SinoSoldier
Colonel
Yes, absolutely, that as well.
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
- Start date
Yes, absolutely, that as well.
After WS-13E is supposedly WS-19.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
New magazine scans of the FC-31's developmental background. This shows the v1.0 prototype.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
1. Has a decision been made about the FC-31's induction yet? No, but it should be soon. I expect it to serve even after I'm retired.
2. What's that, 20 years? 22-27 years, with 15 years of production. The engine should be produced for 25 years.
3. Is WS-19 under Dr. Huang Weina? Yes, that and the WS-13E.
4. Has the WS-13E been funded by Liming? Always, and 624 as well.
5. You work in the engine factory, right? You're retiring on these engines? Hell yeah, each jet takes 2 engines, 1 spare. Maybe 10 engines over the entire lifespan. At 800 Gyrafalcon, that's almost 10,000 WS-13E/19 to be ordered!
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Thanks for the translation.
800+ FC-31 jets? If that is anywhere near accurate then it seems that the PLAN won't be the only ones purchasing this.
800+ FC-31 jets? If that is anywhere near accurate then it seems that the PLAN won't be the only ones purchasing this.
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
The segment referring to the 800 number can be more precisely translated as "Our lighthearted optimistic prediction is that there will be at least 800 orders for the Gyrafalcon..." So my interpretation is that it is an optimistic prediction and made slightly jokingly but it's not too far from the current momentum either. Similar to if Lebron James said he's feeling so good, he'll score 60 points this game.
Last edited:
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Yeah, but even for an optimistic estimate 800 is a very significant quantity.
Is it always the popular guess that FC-31 is targeted to customers abroad plus being the high potential of being the stealthy CV aircraft?
If PLAN is eventually having 4 cat CVs and each one have 40 of it, that is 160 pieces at least in the coming 20 years (the span to have 4 catapult CVs). I count Liaoning to be replaced by a catapult CV some time around 20 years later, that add another 40, then possibly the current domestic built CV will be replaced adding another 40. In total 240 and more.
We know sooner or later Pakistan and many other foreign customers who are not on friendlier terms to get F-35 will buy FC-31. Some time in the 10 years from now, stealth will be a basic standard of a fighter jet. These customers could easily buy up a total of 400 and more if I count 3 customers with mid sized air force.
So IMO 600 is the realistic minimum, 800 is quite reasonable.