Looks awfully similar to the scrapped Korean design.
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
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Looks awfully similar to the scrapped Korean design.
It's an old picture from a CCTV programme before the J-20 was actually released.
FarkTypeSoldier
Junior Member
Hmm ... I only get an advertisment for mobile phones
Could You please post the text (I think one has to be signed in to read it !?)Deino
Hmm ... I only get an advertisment for mobile phones
Deino
The info is from this weibo:
@风不悲CDer
310军方投资，项目继续。只说这么多了
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9月17日 11:40来自小米手机2
vincent, many members here don't speak chinese. Please also include translation notes.
This basically says Project 310 has military funding and will continue.
This comes as something of a surprise, I had supposed that the long term between the first flight and subsequent flights was a bad sign, but I suppose that the new gov had to re-eval most defense contracts, and it appears that they have reset some priorities, with the J-31 having a new lease on life. It is definitely tough to put your finger on the pulse of these projects, it keeps moving. brat
plawolf
Lieutenant General
I'm glad they decided to keep this project alive, the J31 is a very promising design and it would be a massive shame on a similar level as F23 decision if they killed it off so early in its life.
I would be very interested to know which branch of the military is funding its development, my guess would be the navy. In which case we can expect to see J31s operating alongside J15s as the primary fixed wing component of all future Chinese carrier air wings for the next 2-3 decades.
Who knows, if rumours of a naval J20 are true, we could be looking at a possible 3 fighter fleet for the PLANAF, with J31s making up the bulk of the CAP roles, J15s becoming the bomb trucks and a small number of J20s as a high end trump card that will go on long range hunting missions to kill enemy force multipliers (AWACS, tankers, ASW plans etc), give the PLANAF a decisive advantage when facing other 5th gen carrier fighters like the F35, and/or act as a high speed long range CAP and interceptor much like how the USN used their Tomcats back in the day.
But personally, I think its an 'either/or' deal between the J31 and a naval J20. I really cannot see the PLANAF going with a two heavy fighter make up for its carrier wing, and with both J31 and J20 optimised for air dominance, its not like ditch the J15 and going all stealth is going to be a particularly attractive option either.
Even if the PLAN ditched the J31 altogether, they are not going to fit many J20s and J15 on their carriers, even nuclear powered supercarriers. With research and production priority for the J20 skewed massively towards the Air Force, the Navy is almost certain to be looking at a very long wait before they get their birds if they opt for a naval J20. Serious design work probably won't even start under the Air Force J20 design has been finalised, and production would also likely take a back seat to Air Force demands. Just look at how long it took for the PLANAF got some J10s.
All of that makes the J31 a clear favourite for the primary stealth of the PLAN's future carrier fleet. In addition, choosing it will give SAC valuable experience, knowledge and investment to stay in the game with CAC and maintain a healthy competitive environment for future PLA combat aircraft contracts.
If things pan out this way, we will have an interesting dynamic whereby the Air Force will be made up of mainly CAC birds (J10s and J20s, with J20s replacing earlier J11s as the hi element of the PLAAF's hi-lo mix) while the navy is in SAC's corner with the J15 and J31.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
People should take this rumor with a grain of salt.
The PLAAF, from another rumor, apparently already has selected 611's design over the J-31, and that design might fly in 2015. That rumor was from July, so it is unlikely that the PLAAF would have backpedaled on their decision in two months. Another possibility is that they are sponsoring both aircraft, but that is unlikely since they don't grow on trees; it's also unlikely that the J-31 is being funded for another air force's export orders since nobody seems to be interested right now.
The PLAAF, from another rumor, apparently already has selected 611's design over the J-31, and that design might fly in 2015. That rumor was from July, so it is unlikely that the PLAAF would have backpedaled on their decision in two months. Another possibility is that they are sponsoring both aircraft, but that is unlikely since they don't grow on trees; it's also unlikely that the J-31 is being funded for another air force's export orders since nobody seems to be interested right now.
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