 14 times and now ranks among the world's top five airshows.

(Cover: China's Bayi Aerobatic Team conducts its first site adaptation training in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, south China, November 8, 2024. /CFP)