plawolf
Lieutenant General
Well, if Pakistan get onboard this early in the development stage, they should be able to get many of their own requirements in, especially since the J31 hasn't picked up any official PLA support, and SAC would be desperate to secure outside funding to help complete the project, so would be much more willing to make changes to accommodate the PAF's needs.
However, no official PLA support I a double edged sword because without it, there is no real guarantee that the J31 will ever enter service. If Pakistan wants to get onboard, the first thing they need to do is work out what their optimal invesmtnet would be. If they just invest a little, it might not be enough to finish the programme and they might not get anything out of it. But in order to maximise the chances that the project is successful would require a massive cash investment, and even then there will still be an element of risk, and as with most programmes these days, what the inital cost estimates are may be very different to what the project actually costs. Same goes for estimate unite costs.
Part of the reason Pakistan demanded that China also commit to a FC1/JF17 buy was to guarantee that the programme came to fruition and also to make sure that Pakistan won't be left to get the tab itself if costs spiral. I don't think Pakistan will get into the J31 unless they get a similar commitment from the PLA with the J31. Maybe even such a commitment might not be enough since China seemed to have gone back on its word wrt PLAAF JF17 purchases. Pakistan isn't making a stink because of how well the JF17 programme has gone, but that does not mean they would have forgotten about that when it comes to negociating future deals.
All in all, I think that while the PAF is massively interested in a J31 like fighter, the programme is just too high risk and high cost right now for them to commit to it. Add in the fact that the PAF has never worked with SAC before, and SAC's less than stellar reputation, I just cannot see the PAF getting onboard without a major development like official PLA backing for the project.
In a way, the J31 is as good as it is likely to get for PAF to get onboard a 5th gen fighter programme. Pakistan simply lacks he financial and technical muscle to pursue a 5th gen design by themselves, and timeframe wise, if all goes well, the J31 could enter service in time to counter IAF PAK-FAs. However, the costs and risks are just too high for the PAF, if the J31 was a CAC project, the PAF might risk it, but it being a SAC bird is just too much imo.
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