Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
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J-31 Flew Twice Today!
Were additional J-31 flights expected to mark progress in the program? Or are they just trying to keep up with the J-20 in the PR department.
Equation
Lieutenant General
I know right? LOL...SAC PR department....SsssUUUUUUCKKKS!
Forget it, you can't hang with your big brother J-20!Building prototypes and investing money and resources to do it shouldn't be about PR, but about what's needed for the military. In this case it would be best for SAC just to cancel this whole thing if it is true that there really is no interest from the PLAAF or foreign customers for this plane.
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Interest isn't always found. Sometimes it's built. So long as you only have one potential customer it's actually smarter to change their minds with something you can push concurrently rather than wait for the next opportunity for a sale they might give you. Without changing someone's mind about buying the J-31 SAC would be facing a rather grim prospect for the next decade or so. Furthermore continuing the program on your own money can be seen as an investment on your next project because you're still improving your project management and understanding and mastery of the new technology, while keeping your workers sharp. Finally they may be looking to mature the design even if the PLAAF doesn't want it, because there's still a competition for the next naval fighter.
Number 1, I don't get all the animos against this beautiful airplane, it new, is fresh, somebody's paying for it, not you, so whats the problem, the J-20 is never going to be aboard ship, and the Navy wants/needs a fifth generation aircraft to meet their needs for Fleet Air Defense, this bird is NOT in competition with the J-20, and its got million dollar looks, so what not to like???
AssassinsMace
Lieutenant General
Is that an optical illusion with the nose cone? It reminds me of a chicken I once saw where the upper beak was clipped off. I would say it looks like some UCAVs you see but that's because of the intake being there.
The top of the nose cone in the bright light has a color similar to the background is all. I had to do a double take too, but if you look a little closer, you can barely see the edge of the nose cone.
PLAN probably didn't give a commitment to actually use the aircraft, but is willing to dish out money for SAC to continue to do R&D on it. This is how most defense projects worked on early prototype stages. Which is why J-31 is still flying.
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