Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

[Schumacher]

If it is for export only I find it dubious since this would be out of reach for most of China's customers. The only way for China to penetrate the market capable of buying this is to actually have it face off and win with the fighters that sell. It has to go up against Western fighters. How's that going to happen? That's either selling to a country that has them if they could get that to happen in the first place or a real war situation. The big customers would be the Arabs oil states. But let's face it. When they buy there's a bit of brand name factor involved and China doesn't have that. I remember there was a Chinese guy in the US trying to sell bottled water from China. He was going for the exotic maybe medicinal angle. That's not what people think of when it comes to water from China. Of course I never heard about the water again.

Don't be so sure even if it's only for export which I doubt. When this thing is ready, it'll be at least about 2018 which will be a very different world in terms of perception and reality of Chinese products, not to mention global geopolitics.
Some potential buyers are like PAF who will need stealth if/when IAF gets T50s. If the Arabs don't share some of their huge defence budgets with China, don't whine if China sells to Iran/Iraq. I can see some South Americans being interested in stealth where the F35 may not be viable in terms of price/politics.

 

[Player99]

But even if that bird finally has arrived at Xi'an-Yanliang, I don't understand why they had to transfer that thing to Xi'an partially completed to do the structural tests ???
Is this impossible at SAC ??? ... and a maiden flight at SAC is surely possible too.

As such IMO the biggest question is that WHY ?? What was so important, that it can't be done at Shenyang ??

Was it only a marketing-plot to take away the crowd from CHengdu and its J-20 (at least I hope so) ?

Deino

For that, there's one speculation from one Chinese source: SAC's onw facility is occupied with something else also important.

 

[Skywatcher]

Possibly some sort of high supersonic/hypersonic bomber? Or a spaceplane?

 

[Player99]

Love how people are still calling this L-15 and in denial of the whole thing on other forums. The airframe is so un-L15 like that it isn't even funny.

That same type of denial has since the J-10 era appeared repeatedly, predictably, and laughably...Every time when it happens, I would hear the same whispering: Pathetic people... Please forgive them, Lord, for they are so lost and know not what they are thinking..

---------- Post added at 11:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 PM ----------

Possibly some sort of high supersonic/hypersonic bomber? Or a spaceplane?

I don't remember. It's either that or some transport aircraft (if SAC is engaged in that, too). I'll check and come back... Well, it was an indirect quote of someone's remarks, which didn't specify what that "more important" or "more shocking" thing under test at SAC's facility was... I didn't like that forum too much... because it is such an HKC den, full of characters suffering from ultra-nationalism, super optimiitism (that's what HKC means), schizophrenia, zenophobia, scientific illiteracy, hatred, etc. etc., no better than those Bharat Rakshak characters...

 

[Lion]

Love how people are still calling this L-15 and in denial of the whole thing on other forums. The airframe is so un-L15 like that it isn't even funny.

Whoever still called it L-15 , just banned them. Because they do not meant seriously discussion and is just trying to fan the flame bait.

 

[hmmwv]

Possibly some sort of high supersonic/hypersonic bomber? Or a spaceplane?

Bomber is at Xi'an, the only thing I can think of at SAC is probably some sort of UCAV.

 

[AssassinsMace]

It takes up three lanes when it's tilted. I don't know about Chinese highways in general but I've seen a lot of pics of the new highways being built and most only have two lanes in each direction.

 

[Deino]

Two more and slightly clearer shots from that video .... + a nice whif in PAF-service !!

And finally the last one wasn't posted here before ???

Deino

 

[jon88]

Has anyone seen these?View attachment 6603View attachment 6604

 

[siegecrossbow]

Has anyone seen these?View attachment 6603View attachment 6604

Yes. Those are from CJDBY.

---------- Post added at 08:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 AM ----------

Has anyone seen these?View attachment 6603View attachment 6604

Yes. Those are from CJDBY.