On Thursday, April 23, 2026, a user with the handle lyman2003 reported on the Chinese social media platform Weibo that Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) had announced the official nickname of the J-35 carrier-based multirole aircraft.
Photo: Weibo
The Shenyang Aircraft WeChat official account has revealed the official nickname of the J-35 carrier-based aircraft: Blue Shark [cool]
Actually, this had already been known in 2022 (Figures 2 and 3); this time it has been officially disclosed [sly]
#BeaconFireAspirationPlan#
The J-35 prototype, the third aircraft derived from the J-31/FC-31 fifth-generation fighter line, was developed by SAC. Earlier examples, however, were designed for operations from land-based airfields and, interestingly, bore the nickname Gyrfalcon, referring to the white falcon.
The first J-31 prototype, with the in-house designation F-31 V1, made its maiden flight on October 31, 2012, powered by Russian RD-93 engines. The second, slightly modified F-31 V2, flew on December 23, 2015, powered by domestic WS-21 engines, previously designated WS-13E.
The J-35 made its maiden flight on October 29, 2021, while on September 13, 2024, it underwent its first trials from the deck of the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning (CV-16), and on March 27, 2025, from the deck of CNS Fujian (CV-18), which required modifications to the landing gear. It is worth adding that indications of the Blue Shark name had already appeared during the 15th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, Airshow China, in Zhuhai near Hong Kong, which took place on November 12–17, 2024.
Photo: Z3144228 via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
According to reports from Chinese social media, by mid-2025 multiple aircraft could be seen on SAC assembly lines in Shenyang and in flight-test configurations, indicating a transition from the prototype phase to low-rate production.
Shenyang’s goal was to develop an inexpensive Chinese fifth-generation aircraft for export, as the domestic People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) had opted to introduce the heavier Chengdu J-20. Ultimately, however, the People’s Liberation Army Navy selected the J-35 instead of the J-20N variant, while the land-based J-35A was developed on its basis.
Importantly, the aircraft has already secured its first customer. On January 2, 2024, the Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (Pak Fiza’ya), Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, announced plans to purchase 40 land-based J-35s, previously referred to as the J-31/FC-31.
As for shark-related aircraft nicknames in the People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF), it is worth noting that the J-15 is known as the Flying Shark, while the J-15D electronic warfare variant is called the Electric Shark. In turn, the land-based J-35 was reportedly to receive the dragon-themed name Yunlong, or Cloud Dragon, which is not surprising given that the J-20 is known as Weilong, or Mighty Dragon.
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