Taiwan’s National Defense Security Research Institute reports that China will develop a new carrier-based aircraft to counter U.S. Naval assistance to Taiwan. This is the word from Associate Researcher Shu Hsiao-huang (舒孝煌) on Thursday.
China has conducted military exercises recently in response to President Tsai Ying-wen’s (蔡英文) visit to the United States. During the exercise, carrier-based J-15 fighter jets carried out take-off and landing operations in the waters of eastern Taiwan, threatening the country’s eastern combat planning.
Shu says that new aircraft would be in response to the catapult takeoff of two types of U.S. 5th generation aircraft: the F-35B and F-35C. China’s new carrier deck configuration also shows that the ship has three electromagnetic catapults and adopts the same takeoff and landing method as the U.S. aircraft carriers. Shu says that China may add 7 new ships by 2025.
China currently has one type of fighter jet that can take off and land on ships. If China is to increase its aviation forces, the development of more carrier-based aircraft will play a key role.