Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator

Maybe because of stealth? For non-stealthy mission loads like the one in the model it wouldn't matter if there were wing-tip pylons but on a mission were stealth is important, even the empty pylon might hurt the RCS.

The intention is to gain air superiority within the first strike so that stealth doesn't matter as much during the second wave.
 

TerraN_EmpirE

Tyrant King
If you look at the Raptor and Lightning they also lack Wing tip hard points.

There External load configurations have the weapons slung under the wing.

The Wing tip hard point is normally reserved for light weight close range missiles like the Aim 9 or Chinese PL-9 weapons intended for self defense There hard points are designed to reduce drag

However one of the First things that happens when designing a Stealth is to move inside the weapons bays This reduces drag and radar signature.

The external Weapon hard points on the wings of fifth gens are also designed to jettison after deployment of the weapon to reduce drag, weight and radar signature so having permanent weapons mounts on the wing tips would be counter to stealth and superfluous.
 
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SinoSoldier

Colonel
A couple of interesting revelations in the past while:

1. Test pilot believes that the FC-31 might one day serve aboard aircraft carriers:
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2. Negotiations are ongoing with potential customers. It is interesting to note that the head of the AVIC international division referred to the FC-31 as the "J-31".

However, according to Henri K.'s interpretation of the recent reports, it shows that the FC-31 has indeed been rejected by the Chinese military.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
A couple of interesting revelations in the past while:

1. Test pilot believes that the FC-31 might one day serve aboard aircraft carriers:
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


2. Negotiations are ongoing with potential customers. It is interesting to note that the head of the AVIC international division referred to the FC-31 as the "J-31".

However, according to Henri K.'s interpretation of the recent reports, it shows that the FC-31 has indeed been rejected by the Chinese military.

Right now they have no real incentive to upgrade, the USN continues and will continue to fly lots of SHORNETs off carriers, and the Navy will not go IOC with the F-35C until 2018, so I think the message is??? whats the big hurry??

So I wouldn't say never, but I'm not going to hold my breath, and the J-31 is still the flying prototype, no pictures of an FC-31 in the air yet???
 

tidalwave

Senior Member
Registered Member
US news talk about using F-35 as having role of a AWAC,and linked up with aegis to fire the long range missile, SM6
Its saying F-35 is not even engaging in direct combat but rather go in enemy territory and "gather information" and feed back those info in a data-fusion manner.

AWAC is not stealthy and therefore liable to picked up whereas F-35 is and deployed as "Stealthy Intrusive Sensors"

Therefore, Its very short sighted for PLA to abandon J31 , which is perfect antidote against the the role F35 playing now. China need a large number of stealth fighters on the cheap (less capable is OK) to counter those intrusive sensors which F35 is playing now.
 

tidalwave

Senior Member
Registered Member
I can see why US think J20 is no match against F35.

F35 in a data fusion environment is like casting a net with many nodes in a direction. A number of interceptors J20s would in disadvantage against such net encompassing in all direction.

Even if J20s managed to take down a few F35s and or nodes, the rest of the net still functioning and directing backup force to fight.

To defeat such network, China cannot simply just to send a few number of J20 interceptors, it needs to cast a same kind of big net or even bigger with many nodes also.

Cheapy J31 could be that network centric solution.
 

vesicles

Colonel
I can see why US think J20 is no match against F35.

F35 in a data fusion environment is like casting a net with many nodes in a direction. A number of interceptors J20s would in disadvantage against such net encompassing in all direction.

Even if J20s managed to take down a few F35s and or nodes, the rest of the net still functioning and directing backup force to fight.

To defeat such network, China cannot simply just to send a few number of J20 interceptors, it needs to cast a same kind of big net or even bigger with many nodes also.

Cheapy J31 could be that network centric solution.

Your interpretation of the J-20 is a defensive interceptor? That's not what a stealth fighter is designed to do at all.

A stealth fighter is almost purely offensive, designed to penetrate enemy defensive network without being detected. Then destroy key defensive infrastructures in a first wave attack, which is unachievable by any unstealthy systems.

So the J-20 would be doing the exact same job as the F-35 in your scenario.

Currently, I don't think there is an effective way to defend against a 5-gen stealth fighter. That's why they are so effective and so highly coveted.
 
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vesicles

Colonel
The J-31 may be cheap, but being cheap should not be a major selling point for any product, let alone an advanced weapon system. What determines the marketability of a product is quality and features.

No matter how cheap, it is still a 5-gem fighter and still costs a fortune. Thus, it still needs to satisfy PLA's basic needs. The J-31 is in its current situation because it cannot satisfy PLA's basic needs.

People seem to have this idea that the PLA should accept something simply because it's cheap. What's wrong with the PLA being highly selective? What's wrong with the PLA wanting only the best? What's wrong with the PLA expecting to get the best they can get with the least investment? This is basically what any individual would do?
 
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no_name

Colonel
I can see why US think J20 is no match against F35.

F35 in a data fusion environment is like casting a net with many nodes in a direction. A number of interceptors J20s would in disadvantage against such net encompassing in all direction.

Even if J20s managed to take down a few F35s and or nodes, the rest of the net still functioning and directing backup force to fight.

To defeat such network, China cannot simply just to send a few number of J20 interceptors, it needs to cast a same kind of big net or even bigger with many nodes also. War isn't really about lining both sides up and have a football push match.

Cheapy J31 could be that network centric solution.

The J-20 would not care about these nodes, it will go straight for the host behind the net. As vesicles said J-20 is designed to be a long range offensive platform, a spear to go through nets.
 

tidalwave

Senior Member
Registered Member
Your interpretation of the J-20 is a defensive interceptor? That's not what a stealth fighter is designed to do at all.

A stealth fighter is almost purely offensive, designed to penetrate enemy defensive network without being detected. Then destroy key defensive infrastructures in a first wave attack, which is unachievable by any unstealthy systems.

So the J-20 would be doing the exact same job as the F-35 in your scenario.

Currently, I don't think there is an effective way to defend against a 5-gen stealth fighter. That's why they are so effective and so highly coveted.


China is adopting a defensive posture. Its J20 will hide inland until incoming enemies air fighters coming in toward China airspace.

I can't see it going out to destroy adversaries infrastructures.

Each US carriers group can carry 90 F35s , I think J20 will get out numbered ...
 
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