Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
I think that's a letter of understanding, a Expression of interests is more like asking to be called if something happens. the Next step is a Letter of Understanding that a Buy may happen. then it's negotiations until money and product is exchanged.
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
A formal inquiry is usually a step beyond peripheral interest. It signals that the KSA has done prep work on comparing different platforms and outlining its needs when it comes to air platforms.

Yes, and I don't consider that to be a surprise or a particularly tall tale if it is true...
 

Equation

Lieutenant General
In view of this piece of news from the last year
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this could be an attempt to pressure USA to sell F-35, or to find an alternative for it in case they don't sell.

Gotta have Israel's permission and good faith first or else no. In other words the Middle Eastern world revolves around Israel for some reason.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
Right now The situation has changed a bit with A lot of Arab states partnering with Israel for security.
Also consider the Other buys the Saudis have Made they are not a Single nation buyer. Thy buy a little bit from everybody. US, French, Austrian, German, UK, Pakistani, Ukrainian, Swiss, Swed, Belgian, PRC ( there rocket forces are all Chinese made), Brazilian,Italian, Some Russian, Even Canadian drones.
 

Skywatcher

Captain
Wonder if Egypt would also be interested as well (Egypt assembles a J-31 with heavy western content, with the Saudis supplying a degree of sub-components)? Given how Cairo and Riyadh feel about Ankara, they're probably not going to go for the TF-X, and frankly, the J-31 is probably the only midweight 5th generation fighter designed for air superiority first.
 

Blackstone

Brigadier
Wonder if Egypt would also be interested as well (Egypt assembles a J-31 with heavy western content, with the Saudis supplying a degree of sub-components)? Given how Cairo and Riyadh feel about Ankara, they're probably not going to go for the TF-X, and frankly, the J-31 is probably the only midweight 5th generation fighter designed for air superiority first.
SW- given the expense of developing a Gen 5 fighter and no evidence of interest from PLAAF/PLANAF, is it likely the J-31 will ever go into production? I think chances are low the J-31 will ever go into volume production.
 

taxiya

Brigadier
Registered Member
SW- given the expense of developing a Gen 5 fighter and no evidence of interest from PLAAF/PLANAF, is it likely the J-31 will ever go into production? I think chances are low the J-31 will ever go into volume production.

PLA was and still is not interested in JF-17 but it went to volume production anyway. So J-31 may (only a may).

Developing J-31 is more costly than something like JF-17, but KSA has much deeper pocket than Pakistan. It may not be expensive (relatively speaking) to KSA (and maybe plus others).

The bottom line is eventually all these major countries KSA, Egypt, Pakistan etc. will need a 5th Gen fighter, if F-35 is not available to them J-31 is the only other option, except maybe Egypt has another option PAKFA. KSA may be offered F-35 in the long run after Israel and Turkey, but nobody is going to bet their security on something long latter in time.
 

Blackstone

Brigadier
PLA was and still is not interested in JF-17 but it went to volume production anyway. So J-31 may (only a may).

Developing J-31 is more costly than something like JF-17, but KSA has much deeper pocket than Pakistan. It may not be expensive (relatively speaking) to KSA (and maybe plus others).

The bottom line is eventually all these major countries KSA, Egypt, Pakistan etc. will need a 5th Gen fighter, if F-35 is not available to them J-31 is the only other option, except maybe Egypt has another option PAKFA. KSA may be offered F-35 in the long run after Israel and Turkey, but nobody is going to bet their security on something long latter in time.
You made my point on the JF-17, because it had a partner providing both some funding for development and demand for the finished product from the PAF. Neither case is true for the J-31.
 
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