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

siegecrossbow

siegecrossbow

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
ACuriousPLAFan said:
The only worse thing (at least in the minds of the Pakistani version of the Jai Hinds) than not getting the J-35AE is seeing others getting the J-35AE before you.

Either way, I suppose the podcast is paid, since I couldn't find it on Bilibili.
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Yeah. I think @tphuang paid for subscription on YouTube. Maybe he could summarize for us. I’ve always wondered if the paid shows are actually worth it since they don’t really divulge more close sourced info in those compared with regular programming.
 
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dingyibvs

Senior Member
ACuriousPLAFan said:
When the J-35A was still in its FC-31 and J-35 V2.0 forms, yes.

But not anymore with the current J-35A. And especially not when everyone around China is becoming increasingly eager to get their hands on more 5th-gen and 4.5th-gen fighters.

Also, China is now both wealthy enough and sophisticated enough to afford the procurement and operation of both the J-20/A/Ss and J-35As in the PLAAF. And China certainly needs that mass to ensure that she has (at the very least) a slight upper hand in any case of major conflict in the WestPac for the foreseeable future.

Besides, @Gloire_bb has provided very good explaination on the J-35A's roles in the PLAAF.
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Countries around China have always been eager to get 4.5 and 5th gen jets, we're just more years in now and they're naturally farther along in their quests. If J-35/A wasn't on the cards before then I don't see how this would change the calculus. There are still some even within this board who question the value proposition of J-35As in the face of J-20 ramp up. I think there may well be a connection between the recent Chinese military export pickups and the PLAAF's decision to induct the J-35A.

I actually agree with @T.C.P. that J-35AE variants may get prioritized more than some may think. I also question what the J-35As can add to the PLAAF...that is unless it's subsidized by exports which improves its value proposition. If that is to be accomplished, then export customers need to be prioritized. The PLAAF may not get as many as quickly in that case, but that'd be OK because what the J-35A would offer then would be value not necessity. For example, if after export subsidies the PLAAF can get a J-35A for not much more than a J-10C, then why not get some to replace the retiring J-10/As? It's not necessary, but it's a great value proposition, and it might only a great value proposition if there are exports.
 
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T.C.P

New Member
Registered Member
dingyibvs said:
Countries around China have always been eager to get 4.5 and 5th gen jets, we're just more years in now and they're naturally farther along in their quests. If J-35/A wasn't on the cards before then I don't see how this would change the calculus. There are still some even within this board who question the value proposition of J-35As in the face of J-20 ramp up. I think there may well be a connection between the recent Chinese military export pickups and the PLAAF's decision to induct the J-35A.

I actually agree with @T.C.P. that J-35AE variants may get prioritized more than some may think. I also question what the J-35As can add to the PLAAF...that is unless it's subsidized by exports which improves its value proposition. If that is to be accomplished, then export customers need to be prioritized. The PLAAF may not get as many as quickly in that case, but that'd be OK because what the J-35A would offer then would be value not necessity. For example, if after export subsidies the PLAAF can get a J-35A for not much more than a J-10C, then why not get some to replace the retiring J-10/As? It's not necessary, but it's a great value proposition, and it might only a great value proposition if there are exports.
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If China can sell it to even one Middle Eastern state, the rest will hound for it as well. No way will one sheikh allow another to upstage him, and the US has closed off the F-35s so far.

The J-35 to the Mid east would single handedly kill the entire export potential for GCAP and FCAS. No one outside of the Mid east except maybe Aus and SIngapore can even dream of affording GCAP and FCAS.

If they commit to the J-35, they will have to go all in on Chinese systems for air-to-air, including Chinese AWACS and EW aircraft and it would be a long multi decade commitment, with the potential of buying more advanced aircraft down the line. Oil oligarchs love shiny new toys and in the aerial domain China has the shiniest, newest toys available right now.
 
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dingyibvs

Senior Member
T.C.P said:
If China can sell it to even one Middle Eastern state, the rest will hound for it as well. No way will one sheikh allow another to upstage him, and the US has closed off the F-35s so far.

The J-35 to the Mid east would single handedly kill the entire export potential for GCAP and FCAS. No one outside of the Mid east except maybe Aus and SIngapore can even dream of affording GCAP and FCAS.

If they commit to the J-35, they will have to go all in on Chinese systems for air-to-air, including Chinese AWACS and EW aircraft and it would be a long multi decade commitment, with the potential of buying more advanced aircraft down the line. Oil oligarchs love shiny new toys and in the aerial domain China has the shiniest, newest toys available right now.
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Not just aerial assets, which will also include drones whether independent or CCAs, but after that would be ground based radars, with accompanying SAMs. IMO the J-35As have always been a bit of a "chicken rib" for the PLAAF, and the recent changes in its export potential is more likely to have shifted the balance toward inducting the than the changes in the security environment.
 
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T.C.P

New Member
Registered Member
dingyibvs said:
Not just aerial assets, which will also include drones whether independent or CCAs, but after that would be ground based radars, with accompanying SAMs. IMO the J-35As have always been a bit of a "chicken rib" for the PLAAF, and the recent changes in its export potential is more likely to have shifted the balance toward inducting the than the changes in the security environment.
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Made easier by the fact that China does not have any hang ups about balancing Israeli interests when it comes to selling stuff to the Arabs.

The Mid east already operate a lot of drones and SHorads from China and Saudi has a special relationship when it comes ot strategic ballistic missile development. With the US waning, top of the line Chinese gear is a not brainer for the sheikhs.
 
lcloo

lcloo

Captain
I am not surprise if J35AE will be sold to oil rich countries, though I expect the software part or systems and avionics etc would be quite different from J35/J35A.

If those oil rich countries are willing to provide funds for "separate" development of J35AE with their own specifications, I don't see why SAC would not go for it.
 
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ACuriousPLAFan

Brigadier
Registered Member
dingyibvs said:
If J-35/A wasn't on the cards before then I don't see how this would change the calculus. There are still some even within this board who question the value proposition of J-35As in the face of J-20 ramp up.
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It wasn't on the cards before because the situation was different back then.

Even Yang Wei admitted that the higher-ups in the PLA underestimated the production numbers of F-35s back then. They didn't expect that the F-35 production would reach well over 100 units per year.

Things are different now, so the J-35A are on the cards.

dingyibvs said:
I think there may well be a connection between the recent Chinese military export pickups and the PLAAF's decision to induct the J-35A.
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The JF-17 certainly didn't get inducted into PLAAF service as a stamp of confidence/approval for its overseas sales.

So, you may say that there is connection between the J-35A entering service with the PLAAF J-35A and the prospect of J-35AE overseas export - But that certainly isn't the dominant factor for the PLAAF's decision to procure the J-35As.
 
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