Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

Or 611 winning the contract wasn't true.

Air Force Brat said:

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. It is definitely tough to put your finger on the pulse of these projects, it keeps moving. brat

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interesting. The decisions/directions of this project is hard to keep a thumb on. I will wait for more than rumors or non-official statements before saying for sure.

Now, a mixed air wing of J-15s and J-31s would be very similar in make-up to a US Navy F/A-18E/F and F-35C air wing make-up if the Chinese actually take the J-31nto production.

SinoSoldier said:

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.

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If the Navy is funding the J-31, another possibility is that the J-31 is an insurance policy. If the rumours that 611 won the competition for a naval fighter are true, then despite CAC's recent successes there's always a risk that one extra project might just be one too much. Meanwhile, SAC would have a greater incentive to deliver if they're looking at the possibility of being locked out of future contracts. The J-31 might also end up being the cheaper option if at least part of its development is self funded. This is certainly an interesting turn of events, so we'll see where this goes.

From what I've gathered, casually, the J-31(actually J-21) has been chosen, and 611 lost this time. But it was more or less a decision shuffled to the Navy, not of their own choice (which would have been a navalized J-20).

And while I'm on it (rumors), I also read that J-18 has taken off, and two bombers are about to come out, one of which "looks not very normal, and the other looks down right abnormal", and 096 will come out ahead of schedule...

Player99 said:

From what I've gathered, casually, the J-31(actually J-21) has been chosen, and 611 lost this time. But it was more or less a decision shuffled to the Navy, not of their own choice (which would have been a navalized J-20).

And while I'm on it (rumors), I also read that J-18 has taken off, and two bombers are about to come out, one of which "looks not very normal, and the other looks down right abnormal", and 096 will come out ahead of schedule...

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Sounds a tad too fantastical.

Player99 said:

From what I've gathered, casually, the J-31(actually J-21) has been chosen, and 611 lost this time. But it was more or less a decision shuffled to the Navy, not of their own choice (which would have been a navalized J-20).

And while I'm on it (rumors), I also read that J-18 has taken off, and two bombers are about to come out, one of which "looks not very normal, and the other looks down right abnormal", and 096 will come out ahead of schedule...

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Where did that information come from?

Psed ... but nice !

Pardon the ignorance, what is this 611 design which the J-31 May or may not have lost to? Does it exist in hardware? Which institution designed it? What are it's general specs and layout?

chuck731 said:

Pardon the ignorance, what is this 611 design which the J-31 May or may not have lost to? Does it exist in hardware? Which institution designed it? What are it's general specs and layout?

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611 is the design institute for CAC. 601 is the design institute for SAC. We don't know if it exists in hardware, but probably not. The the rumour is that CAC's design was a downsized J-20. That's about all the information we have.

latenlazy said:

611 is the design institute for CAC. 601 is the design institute for SAC. We don't know if it exists in hardware, but probably not. The the rumour is that CAC's design was a downsized J-20. That's about all the information we have.

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Which in a way... I think it make sense that China chooses the 601 (J-31) design over the 611. J-31 had a couple (two I think) of prototypes flying already... while the 611 design might still be on drawing board, so in term of speed of development, the J-31 do have some advantages.

Although it can be argued that J-20 is already up there for some time now (although still in prototype stage) but to downsize a J-20, is not going to be easy, and it is going to take some time, also what engine will be used to power the downsized J-20? We know that the Chinese will use WS-15 for J-20, but will the same engine be used for the downsized J-20? Or a new engine needed to be developed, or the Chinese needed to fall back onto the Russian to supply engines? If a new engine was to be developed, then more time is needed.

For J-31, I believe it already had a powerplant - WS-13.

(Personal note: I like the look of J-31 better... look more... beautiful than the J-20, please don't bash me for that)