These models are made by the company that made the model of the improved FC31 at the Zhuhai airshow. So they're not someone with some "insider knowledge", they can be considered "official partners".
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
- Start date
These models are made by the company that made the model of the improved FC31 at the Zhuhai airshow. So they're not someone with some "insider knowledge", they can be considered "official partners".
Well, I for one have enjoyed the Zuhai Airshow, only wish the J-20 had been flown as an encore, that airplane does deserve a little "press", even if like the US military, the appearance was only a flyby as is often the case with the B-2 to maintain "security", it would showcase China's accomplishments in the aerospace industry, something I believe actually keeps us all safe!
I have to say I appreciate that attitude from yours very much. It's hard to see it in this day and age.
Skywatcher
Captain
Well, a two squadron buy would come out to $2-3 billion, if you assume that each J-31 would come in at about $100 million (more likely $70-80 million, the F-35A is supposed to cost $80 million in the end, IIRC). That's a bit step, but Islamabad would pay for the buy over a number of years (it's not like they'll receive all 24 J-31s in one go).
Thank you young man,,, as I have said before, you are a credit to Chinese young people, and the fine raising that your Mom and Dad have given to you,,I am absolutely certain that if more people shared your kind and gracious attitude, we could preserve peace and freedom, as well as the sovereignty of all our nations, I am proud to call you "brother"!
P.S. I may go a little cowboy once in a while, but rest assured that I bear no intention of bringing harm to anyone acting in good faith, thanks as well for your own thoughtful and accurate posts, you are a rising star here on the Sino Defense Forum!
The cockpit of the J-31 sits higher than the J-20's, more like the F-22.
AssassinsMace
Lieutenant General
That's nothing different from what I said. If the public didn't know of this version before Zhuhai but this model maker did because SAC okayed it, that's insider information.
Maybe a strange or even stupid question: But how far can these Chinese enterprises act individually and develop - completely on own resources - a project like this ??
I really can't believe that this is a private venture only. Maybe I simply do not understand the structure of the Chinese aviation industry good enough but since these are all state-owned enterprises I tend to say that this is in fact a silently PLA-baked or at least supported program, that runs in parallel to the J-20 with a much lower priority but for the future requirement it is indeed planned to be introduced ... if successful. As such development proceeds at a lower level and even more it can act as a PR-action to show the achievements of the Chinese Industry, to gain interest from foreign countries to assist and co-found that program .... until founds can be officially allocated to run it on a higher priority !
By the way I never noticed this airbrake before ...
Deino
I really can't believe that this is a private venture only. Maybe I simply do not understand the structure of the Chinese aviation industry good enough but since these are all state-owned enterprises I tend to say that this is in fact a silently PLA-baked or at least supported program, that runs in parallel to the J-20 with a much lower priority but for the future requirement it is indeed planned to be introduced ... if successful. As such development proceeds at a lower level and even more it can act as a PR-action to show the achievements of the Chinese Industry, to gain interest from foreign countries to assist and co-found that program .... until founds can be officially allocated to run it on a higher priority !
By the way I never noticed this airbrake before ...
Deino
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J-31 top view + airbrake.jpg
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thunderchief
Senior Member
You are probably right, with little caveat - J-31 could be a pet project of certain clique inside Party, having enough influence to push for relativly low cost state funded prototype testing, but without enough influence (for now) to make it official PLAAF program like J-20.