If the J-11D/J-16 will form the low, what will the J-10A/B/C be? Ultra-low?
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
- Start date
If the J-11D/J-16 will form the low, what will the J-10A/B/C be? Ultra-low?
It's going to be the "low" in the offensive mix. J-10A/B/C are probably gonna be defensive fighters (much like Mig-29s) since they have shorter range than flankers.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Word on the street is that the maiden flight of the FC-31 v2.0 has been delayed again. It seems the project is beginning to resemble the JSF program in more ways than one.
Idk, I think the fact that FC-31 has elicited no interest from anyone, including China's own air force is quite a big difference to JSF, which was committed to not only by three branches of the US military very early on but also by a heap of other nations... In fact I would say apart from their overall configuration there is very little similarity between FC-31 and JSF at all.
I'm also not sure why there is this expectancy that FC-31 even has the prospect of becoming a viable fighter aircraft when the Chinese military has shown no interest in it. It isn't like SAC can realistically develop this thing by themselves, nor will any other nation's be willing to invest in its development by themselves without China first committing to it.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
I was alluding to the JSF's incessant delays and technical hurdles, but agreed on other points. There is still a slight possibility of the PLAN or PLAAF adopting the platform after a more careful evaluation of the final product (as was with the case of the Q-5), but until then, it would be merely another MiG-35.
Rumors have it that SAC is negotiating with international customers, but just how far such talks would go is another tale.
Yeah, well either way, comparing FC-31 at this stage with JSF merely on the basis of delays does neither project much justice.
I wouldn't even call FC-31 "delayed" at this point because as far as we know hasn't even aroused any interest at this point. In other words the very idea of the project being able to produce a fighter aircraft is not worth considering at this point, and something which isn't even a funded project cannot be expected to be "delayed" because it technically hasn't even truly begun! More accurate to call it stillborn.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
I doubt the project has been stalled. Put on the backburner, perhaps, but I believe low-grade work is still being undertaken. The fact that SAC is still aiming for a maiden flight suggests it still wishes to wrap up the program, if not for potential domestic interest then for international interest.
That misses my point -- I'm saying the very idea that we can expect SAC to complete development of this fighter without Chinese military interest and funding should not be entertained.
Therefore, it would be unreasonable to call their slow progress as "delays" because this project has no chance at all to begin with. If the Chinese military or a foreign rich nation decides to fund it, then that's a different matter, but right now I think FC-31 is not anything near a serious project being pursued by SAC but a tech demonstrator that they're desperately hoping they can garner some interest for. So the normal expectations and terminology for a typical programme like J-20 or F-35 don't really apply.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Fair enough. Doesn't really discount the numerous occasions where an imminent rollout has been false alarms, though.
Heh I think that's the over-enthusiasm of those people causing the false alarm in the first place.
Don't get me wrong, it's always nice to hear about progress of FC-31 if and when it happens, but I think everyone should also temper their expectations a little as to what this project can realistically be able to achieve without official state military funding.