Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
Yes, Erdogan does blame the US for supporting the coup attempt which tried to kill him. Particularly since the US refuses to hand Gulen over to Turkey.

And I don't think the politics or internal affairs is really the big issue for Erdogan. It's that Erdogan doesn't want a partner who would prefer him to be dead.

If you had read post 5948 I already said that, that being said? it was his own people in leadership who attempted to "drive him from power". Now back to the FC-31, this is an opportunity for China, they will continue to pursue a more positive relationship with Mr. Erdogan in the short term, with Turkey in the long run..... on every level.
 
Well to be honest President Erdogan is antagonizing NATO, as well as all the F-35 partners, by placing their aircrafts security and mission capability at risk buying the S-400, so he basically is breaking his partnership contract by exposing the aircraft to a significant security breach....

but you are right, this is an awesome opportunity for China and the FC-31, and no doubt China will go after the Turkish market, all the dynamics around Turkey are changing poles and coming around to 180 degrees out of phase...

So yes, it is a tremendous opportunity, indeed Turkey has lots of technology and production capability in 5 Gen aircraft, so you're spot on, though others will disagree vehemently, this is all the stars lining up to shine on the FC-31......

Turkey requirements is to have a technology transfer and coproduction arrangement to achieve reasonable self-reliance. This is not forthcoming with the Patriot being offered. They apparently are unwilling to compromise on this principle for security purpose as the US has been sanction-happy and an unreliable partner. This likely is primary reason for choosing the S-400.

Threat of dropping Turkey from F-35 program further exacerbate their security concern. Logic dictates that they look for a less sanction-prone alternative for which Su-57 could be a good fit. But they also have concern about Russian capability to fulfill the requirements for the quantity required. The FC-31 could be a secondary option in such case where Russia is unable to completely fulfill the requirements.

If US withdraws the threat and can reestablish credibility, Turkey will likely opt for the F-35.

Either way, Turkey's pursuit for alternative are a logical result of current state of affairs.

Turkey interest will be a boost for Shenyang but the bigger question as many have commented are:
Can Pres. Edrogan be a trustworthy partner for this type of collaboration.
How can any gap and deficiency be address.

Time will tell.
 

gelgoog

Brigadier
Registered Member
Well to be honest President Erdogan is antagonizing NATO, as well as all the F-35 partners, by placing their aircrafts security and mission capability at risk buying the S-400, so he basically is breaking his partnership contract by exposing the aircraft to a significant security breach....

but you are right, this is an awesome opportunity for China and the FC-31, and no doubt China will go after the Turkish market, all the dynamics around Turkey are changing poles and coming around to 180 degrees out of phase...

So yes, it is a tremendous opportunity, indeed Turkey has lots of technology and production capability in 5 Gen aircraft, so you're spot on, though others will disagree vehemently, this is all the stars lining up to shine on the FC-31......

Turkey has wanted the missile defense tech transfer for a long time. Also, the Turkish Air Force was the branch of the armed forces most in favor of the coup attempt against Erdogan. So he has a lot of reasons to stick them in the eye, so to speak.

The Russians have done tech transfer in the past, if the country dedicates enough resources to do it of course. That was not the case with Su-57 and India.

I do agree that the TF-X program is advanced enough that it is likely it will be finished, unless, for fiscal reasons, it gets canceled somehow.
I doubt it would be cancelled for technical reasons.
It would not be the first time a nation's fighter program dies in the ashes of financial turmoil.

In that case the FC-31 would make a viable option I think. But if Turkey remains integrated in NATO it would be a mess to integrate either Russian or Chinese assets into their armed forces. Particularly something like a fighter which requires a lot of weapons systems around it. Imagine just having a pile of AMRAAMs you suddenly cannot use.
 

by78

General
Grainy screen captures from a Shenyang corporate promo film...

A J-31 prototype being assembled...
48200934016_dddd73274c_o.jpg


A J-31 model being set up in an anechoic chamber...
48200980052_f26ac8eb35_o.jpg
 

SinoSoldier

Colonel
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TLDR: Sun Cong, FC-31's chief designer says that no news is good news when it comes to the Gyrafalcon.

Not sure if it's the same news:

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Military aircraft in development will be able to carry out air, land, sea attacks

China's development of the FC-31, the country's second stealth fighter jet, is proceeding smoothly and on schedule, according to its chief designer.

Sun Cong, president of the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment under Aviation Industry Corporation of China, said at a news conference on Thursday in Shenyang, Liaoning province, that people should be patient and wait for good news from the project.

"You will see its latest developments in due course, in the near future," said Sun, who is also the chief researcher at AVIC's Shenyang Aircraft Design and Research Institute.

Sun's comments indicated that China has never wavered in its attempts to develop and build a second series of stealth combat aircraft after the J-20 entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 2017.

His remarks are likely to reassure anyone concerned about the fate of FC-31 because of its virtual disappearance from public view over the past two years.
The twin-engine, radar-evading fighter jet was unveiled in October 2012 when a prototype made its maiden flight, becoming China's second 5th-generation fighter jet, following the J-20.

The FC-31 has a high survivability rate, a low radar signature, advanced electronic countermeasures, strong information gathering and handling capacity, outstanding situational awareness and beyond-visual-range combat capability.

In addition to air combat, it can also carry out strikes against land and sea targets, according to its designers.

The aircraft has a large weapons bay and can carry multiple external missiles.

According to AVIC specifications, the FC-31 has a maximum takeoff weight of 25 metric tons, a combat range of 1,200 kilometers and a top speed of Mach 1.8, or 2,205 kilometers per hour. It can carry 8 tons of weapons and has a designed life span of up to 30 years.

The FC-31 will enter service in the PLA as the Shenyang institute and Shenyang Aircraft Corp's latest major accomplishment, following the J-15 carrier-based fighter jet and the half-century-old J-8 series fighter jet.

Last week in Shenyang, AVIC marked the 50th anniversary of the J-8's maiden flight, as well as the 10th anniversary of J-15's first flight.

The J-8 was China's first domestically developed combat plane capable of executing high-altitude, high-speed operations, and the series has several variants still in service with the PLA Air Force and PLA Navy. The J-15 is the spearhead of the Navy's carrier battle group and has taken part in many long-distance combat exercises over open seas.
 

Schwerter_

Junior Member
Registered Member
Not sure if it's the same news:
It is the same piece of news, but the English version had more information. For example, the Chinese version didn't quote this line:"You will see its latest developments in due course, in the near future"; nor did it give any direct conclusion on whether the fc-31 will enter service, as the English version did. Not sure if its deliberately done tho.
 

plawolf

Lieutenant General
Grainy screen captures from a Shenyang corporate promo film...

A J-31 prototype being assembled...
48200934016_dddd73274c_o.jpg


A J-31 model being set up in an anechoic chamber...
48200980052_f26ac8eb35_o.jpg

That shop floor looks awfully quiet.

Either that’s a brand new facility built to mass produce J31s, or SAC is not doing so well.
 
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