Part 5/13:
The size of China's carrier-based aircraft compounds these problems. The J-15, based on Russia's Sukhoi Su-33, is nearly 4 meters longer than the US F/A-18 Super Hornet. Similarly, China's J-35, a stealth fighter, surpasses the size of the US F-35C by 21%.
This size difference means:
The Fujen can only park 4 J-35s compared to the US's ability to handle five F-35C aircraft in similar space.
The limited deck space causes aircraft to be cramped and requires ground crew assistance for relocating planes, slowing down operations and reducing sortie rates.