TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
bravo and Charlie both use a podded version of the same gun. Mounted center line. Under the hull.
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
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bravo and Charlie both use a podded version of the same gun. Mounted center line. Under the hull.
I believe they could easily have had room on Charlie and, IMHO, should have mounted it. With the VTOL I can understand Bravo being at a premium for pace.
In both cases, they are deigned to mount an under the fuselage, centerline mounted stealth pod with the same weapon.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
I believe they could easily have had room on Charlie and, IMHO, should have mounted it. With the VTOL I can understand Bravo being at a premium for pace.
In both cases, they are deigned to mount an under the fuselage, centerline mounted stealth pod with the same weapon.
question is how much of a penalty is that gun pod going to effect RCS on B and C? When you're talking tennis ball size RCS something like that is no good!
Equation
Lieutenant General
True, but than again if that particular F-35 already had external missiles attached to its wings, why not put a gun for non-stealth mission?
Now, I would love to see the J-31 capable of doing this as well.
I do however agree with your assessment of the Boeing X-32, looks like something out of Star Wars, and also that the YF-23 is indeed lovely, so there is likely some hope for you after all. I have seen the Raptor, anytime a 30 ton fighter does a tail-slide like a Pitts or an Extra, it is an outstandingly robust airframe, if the J-31 comes as close in performance as it does in looks, it will be a winner, the Raptor is a pilots airplane, it will make your mouth hang open, especially given its heavy weight status, it is indeed a graceful bird in the air. I know we are all waiting for the J-31 to suck that gear up and show what she will do! brat
Not a chance. Keep in mind F-35A and C's centerline store station is a small benefit of the severe design compromise accepted early on in the design process in order to facilitate maximum commonality between STOVL and conventional versions. Basically the need to put the engine far forward in order for its thrust column to be sufficiently close to center of gravity during vertical landing is what caused F-35 to have a split main weapon bay, which in turn allowed a centerline external weapon station.
If there was no requirement for a F-35B STOVL version, F-35A and C would likely have featured a much more efficient engine placement behind the main landing gear strength bulkhead, which would have allowed a much more efficient single full span weapon bay, and there would not have been any place to put a centerline store station.
Well, I think like JF17 suits Pakistan perfectly, this one has just the same ideology... Shhhht. It is a secret but I read that Pakistan is going to be the first export client for J31. O my God, it is not even a secret...
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