OVERVIEW: The J-15D Roaring Shark is a twin-engine, carrier-based, 4.5 generation electronic warfare fighter developed for the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF). It is derived from the J-15 multirole fighter and configured for electronic attack and suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) from aircraft carriers.

DETAILS: The J-15D is a naval electronic warfare variant of the J-15, itself developed from the Russian Su-33 airframe and adapted by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation for use aboard Chinese aircraft carriers. It is designed to provide electronic escort, radar jamming, and SEAD capability in support of carrier air operations. The aircraft is equipped with electronic support measures and external electronic warfare pods mounted on its wingtips and underwing hardpoints. It is powered by two turbofan engines, with a top speed near Mach 2.0 and a combat radius estimated at 1,300–1,500 km. The J-15D retains about 10 hardpoints, now mainly used for ECM pods and air-to-ground missiles.

The “D” in J-15D stands for “Dianzi” (电子), meaning “electronic”, indicating its role as an EW variant. Compared to the standard J-15, the J-15D removes the internal cannon and other offensive systems to accommodate electronic warfare equipment. It is believed to operate with PLAN carrier groups to degrade enemy radar and missile guidance capabilities during naval air operations.

TYPE: Carrier-Based Electronic Warfare Fighter

FUNCTION: The J-15D is used to conduct airborne jamming and radar suppression missions from aircraft carriers, enabling naval strike aircraft to operate in electronically contested environments. It supports fleet air defense and offensive air operations by neutralizing adversary surveillance and engagement systems.

NOTE:
IOC: 2013 (J-15 base), 2019 (J-15D)
Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (China)
Operators: China
Conflict used in: Not publicly known as of 2025

SOURCE:
Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China: http://eng.mod.gov.cn ; Janes Air-Launched Weapons: https://www.janes.com ; SIPRI Arms Transfers Database: https://www.sipri.org/databases/armstransfers ; Chinese Military Aviation: http://chinese-military-aviation.blogspot.com ; The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/chinas-j-15d-naval-ew-variant-expands-plan-capabilities