Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
1)none of ASEAN countries (vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia) have 4th gen fighters even though they might have SU-35 down the line. and the recent US carriers in SCS still depend a lot on F18..

You're talking nonsense, not only they have :

Indonesia : F-16, Su-27/30
Singapore : F-16, F-15SG
Malaysia : F-18D, Su-30
Vietnam : Su-27/30
Thailand : F-16, Jas-39

But in more you seems not knowing Su-35, F-15SG are 4.5 + generation ...
 
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eldarlmari

New Member
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Basically, the Major General or Rear Admiral(not stated which arm does he belong to) is saying:

1)He has never heard of the possibility that Pakistan would be keen in procuring the F-35(in response to the rumors that she has been blocked from doing so), nor is there any confirmation that she would be procuring the J-31.

2)Having seen the J-31 in person multiple times, it is in his opinion that a high/lo combo with the J-20 would be perfectly ideal for the PLAAF, as well as the Naval arm of PLAN.

3)The total numbers for procurement, if ever selected for service by China- could reach over 1000 planes(for PLAAF and PLAN combined). The production costs would go down drastically and export prices would be very attractive to foreign customers.
 

Jeff Head

General
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Basically, the Major General or Rear Admiral(not stated which arm does he belong to) is saying:

1)He has never heard of the possibility that Pakistan would be keen in procuring the F-35 (in response to the rumors that she has been blocked from doing so), nor is there any confirmation that she would be procuring the J-31.
To my knowledge there has never been a shred of indication or evidence that Pakistan would ever be offered or have any chance to get the F-35.

Pakistan ultimately getting the J-31 from China is probably more [possible in the future.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Agree i see rather the J-31 than the F-35 but Pakistan is not a rich country, a budget limited buy JF-17 cheaper for replace many F-7/Mirage III/V and J-31 definitely not very expensive but much more than a JF-17... then right now only an assumption.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
It has never been my intention to imply that SAC is attempting to show off... I am simply curious as to why only the J-31 needs to be hauled across the country.

As I said, the whole process sounds very inefficient... Just imagine what would happen when/IF they start mass-producing it. If, as suggested by many, the J-31 has been designed to be the "low" end of China's High/Low combo, then they need to make thousands of them. Then China's highways would be crowded with trailers hauling half-finished J-31's??? I am not arguing the actuality of the J-31 being deployed by the PLA, but simply suggesting that no engineer in their right mind would come up with such complex and inefficient way of manufacturing anything...

I tend to agree with Deino's explanation. It must be some kind of static test model or museum piece that has never been intended to fly...

These are engineering prototypes, if they are transporting it by trailer, it is the most efficient method, and yes it does build a little intrigue. They wouldn't be transporting it if they didn't have a very good reason, and that likely is final assembly is at the plant on the airstrip they will first flight the aircraft. Lots of aircraft get hauled around on flatbeds.

As can be seen the fuselage/wing box are one welded assembly, likely Titanium alloy! To that "tub" the outer wing panels, vertical and horizontal tail assembly's are "joined", a rather tedious and precise procedure, so there are lots of reasons the FC-31 would be "trailered".
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
J31 can give F22 fits if they are sold together with ground based anti-stealth radar. Ground based anti-stealth radar with detect the F22 first and notify the J31. Then J31 fly to the interpolated intercept point for ambush.

Wanna Bet??? I'm rather certain you are getting way ahead of SAC's vision for the FC-31, and the FC-31 will be a "budget minded" fifth gen, the J-20 will likely get the "good stuff", at present the FC-31's future appears to be export??

To go head to head with the Raptor, will likely be "suuuuuiiiiicide!", and you can quote me on that!
 

tidalwave

Senior Member
Registered Member
Wanna Bet??? I'm rather certain you are getting way ahead of SAC's vision for the FC-31, and the FC-31 will be a "budget minded" fifth gen, the J-20 will likely get the "good stuff", at present the FC-31's future appears to be export??

To go head to head with the Raptor, will likely be "suuuuuiiiiicide!", and you can quote me on that!

It's like saying China Yuan submarine has No chance against the powerful Virginia sub.
well, Yuan still can can stay quiet and wait for ambush of the Virginia sub. Virginia sub can't really detect Yuan when it's hunker down like that.

Same with J31, its low observability will shield it against F22 until it's they are too close to each other. At that point, anything can happen.

Keep in mind, J31 is aided by ground base radar. So that itself is an advantage.
"lone wolf" F22 has to do everything itself in enemy territory. That's a disadvantage.
 

kwaigonegin

Colonel
It's like saying China Yuan submarine has No chance against the powerful Virginia sub.
well, Yuan still can can stay quiet and wait for ambush of the Virginia sub. Virginia sub can't really detect Yuan when it's hunker down like that.

Same with J31, its low observability will shield it against F22 until it's they are too close to each other. At that point, anything can happen.

Keep in mind, J31 is aided by ground base radar. So that itself is an advantage.
"lone wolf" F22 has to do everything itself in enemy territory. That's a disadvantage.

You have a point.. on a one vs one or even 3 vs 1 basis against the Raptor it will have no chance however if the J31 is on home turf going up against incoming F22s from a defensive position it closes in on parity against the Raptor's superiority.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
You have a point.. on a one vs one or even 3 vs 1 basis against the Raptor it will have no chance however if the J31 is on home turf going up against incoming F22s from a defensive position it closes in on parity against the Raptor's superiority.

We are seeing lots of pictures of two Raptors and two ThunderHogge IIs in formation, as well as four F-35s, and the two ship is still the preferred operating team for the F-22. So the FC-31 looks to be a very fine airframe, but it is rather small to carry all the goodies the Raptor carries, and lets not forget, this bird is in very early, early development, to figure it into your battle plans you are looking at least ten years out, and likely 15-20.

Master Kwai and I agree at least 90% of the time, but underestimate the Raptor at your own risk? really, the FC-31 has a long way to go to be a viable threat to the Raptor. In fact I would imagine the only way to be a threat will be to "eyes on the target", and a "gun solution".
 
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