China's third aircraft carrier still under development will feature steam catapults to launch more heavily armed Shenyang J-15 multi-role fighters that might have new engines by the time this carrier takes to sea in the 2020s.

Photos of a J-15 Flying Shark with a catapult launch bar on its nose wheel confirm China is testing a Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) on its "land based" aircraft carrier at Wuhan in Hubei Province. Media reports claim China is speeding-up development of its own CATOBAR system based on that in use by the U.S. Navy.

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The catapult launch bar on the nose wheel of a J-15 indicates a CATOBAR system because this feature attaches a jet to a catapult, which is then let loose to accelerate the jet to take-off speed, much like an arrow from a crossbow.

A CATOBAR launch and recovery system will allow China's third carrier (Type 003) to launch heavier aircraft such as AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control) planes and cargo aircraft.

It will, however, also mean extensive modifications to the existing J-15 fighters now aboard China's only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. None of these planes are outfitted for a catapult launch. Either this or China plans to produce new J-15s with launch bars and arrester hooks that enable a jet to land safely on a carrier.

Because of its many deficiencies, among which are its unreliable engines and the unreliable engines on its J-15s, the Liaoning is classified as a training carrier unfit for combat by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Chinese media reports the J-15 with the launch bar is powered by the indigenous Shenyang WS-10 turbofan, which might be mistaken since no J-15s are known to have been equipped with this trouble-plagued and underpowered engine. All production J-15s have are powered by the Russian-made and more reliable AL-31 turbofans.

Despite its well-known deficiencies, this engine is in widespread use among China's land-based Shenyang J-11 fighters. China has been developing the WS-10 for over 20 years.

There hasn't been official confirmation of the third carrier's construction or visible evidence of any work related to this project. There is, however, speculation that production of the initial modules for the carrier is progress.

The third carrier will likely have a larger aircraft complement than the Liaoning or the modified second carrier, the Type 002 that will still have the ski jump.

The Liaoning can embark 36 aircraft: 24 J-15 fighters; 6 Changhe Z-18F anti-submarine warfare helicopters; 4 Changhe Z-18J airborne early warning helicopters and 2 Harbin Z-9C rescue helicopters.

Tagschina, third aircraft carrier, Shenyang J-15, Catapult-Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery, CATOBAR, People's Liberation Army Navy