Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

drunkmunky said:

The chassis above is just the black one repainted right? or is it a version 2 and we're really waiting for a Version 3 naval variant?

Just want to be clear about it.

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The FC-31 shown above is merely the 2.0. The newly-released photos of the grey FC-31 are of the existing 2.0 prototype. The 3.0 (or J-35 as some prefer to call it) has not been revealed yet, although an eyewitness reported seeing the prototype.

Bltizo said:

Honest question -- why do you say that it is J-35?

To me it just looks like FC-31 V2???

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You are correct! ... my fault.

Deino said:

You are correct! ... my fault.

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Might be a good idea to issue a correction on Twitter cause I see that tweet got a bit of traction of yours.

Out of interest, what made you think the image may have been J-35?

Bltizo said:

Might be a good idea to issue a correction on Twitter cause I see that tweet got a bit of traction of yours.

Out of interest, what made you think the image may have been J-35?

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Already done, thanks for the idea.

The reason why I posted this is simply due my impatience. I posted it without really checking the details ...

Why are thy taking so long to develop this plane, compared with the J-20 plane?

Peter2018 said:

Why are thy taking so long to develop this plane, compared with the J-20 plane?

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“This plane”, you mean the FC-31 prototypes?

That’s because it’s a prototype to show case Shenyang’s “idea” of a 5th-gen fighter. Unlike the J-20, it wasn’t commissioned by PLAAF or PLAN from the beginning. Shenyang simply tries to show case its design in the hope maybe in the near future there’ll be costumers who might want something based on the concept.

So as long as there isn’t a real costumer and Shenyang still has the cash, they probably would continue to develop this concept in till the next concept comes along...

kickars said:

“This plane”, you mean the FC-31 prototypes?

That’s because it’s a prototype to show case Shenyang’s “idea” of a 5th-gen fighter. Unlike the J-20, it wasn’t commissioned by PLAAF or PLAN from the beginning. Shenyang simply tries to show case its design in the hope maybe in the near future there’ll be costumers who might want something based on the concept.

So as long as there isn’t a real costumer and Shenyang still has the cash, they probably would continue to develop this concept in till the next concept comes along...

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They have been developing this plane for some time. Sooner or later they will come up with a "mature" product, with or without customers.

Not necessarily. Without customers, or at least without realistic prospect of customers (meaning negotiations and letters of intent, not just wishful thinking without any expressed interest from customers) the whole project might just wait in limbo, without any real development going on. All development costs money and if there's NO customer there will be no development.

SinoSoldier said:

The FC-31 shown above is merely the 2.0. The newly-released photos of the grey FC-31 are of the existing 2.0 prototype. The 3.0 (or J-35 as some prefer to call it) has not been revealed yet, although an eyewitness reported seeing the prototype.

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Is J35 is version 3 of j31 ?

Scorpio said:

Is J35 is version 3 of j31 ?

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From what we know, this is the most likely assumption.