J-35A fighter (PLAAF) + FC-31 thread

[Tiberium]

Cross post from the Naval thread!

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Good. I always hope the naval J-35 and AF J-35A should be as common as possible, same parts for two variants means lower cost. The most ideal scenario would be J-35/A have completely same parts other than those neccessary differences(such as main wing and landing gear)

 

[tphuang]

Whether they do or don’t use metamaterials is irrelevant to the question tbh. RAM is applied in many layers and some layers are temporary appliqués or topcoats that are only added for certain situations. You can’t tell anything about what’s going on with the RAM based on how something looks on the surface. The kinds of edge and surface treatments will also depend heavily on the material composition of the aircraft skin and underlying structures. Just because the J-35 doesn’t look like F-35 doesn't mean there’s anything anomalous here. People need to stop doing eyeball speculations. There is simply a lot of things that are unknowable from visual appearance, especially given how the science and engineering have progressed these days.

Well, with the latest meta material layer in relevant areas of the aircraft, it is quite possible they don't need temporary layers or topcoats or other forms of surface treatments.

My understanding is that with RAM, the previous generation wear out after a while. The latest Chinese metamaterial is said to be extremely light and possibly quite resistance to corrosions and such.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Cross post from the Naval thread!

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I feel that the J-35A nozzle is literally J-35 nozzle with black paint. It is kinda like the scenario with AL-31 silver nozzle. My guess as to why they did what they did on naval J-35 is better corrosion resistance.

 

[Deino]

I feel that the J-35A nozzle is literally J-35 nozzle with black paint. It is kinda like the scenario with AL-31 silver nozzle. My guess as to why they did what they did on naval J-35 is better corrosion resistance.

Well ... a friend at another forum I rate quite credible told be, that indeed on top it is the WS-21 on the J-35 and the PLAAF variant - to my surprise - should indeed already use the (darker) WS-19 (below).

However I'm not sure ... IMO the timeline for the WS-19 does not fit.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Well ... a friend at another forum I rate quite credible told be, that indeed on top it is the WS-21 on the J-35 and the PLAAF variant - to my surprise - should indeed already use the (darker) WS-19 (below).

However I'm not sure ... IMO the timeline for the WS-19 does not fit.

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I seriously doubt that it is the WS-19 since it has two layers of nozzles, indicating that there is some RD33 family genealogy… Then again we have no idea what WS-19 looks like.

 

[sunnymaxi]

I seriously doubt that it is the WS-19 since it has two layers of nozzles, indicating that there is some RD33 family genealogy… Then again we have no idea what WS-19 looks like.

nozzle alone don't describe the engine.

WS-19 entered in material selection stage in 2023 and large scale production has begun in 2025 ?? very less chances

this is definitely WS-21 Engine.. a different machine as compare to WS-13/WS-13E

 

[Deino]

nozzle alone don't describe the engine.

WS-19 entered in material selection stage in 2023 and large scale production has begun in 2025 ?? very less chances

this is definitely WS-21 Engine.. a different machine as compare to WS-13/WS-13E

Again I do not want to defend my friend's claim and I'm still most sceptical, but what is your explanation for these two clearly different nozzles?

Just two different nozzles but still the same engine (aka WS-21) is IMO a bit lame or do you expect one still to be a WS-13XYZ and the other one the WS-21?

 

[siegecrossbow]

Again I do not want to defend my friend's claim and I'm still most sceptical, but what is your explanation for these two clearly different nozzles?

Just two different nozzles but still the same engine (aka WS-21) is IMO a bit lame or do you expect one still to be a WS-13XYZ and the other one the WS-21?

Are they clearly different other than coloration?

 

[sunnymaxi]

Again I do not want to defend my friend's claim and I'm still most sceptical, but what is your explanation for these two clearly different nozzles?

Just two different nozzles but still the same engine (aka WS-21) is IMO a bit lame or do you expect one still to be a WS-13XYZ and the other one the WS-21?

WS-10 currently has 3 to 4 different nozzles..

 

[siegecrossbow]

WS-10 currently has 3 to 4 different nozzles..

To be fair they are three to four different engine variants as well. Performance variations between them is night and day…