Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

woah

xiabonan said:

His original statement was that "when I look at this aircraft, I see the Mig29." I would understand his statement as "the FC31 looks just like the MiG29". This is what I was refuting.

He didn't say "FC31 is comparable to the MiG29 in terms of roles and capabilities, and represent an upgrade in terms of stealth."

I'll be fine with this argument.

Click to expand...

Well, his original statement is a bit ambiguous, and I hope we will show up to clarify that . In my opinion, J-31 doesn't look like Mig-29 (obviously) but will fulfill same or similar role . When I look at J-20 and J-31 I see Fw-190 and Bf-109 or F-15 and F-16 (high-end , low-end ) etc ...

Ali Qizilbash said:

JF 17 is highly modified Mig 21 ... lol...

Click to expand...

Someone joked that even the cx-1 is a modified Mig-21...they both have cone inlet.

navyreco said:

woah

Click to expand...

Take away the black smoke trail and it is perfect.

no_name said:

Someone joked that even the cx-1 is a modified Mig-21...they both have cone inlet.



Take away the black smoke trail and it is perfect.

Click to expand...

I wonder if one of the engine nozzles is blackened by soot.

Honestly I can't tell from that pic I think it's just the lighting angle.

vesicles said:

I thought one of the PAF officials stated earlier at the Zhuhai airshow that they would not buy FC-31...

Click to expand...

If my memory serves me well, they interviewed Wing Commander Amir. He is a veteran F-16 pilot who has flown the Chinese Su-30s on an exchange program. (Not sure if he is still deputed there). What he stated was that PAF will not immediately buy the FC-31 which i believe is a fair statement. It was his own opinion and not PAF's.

Col Amir was suggesting that PAF is in 'no hurry' of buying the FC-31 because its totally and utterly focused on replacing PAF's old fleet of A-5, Mirage-III, Mirage V, F-7P aircrafts with different blocks of JF-17 Thunder fighter. Looking towards the future though the PAF also would have to replace its F-7PGs as well as the older F-16A/B MLU-MIII aircrafts which it received in the 80s. PAF is looking for a platform which shares some aspects in common with the JF-17s to reduce cost, increase its response time and readiness. FC-31 fits the bill because it not only allows the PAF to get hooked with SAC early in its formative years of development to make sure that the end product fits PAF's future needs vis-a-vis PAK-FA/Rafale etc but also is powered by the same class of engines which would be interchangeable with its JF-17s (WS-13/17). FC-31 also offers a common data link/sensor fusion, HMD, some other spare parts and weaponry. The weapon systems PAF will mature on the JF-17s can then be integrated on the FC-31 to make sure that the new jet reaches its operational service level in a short period of joining PAF's service. Its also likely that Pakistan will increase its order as the time goes by and would receive some transfer of technology.

no_name said:

Honestly I can't tell from that pic I think it's just the lighting angle.

Click to expand...

Highly unlikely that this is the result of lighting.

I think that one of the engines was recently replaced.

siegecrossbow said:

Highly unlikely that this is the result of lighting.

I think that one of the engines was recently replaced.

Click to expand...

Looks like a swap to the brat?& I already spoke for 001, it mine! I'll take those old smokey RD-93s and not complain!

Purely speculative, but, any chance we could see an inversion of history and see Russia buying fighter aircraft from China? J-31 would be a great replacement for the Mig-29 and could free-up Mig to focus resources on developing the Scat.