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

[ismellcopium]

Quickly summarizing some of the interesting things said about J35A in today's stream by Yankee, Shilao and Ayi.:

• This unit at the airshow shouldn't be the first production unit delivered to PLAAF.
• Don't be surprised if J35As are not as fully equipped as the naval J35 to keep the cost down.
• J20's current production rate is basically maxed out. Along with the development of 6th gen, CAC's burden is too heavy right now.
• PLAAF is still looking forward to expand the scale of its fleet while improving fleet quality.

Obviously they also talked about a lot more stuff, I suggest anyone that's interested to watch it if you can. Sounds like PLAAF is simply looking for a cheaper 5th gen that can quickly improve the scale of PLAAF's 5th gen fleet. They mentioned that PLAN want the max spec version of J35 since it's the only 5th gen they'll have, and they only need so many jets. However for PLAAF, they are not looking for J35A to do all things J20 can do (at least AA wise). They also talked about the importance of having such a type of multi-role stealth aircraft at improving PLAAF's stratigic capabilities. The sheer number of 5th gen is more important to PLAAF than a lot of people thought, and they want it as soon as possible.

Thus my personal guess would be: J35A simply used most of the mature stuff that have already been tested on J35 prototypes and FC31 demonstrators. Don't forget J35A is mostly the same as FC31 2.0 aerodynamic wise, which has been flying for years, and the changes such as the shape at the back of the canopy is something tested on J35 already. Electronic wise it might simply be the same thing or even lower spec version of J35. Thus we can't view its testing period as if it's a new jet that first flight last year. It's basicly an almost mature product off the shelf from AVIC.

What could not "max spec"/fully equipped mean specifically here for the air force version?

 

[siegecrossbow]

What could not "max spec"/fully equipped mean specifically here for the air force version?

PLAN is adamant about having supercruise for J-35. PLAAF isn’t.

 

[defenceman]

Hi,
with all those multi million dollars of money on spy crafts, satellites
and other Human Resources including monitoring defence forums
it’s really a miracle for SAC and China to hide the J35 from the praying
eyes around the world and about to be inducted soon, really amazing
anyone have any idea about the production capacity to produce these
in coming months or a year timeline
thank you

 

[Schwerter_]

What could not "max spec"/fully equipped mean specifically here for the air force version?

Groundless guessing on my part here but heres a few examples that I thought of

Less powerful EW system
Doing without a full EO DAS system (others have already mentioned that the J-35A seems to be missing a few DAS apertures)
Less capable or at least more cost-sensitive radar and sensor suite
Maybe less effective / cheaper / less delicate RAM coating and detail treatment

As a sidenote, the J-35A does seem to have more inlets on it (one above right intake. at least one at VT root, etc) and they seem... plainer than what other 5th gen aircrafts may have. That may be an indication that they're willing to forego a bit of LO requirements to use internal systems that require these inlets (maybe a cheaper heat exchanger assembly for cooling???) Or its an entirely different issue and Im just connecting random pieces of information without justification. Anyways take what I said with salt, lots of it

 

[Arienai]

What could not "max spec"/fully equipped mean specifically here for the air force version?

They didn't went deep into this topic. Yankee simply said don't be surprised if it is lower spec than naval version.

PLAN is adamant about having supercruise for J-35. PLAAF isn’t.

I personally doubt the naval version can supercruise before WS19 is ready, but it's hard to image the AF version won't also equip it when it does (maybe PLAN will get the newer version first, but in the long run AF should also get it). And if the naval version can supercruise with WS19, there shouldn't be any reason that the AF version can't. I would say the lower spec should be on electronics and other stuff.

 

[siegecrossbow]

They didn't went deep into this topic. Yankee simply said don't be surprised if it is lower spec than naval version.


I personally doubt the naval version can supercruise before WS19 is ready, but it's hard to image the AF version won't also equip it when it does (maybe PLAN will get the newer version first, but in the long run AF should also get it). And if the naval version can supercruise with WS19, there shouldn't be any reason that the AF version can't. I would say the lower spec should be on electronics and other stuff.

They’ll wait till it’s ready. And WS-19 is progressing very smoothly.

 

[Arienai]

They’ll wait till it’s ready. And WS-19 is progressing very smoothly.

That would be my guess as well, they don't need it as badly, since they already have J20

 

[sunnymaxi]

They didn't went deep into this topic. Yankee simply said don't be surprised if it is lower spec than naval version.


I personally doubt the naval version can supercruise before WS19 is ready, but it's hard to image the AF version won't also equip it when it does (maybe PLAN will get the newer version first, but in the long run AF should also get it). And if the naval version can supercruise with WS19, there shouldn't be any reason that the AF version can't. I would say the lower spec should be on electronics and other stuff.

WS-19 entered in material selection stage in 2023 and we have seen flight tests too ..

Engine is basically ready for small Scale production. if everything goes well then next year we can expect production.

 

[Schwerter_]

PLAN is adamant about having supercruise for J-35. PLAAF isn’t.

Speaking of which, if the naval variant can supercruise using a given engine model (ws13, ws19, ws21, doesn't matter), it would follow that the Airforce variant most likely also can, after all they're aerodynamically pretty similar with the airforce variant being (hopefully) a bit lighter and a bit less draggy with smaller wings.

 

[Arienai]

WS-19 entered in material selection stage in 2023 and we have seen flight tests too ..

Engine is basically ready for small Scale production. if everything goes well then next year we can expect production.

I said so because I would expect J35 to be flying on Liaoning and Shandong real soon. Maybe the WS19 version will be ready when Fujian is also ready, but it certainly isn't at this point