Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

ladioussupp said:

I know that YAL-1 is sealed because airborne laser is not mature enough to replace missiles and guns. But what if it works to blow out anything in the sky, the requirements of NGF would not be traditional further, higher, faster.

Regarding to your question, I'm old enough to admit that I don't know what new air war paradigm is, which forms the technical requirements of next generation fighter of J-20/J-31. It would be a worst nightmare when "x2" next generation fighters meet so-called "game changers" in the future.

Click to expand...

Great, thats pretty obvious to the rest of us, so lets stick to what we do know and take the science fiction elements over to F-16.com or where ever. While the airborne laser does have potential, it will not replace the manned fighter while tied to a 747 period. End off Topic

So, now that we've got our feet back on the ground, who does Avic intend to sell the J-31 to? Lets keep our conjecture within the realm of possibility please? What are the implications of AVIC putting the J-31 out there as an export fighter, do they need someone else to front the cash or? So before we worry about the next gen fighter, lets get this one off the ground and into service and see what develops? Obviously there needs to be a good A2A Naval Aircraft to fly top cover for the fleet?

Air Force Brat said:

Great, thats pretty obvious to the rest of us, so lets stick to what we do know and take the science fiction elements over to F-16.com or where ever. While the airborne laser does have potential, it will not replace the manned fighter while tied to a 747 period. End off Topic

So, now that we've got our feet back on the ground, who does Avic intend to sell the J-31 to? Lets keep our conjecture within the realm of possibility please? What are the implications of AVIC putting the J-31 out there as an export fighter, do they need someone else to front the cash or? So before we worry about the next gen fighter, lets get this one off the ground and into service and see what develops? Obviously there needs to be a good A2A Naval Aircraft to fly top cover for the fleet?

Click to expand...

I do think J-31 was developed for PLA primarily. SAC is a state-controlled giganitic conglomerate, it's unimaginable for it to shoot an unaimmed arrorw at a project as big as this. with the article I quoted earlier, it's very reasonable to assume PLA, either its AirForce or Navy wing, had given SAC indications that they need a plane such as J-31.

If PLA had shown its hand and SAC was looking for a potential export oppotunity it is because: A. it's a bonus if someone else would want to shoulder the development cost. B. to put out a political message that whoever that allies with China would have access to this plane C. It doesn't hurt to put your plane out there when it seems 4th gen era for manned air superiority fighter is going to last a very long time, oppotunity will present itself.

Air Force Brat said:

Great, thats pretty obvious to the rest of us, so lets stick to what we do know and take the science fiction elements over to F-16.com or where ever. While the airborne laser does have potential, it will not replace the manned fighter while tied to a 747 period. End off Topic

So, now that we've got our feet back on the ground, who does Avic intend to sell the J-31 to? Lets keep our conjecture within the realm of possibility please? What are the implications of AVIC putting the J-31 out there as an export fighter, do they need someone else to front the cash or? So before we worry about the next gen fighter, lets get this one off the ground and into service and see what develops? Obviously there needs to be a good A2A Naval Aircraft to fly top cover for the fleet?

Click to expand...

J-31 is a platform which can export to deepen control or influence of China's allies. Used as a strategic tool, J-31 is not required to out-perform F-35. Cost, quantity, and maintenance issues are the most important factors of an export fighter rather than range and capability. Most of China's allies need an affordable export fighter in few squadrons. Currently they will choose JF-17 or J-10, but they will choose J-31 in 2020. Or at least a high-low mix, J-31 and J-10.

In the foreseeable future, PLAN CBG is not capable to fight head to head to US Navy counterpart. Although air superiority is important for a CBG, no matter how J-31 performs is irrelevant to the melee result at the high sea. In other words, if PLAN wants to defeats US Navy at the high sea, a lot of things are more important than fighters' performance. For example, C4ISR capability, long range ASCM and ASBM, silent nuclear submarines, air refuel fleet, logistics fleet, and oversea bases, all of these are essential elements of a NAVY dominates high seas.

Since PLAN cannot dominate seven seas, I believe that J-31 plays a "normal/general" role on carriers' deck. Just like Rhino is not designed for air dominance role as Tomcat, J-31 does not need to out-perform F-35C. Enjoying A2A edge on those non-stealth fighters is good enough for J-31.

ahadicow said:

it's in the 2nd page of the article linked by escobar in post #2072



Translation: According to the report, a previous model had a R&D to production cycle of 10 to 15 years, but now that process had been shortened to 3 to 5 years. For the newest generation fighter J-31, the military had made high requirement and tight schedules, but ShenFei(SAC) had used only 19 months to develop its prototype.

So, according to this article, the J-31 was developed under PLA request, so it can be excluded that it was a privately funded venture. Therefore, either PLAAF or PLAN would buy this plane in some shape or form.

Click to expand...

19 months to develop a 5th generation prototype sounds too short. I geuss it means to build the prototype model. it more likely does not include design procedure

ahadicow said:

it's in the 2nd page of the article linked by escobar in post #2072

Translation: According to the report, a previous model had a R&D to production cycle of 10 to 15 years, but now that process had been shortened to 3 to 5 years. For the newest generation fighter J-31, the military had made high requirement and tight schedules, but ShenFei(SAC) had used only 19 months to develop its prototype.

So, according to this article, the J-31 was developed under PLA request, so it can be excluded that it was a privately funded venture. Therefore, either PLAAF or PLAN would buy this plane in some shape or form.

Click to expand...

To me, it is more, or it could well be, like: Look here's our requirments, if you guys can develop something to meet them, we'll be willing to have a look. Then we'll talk about paying... And on hearing that, SAC started putting together the 31001. And now we know that neither PLAAF or PLANAF has committed to it. And we heared that both CAC and SAC have a naval design of their own respectively soon to come out.

ladioussupp said:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

So AVIC admits the designation number is J-31...

Click to expand...

I think he's just going with the flow, instead of admitting anything. The 31001 project and whatever it spawns, as I've heard, will be J-21 if inducted.

P.S. Hey, I'm turning the page yet again!! Now, Brat, do you think this could be something of providence?

Player99 said:

I think he's just going with the flow, instead of admitting anything. The 31001 project and whatever it spawns, as I've heard, will be J-21 if inducted.

P.S. Hey, I'm turning the page yet again!! Now, Brat, do you think this could be something of providence?

Click to expand...

Yes, I'm sure HE's still watching over us both, my brother.

CEO of Russian MIG confirms the engines of J-31 prototype are 2 RD-93. He felt sorry that Russian abandoned R&D works of a new light-weight fighter.

Original web page is here

So is are the RD-93s the intended engines to power the J-31s? What ever happened to the WS-13 Taishan engines? Wouldn't it make sense to have an improved, more powerful and more efficient Chinese engine on a Chinese fighter-jet? Is it destined to be that China would keep on importing engines from Russia, would there be a day when China is 100% independent and pioneering in engine technology and innovation.

Dizasta1 said:

So is are the RD-93s the intended engines to power the J-31s? What ever happened to the WS-13 Taishan engines? Wouldn't it make sense to have an improved, more powerful and more efficient Chinese engine on a Chinese fighter-jet? Is it destined to be that China would keep on importing engines from Russia, would there be a day when China is 100% independent and pioneering in engine technology and innovation.

Click to expand...

Why ... keep in mind it is right now simply a prototype and as such I'm not surprised that they took a proven & reliable engine and not a probably more powerful but not established one, what is not even operatinal with the FC-1.

Deino