A Chinese J-15 fighter jet from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) crashed during a training exercise in Hainan province.
The incident occurred at around 1.30 p.m. on March 15, 2025, near Jialai Town in Lingao County, in the southern part of China.
Initial reports and video footage from the scene suggest that the fighter jet was in a slow descent with its landing gear extended at the time of the crash. This configuration points to the possibility that the aircraft was attempting to land when the incident occurred. The fighter jet was found in an open area, in a position with the nose angled downward and the tail raised, further indicating that the crash likely took place during the landing phase.
Fortunately, the pilot ejected safely from the aircraft and parachuted to the ground without injury, and there were no reports of damage to the surrounding area.
The Southern Theater Command, one of the five theater commands of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), oversees sensitive regions, including the South China Sea, where geopolitical tensions have been escalating. The incident comes amid heightened military activity in the South China Sea, where Beijing has made its presence known, much to the concern of neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Overview of the fighter jet involved in the incident
The jet involved was the J-15, a key asset in China’s growing naval aviation fleet, providing capabilities for air defense, strike missions, and anti-shipping warfare. Designed for deployment on China’s aircraft carriers, particularly Liaoning and Shandong, the J-15 enhances China’s naval power and projecting influence in the region.
Developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), the J-15’s design is based on the Russian Su-33 fighter jet, a carrier-based aircraft developed by Sukhoi. In 2001, China’s purchase of a Su-33 prototype from Ukraine became the catalyst for the J-15’s development. Following years of reverse engineering, the J-15 was officially unveiled in 2009 and made its first successful landing on the Liaoning aircraft carrier in 2012.
While the J-15 shares several similarities with the Su-33, including its twin-engine layout, overall size, and tailhook for carrier-based landings, it also incorporates Chinese-made avionics, weaponry, and engines, setting it apart from its Russian predecessor.
Early models of the J-15 faced challenges with the RD-33 engines, which were not optimal for the demands of carrier operations. To address this issue, China has been working on developing its own WS-10 engines, which are expected to enhance the J-15’s performance and reduce reliance on Russian-made components.
