Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
Both the Republic of South Korea and Japan are members of the JSF development consortium with orders of F35A for there Air forces to fill some missions . So some degree of F35 is in fact indigenous technologies for them the question is how much? And how much more do they need?
South Korea has tried to license from the US technical exchange for the KF-X from Lockheed Martin but was turned away buy the US Government. Besides they have more of a drive for indigenous technical packages these last two decades, It allows them to export without paying Royalties to someone else who owns the technology. Today the KF-X is still a paper airplane, no hardware has been built. So it will take some time for them. But although the ROK has had some political storms there military technology is pretty impressive. There Joint Lockheed Martin T50 flight trainers/Light fighter is arguably best in class. The K2 MBT is the F22 of Tanks. There K11 OICW is the only one of its type outside of the US and PRC to have actually gone beyond early concept into limited production and has been trialed abroad.

The Japanese are more restrictive with there military technology, even with the loosening of military export laws. I very much doubt they will open export completely. Japan I think might be able to directly license a number of technologies from the US for there stealths. There political standing is more stable. Today they have a flying stealth technology demonstrator. It's just a question of filling out the missing parts and finding ways to keep the procurement price low enough to build them. Because of the restrictive export laws Japanese military equipment is far higher in unit price then it should be. Even something simple like small arms costs easily triple the per unit of off the shelf products.
These two though I think are in a far more nearer term then the Turkish, and Indian (not Pak Fa) indigenous fifth gens. Quantum leaps beyond the farcical F313.
In regards to Fc31 we know for a fact that neither the Japanese or Chinese will ever share military technology willingly, it's one of those"From my cold dead hands!" Things. South Korea and China are more friendly but with a huge stumbling block that prevents technology exchange.
Same for India.
Turkey does seem more willing to buy Chinese than anyone else in NATO, but they also want Export rights and indigenous technical packages. Turkey is a member of the F35 partnership with F35A orders but there NATO relationship is rocky these days with there current leadership being abrasive with the west and there involvement in Syria.
Indian will buy Russian they have there own issues with China and will not buy Chinese especially with the Chinese Pakistan partnership.
Iran is under sanctions but those are set to expire in the next decade assuming they play there cards right the Iranian stealth program is a joke on it's own. Most of there indigenous heavy technical programs are direct clones or upgrades of products sold to them in the 60's and 70's as well as captured or reverse engineered technologies from the open market. For them it's a matter of time then date game on Russian or Chinese options.
The wider export market I think is a case by case basis. The majority of the Middle East buys case by case looking at offerings from around the globe and buying what they like for the price. So you see a mix of eastern and western technology sitting right next to each other.
F35 is more of a consortium based offering right now export being targeted to those nations who signed on and invested in the program as partners. Only Turkey and Israel of the high Muslim population nations did that. Export beyond partner nations is possible just a question of approval.
The other major factor adorable some nations will be if the Russian PAK FA is truly open for export or if the Russians will only offer a severely watered down alternative. A repacked mig35. Pak Fa is not an unimpressive machine and no doubt a number of ME costumer have wanted there marking on that bird. If the price was right and offering was made for the full up machine I expect a few to fly in desert pant schemes. That could take a bite out of a FC31 order sheet.
 

kwaigonegin

Colonel
To be fair, I expect the US to reverse its F-35 sales ban to Arab countries. The apparent shift of Arab militaries towards Chinese hardware is likely a response to increased pressure on Western nations to cancel arms contracts with GCC countries rather than technical advantages offered by Chinese weapons.

I don't believe there is a band on Saudi though that's why I said what I said. Heck they will be acquiring more apache guardians.
With that being said I can certainly see Saudis not putting all their arms sales from good ole Uncle Sam.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
I don't believe there is a band on Saudi though that's why I said what I said. Heck they will be acquiring more apache guardians.
With that being said I can certainly see Saudis not putting all their arms sales from good ole Uncle Sam.

They've not been offered the F-35, and I rather doubt they will be?? hence the FC-31 will be far more attractive than many had believed, I also believe UAE will be very interested?? I mean, why not, no doubt the Chinese are anxious to have a front-line Air Force buy and showcase the FC-31, and the Saudi's fill that bill very nicely.

Unless they express some interest in the Russian T-50??? but there's no doubt the Chinese are a much more reliable export partner at this time, and I doubt the Chinese would consider exporting J-20, but they are most anxious to export the FC-31, possibly even the J-16, or J-11D??
 

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Version 3 coming soon.


I think we should not hold our breath until this happens; "soon" has a different meaning for SAC in comparison with CAC ... I'm at least hoping for a second flight of V2.

BY the way, reports suggested that a model of V3 will be on display at Paris this summer, not that a prototype will already be shown.

Deino
 
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