Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

i.e.

Senior Member
More information about this fighter, from the official website of the company who transported the fighter:

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From their website, there are some interesting information about the fighter:

The fighter has a wing span of 11.5 meter, comparing to F-35's 10.7 meter, MiG-29's 11.4 meter or Hongdu's L-15's 9.5 meter.

The official name for the figther should be called as some sort of eagles.

It is confirmed the fighter is transported from Shengyang's SAC to Yanliang's national insistute of structral strength to conduct static stress test.

also Xifei (Xian Aircraft Corp) engineers were asking them to transport this thing from Shenfei (shenyang) to Yanliang.

so 603 and 601 Institute are both involved. fits the rumours that was flowing out earlier for it to be a joint effort by the two as a strike fighter.a
 

i.e.

Senior Member
It's been four weeks and its still driving around. I know bands that have gone on shorter tours than that ;)

the photos and video are around the same time, people has been uploading it gradually onto the internet.
the trip took 25 days. most of the photos are around yanliang and shanxi province.
 

drunkmunky

Junior Member
I haven't read much of this thread but I was pondering the marketing capabilities of Shenyang to export these birds. It would make sense that these babies have to have an equal/comparable Rcs to the f-35 with similar payload. But then my question is who is the clientelle?
 

paintgun

Senior Member
I haven't read much of this thread but I was pondering the marketing capabilities of Shenyang to export these birds. It would make sense that these babies have to have an equal/comparable Rcs to the f-35 with similar payload. But then my question is who is the clientelle?

there is a similar discussion somewhere else

there is no telling about three key variable on answering this question
1. this aircraft's performance
2. price
3. SAC's marketing channels and capabilities (pretty lack lustre one can say)

those will determine the future clients and the fighter's chance in a saturated and competitive international fighter market
 

stardave

Junior Member
I haven't read much of this thread but I was pondering the marketing capabilities of Shenyang to export these birds. It would make sense that these babies have to have an equal/comparable Rcs to the f-35 with similar payload. But then my question is who is the clientelle?

Latin American, Middle East, and some part of rich Africa, there is a lot of potential actually. If they can prove this plane have similar performance to F-35 while 1/3 of the cost.
 

paintgun

Senior Member
btw, the KF-X is slated to be at the same size and class with pretty much the same capabilities, at 50 mil a pop

if SAC manages to launch this bird earlier, i'd hate to be the Koreans
but they got an excellent marketing

this PR move by SAC is pretty bold, and they are riding the high wind of J-20
i guess the mum by international aerospace sites is telling, that any coverage would only be helping SAC's exposures
and companies usually have to pay top dollars for it :D
 
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stardave

Junior Member
btw, the KF-X is slated to be at the same size and class with pretty much the same capabilities, at 50 mil a pop

if SAC manages to launch this bird earlier, i'd hate to be the Koreans
but they got an excellent marketing

this PR move by SAC is pretty bold, and they are riding the high wind of J-20
i guess the mum by international aerospace sites is telling, that any coverage would only be helping SAC's exposures
and companies usually have to pay top dollars for it :D

KF-X is still in the designing stage, I won't put any price on that. And remember when F-35 was suppose to cost 50 million dollars when it was announced? Try 150-200 million now
 

plawolf

Lieutenant General
Detailed talk about the export potential of this bird is pretty premature at this early stage. We haven't even actually seen what this thing really looks like, never mind talk of it's potential capabilities and price.

All we can say is this thing holds a great deal of potential and could prove very interest, if SAC can do a reasonable job with it. I would be a great deal more excited if this was a CAC product, but let's be honest, SAC's track record is hardly encouraging.

Who knows, this would be the perfect example for SAC to stop the buck and make a real name for themselves and help Chinese military aircraft break into the big leagues, but they might just screw this up like they have everything else they have tried. Too early to tell either way never mind how well it might sell.

The biggest bright spot would be that this programme and the capability of the plane should be a great deal more transparent if it is indeed designed with private funda and with export on mind.
 

paintgun

Senior Member
SAC screwing up all the time is a bit too harsh, and they deserve credit for the J-11
it's just CAC is doing a helluva job

i like this whole PR move, but until the plane shows and flies, many will hold their praise for Shenyang

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@stardave

50 mil is a pretty nice number to pitch, it's not my estimation, but a semi-official price figure of the cost per aircraft
i share your pessimism however, their T-50 LIFT/trainer is 25 mil a pop, no way the KF-X will sell only at double

like i said, the Koreans got good marketing
 
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