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

[Deino]

…

I think people will be shocked by how many of these get exported and how quickly.

Based on what? Wishful thinking?

 

[Andy1974]

Based on what? Wishful thinking?

Based on Chinas Global Initiatives, especially the Global Security one.

 

[Deino]

Based on Chinas Global Initiatives, especially the Global Security one.

Where is the security aspect to deliver an as yet unproven and not mature product to a customer without an established after-sales support system?

 

[johncliu88]

BREAKING: PL-17 AAM now hides in J-35’s internal weapons bay​

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[Andy1974]

Where is the security aspect to deliver an as yet unproven and not mature product to a customer without an established after-sales support system?

Well the key aspect of the GSI is to have security balance, this strategy of course determines Chinas export policy, how could it not?

If there is balance there will be deterrence and hence peace. This is Chinas strategy, you should read it.

J-35 exports can help to bring balance to currently unbalanced security situations because it can deter even F-35 armed countries.

 

[Deino]

BREAKING: PL-17 AAM now hides in J-35’s internal weapons bay​

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Really? Is thsi a stupid joke I‘m currently not in the mood to bear due to all the BS being spread all over the net nowadays or do you take this nonsense for real??

In that case I‘m actually questioning your state of mental health And as such your right to post here!

 

[Deino]

Well the key aspect of the GSI is to have security balance, this strategy of course determines Chinas export policy, how could it not?

If there is balance there will be deterrence and hence peace. This is Chinas strategy, you should read it.

J-35 exports can help to bring balance to currently unbalanced security situations because it can deter even F-35 armed countries.

NO, an export of J-35A in this tensed situation is not an aspect for security balance but a further destabilising factor!

 

[FriedRiceNSpice]

If China exports these planes it is still good for Chinas security. Pakistan being able to deter India is great for Chinas security. Likewise for quite a many countries in Chinas neighborhood, which they already said they would prioritize for development.

J-35 to Pakistan would expedite India's acquisition of 5th generation fighters, which actually makes things more complicated for both China and Pakistan. Currently, a few squadron of J-10C is enough for the entire IAF to stand down. If IAF were to fast track acquisition of either Su-57 or even F-35, then China would also need to deploy J-20/J-35 to WTC. The strategic decision is to delay J-35 to Pakistan for as long as possible.

 

[sunnymaxi]

Any idea what engine is on the J-35A in the images above? WS-21 or perhaps even WS-19?

possibility of WS-19. but can't be 100 percent sure, we need more closer images to judge.

WS-21 and WS-19 interconnected in material and components.

 

[GiantPanda]

That's wrong.

What China does need right now is actually plenty more 5th-gen fighters, given the worsening geopolitical and military developments in the WestPac and over the Xizang Plateau. We're looking at not-a-small-number of non-friendly countries surrounding China with growing and prospective fleets of both 5th-gen and 4.5th-gen fighters right now and for the foreseeable future, let alone the ones from faraway. China certainly needs both quality AND quantity to build and maintain at least a slight (if not significant/considerable) advantage/overmatch against her expected opponents.

And by being smaller and less top-tier-ish (compared to the J-35), hence relatively more affordable, the J-35A fits the bill quite well.

If anything, given how the Guancha Trios noted that Chengdu AC is already scraping the celling WRT J-20's production capacity sometime last year - I'd certainly see Shenyang AC joining in being a sight of great relief, given how Chengdu AC won't be as pressured as before, since they would no longer be the only ones hard-pressed by the PLAAF for 5th-gen fighters.

That means instead of having the PLAAF relying solely on Chengdu AC for ~100 J-20/A/Ss as we are right now - Chengdu could gradually reduce their J-20 production capacity to ~80-90 J-20/A/Ss per year, whereas Shenyang AC could gradually increase their annual production rate to ~40-50 J-35As per year for the PLAAF, plus another ~10-20 J-35s for the PLAN (provided that the immediate 5th-gen needs onboard their CVs have been dealt with).

This also means that the spare production capacities at Chengdu AC from the reduction of J-20 production could be dedicated for the production of other warplanes types in the coming years, such as mid-tier and high-tier UCAVs, plus even the upcoming J-36.

The benefits of the J-35A's addition to the PLAAF's fighter fleet can never be overstated. Besides, who's still going to happily boast about procuring many 4.5th-gen fighters into the 2030s and beyond, if they can totally afford a majority-stealth fighter fleet?

As for the J-10A/B/C family (plus the J-11BG family) - While some of them could still be flying around in rear units and doing rather menial tasks (like chasing away opposing aircrafts, patrolling along land & maritime borders, and conducting strike missions when regional aerial control is secured), I certainly wouldn't be surprised if more and more of them are sent for the aircraft boneyards in Western China in the future, even if they still have 10, 15 or even 20 years of life left in them.

As for the past habits - China is getting wealthier. So does the PLA.

It makes sense.

But this also makes sense:


That was a Chinese delegation in Cairo. The J-35E was also pitched in Saudi Arabia shows.

I don't think China would bring attention to a product they can't fullfil.

Remember, PLAAF attention was always on the J-20 and its production. The J-35A, in my opinion, is "good to have" but not critical for the PLAAF.

It is critical for the PLAN. If anything, it would not be PLAAF needs that would dictate exports but whether that first big wave of PLAN carriers would force Shenyang to prioritize J-35 over J-35A or J-35E.

IMO, it would be quite a few years before the need to supply beyond the Type 003 so SAC might use PLAAF and foreign orders to prime the J-35 production lines and eco-system. Once they do get multiple Type 004 and 005, everything would be in place.