J-15 jet pioneer dies on new aircraft carrier

A high-ranking researcher of China's J-15 fighter jet died after suffering a heart attack on the country's aircraft carrier on Sunday, China Central Television reports.

A J-15 fighter jet takes off from China's first aircraft carrier, theLiaoning. [Undated photo/Xinhua]

Luo Yang, general director of the J-15 fighter jet research team and also board chairman of Aviation Industries of China Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, died at the noon after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a training mission aboard the ship in Dalian of Northeast China's Liaoning province. He was 51.

In recent days, China successfully conducted flight landing and takeoff exercises with a new J-15 fighter jet on the Liaoning aircraft carrier.

The aircraft carrier was undergoing a series of sailing and technological tests, including J-15 flight exercises, after it was delivered to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy on Sept 25.

The J-15 has comprehensive capabilities comparable to those of the Russian SU-33 jet and the US F-18, Xinhua reported quoting military experts.

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