Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

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dingyibvs

Junior Member
Only if you're flying a Flanker off a ramp, look at the Su-33 load-outs that went to Syria, they were light, because that's all the SU-33 wanted to carry off the ramp, J-15 specs are very similar, same basic powerplants and airframe, which may? be a little lighter due to the use of composites?? that's the active narrative here on SDF.

Check the load-outs on the Mig-29Ks that went to Syria as well, I realize that the Mig-29K was flying strike missions, but it would carry a very similar load-out for A2A.

If you are expecting trouble, and you're operating off a CATOBAR or a land base, you load em up,,,, Flankers and F-15s will haul a lot of air to air missiles, check those additional hardpoints.

In peacetime, when you're basically just orbiting the carrier flying "top cover" or CAP, you might only carry 2 to 4 AAM, wartime, no way, you're going to fill-er-up, NOBODY goes to a GUNFIGHT with only two to four rounds in the magazine, NOBODY!

If you are operating a 5 gen, you would load it up with everything you could carry internally on the 1st Day, after those Air Defenses are cleared, then you would install hardpoints and "Load-er-up"??

I don't think the J-15 is very limited in AA missiles though. We know they can carry at least 2 YJ-83s and 2 PL-8's at the same time, and since each YJ-83 weighs as much as about 4 PL-12s, that would be equivalent TOW of 8 PL-12s and 2 PL-8s, a full CAP load out for the J-15.
 

kwaigonegin

Colonel
I don't think the J-15 is very limited in AA missiles though. We know they can carry at least 2 YJ-83s and 2 PL-8's at the same time, and since each YJ-83 weighs as much as about 4 PL-12s, that would be equivalent TOW of 8 PL-12s and 2 PL-8s, a full CAP load out for the J-15.
I've never seen a j15 taking off with that kinda loadout from Liaoning b4 though. Is it speculation or do we know as fact it can do that from the ski Jump?
 

Pmichael

Junior Member
I don't think China would have built another improved Admiral Kuzsnetsov carrier if the J-15 can't operate with a meaningful payload.

Especially it doesn't even look like the Navy is looking for a replacement or alternative.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
to big, and historically aft mounted Delta wings were not in service very long, Rafale is the lone exception these days.

In any respect there are many of us who called the FC-31 for the PLANAF long ago?? so we will see whether or not, current events bring new life to the FC-31?
Yes and no hehe the J-15 is also big J-20 do 20.4 m x 13. 5 m, FC-31 i see also 17.3 m ?

Ch embarqués.png
 
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Lethe

Captain
As for having a Chinese equivalent to the F/A-XX, it'd be more logical to build something of that weight class in the 2035-2040 timeframe when the technology mature and need for it.

If 6th generation USN and USAF (and potentially Japanese) platforms exist -- as they will by the early 2030s -- then China needs aircraft ready to counter and, if possible, overmatch them.

From the mid-2020s, China is in the big leagues. Second best, ten years late, is no longer good enough.

Nonetheless, it's possible that an aircraft like J-31 could go forward as a low-risk, low-cost project intended to supplement J-15 in the 2020s while a more ambitious project enjoys a longer incubation period.
 

Pmichael

Junior Member
The F-35 has a projected service life until 2070 with delievers of new F-35 until at least 2037. Saying that a stealth fighter of the 5gen group in 2020 is too late is absurd at best.

Even ignoring the fact that 5gen is just an umbrella term and significant improvement happened from the F-22 to F-35 in avionics and EW, the same will be applied to other aircraft in the same gen.
 

Air Force Brat

Brigadier
Super Moderator
If 6th generation USN and USAF (and potentially Japanese) platforms exist -- as they will by the early 2030s -- then China needs aircraft ready to counter and, if possible, overmatch them.

From the mid-2020s, China is in the big leagues. Second best, ten years late, is no longer good enough.

Nonetheless, it's possible that an aircraft like J-31 could go forward as a low-risk, low-cost project intended to supplement J-15 in the 2020s while a more ambitious project enjoys a longer incubation period.

There are currently NO six gen prototypes, lots and lots of drawings, tailess, pilotless, blah, blah, blah, but no aircraft. In my professional opinion, there isn't even a clear set of parameters that define what a six-gen would be/could be, so for now we should be looking to do a 5.5 gen with the Raptor or YF-23 upgrade proposal here in the US.

This should be a priority using the latest very fuel efficient technology, pushing the performance envelop with Stealth and higher Supercruise, forget OVT, that's yesterday, and will ultimately compromise our speed and L/O!
 

Gloire_bb

Captain
Registered Member
Typical A2A loadout for Soviet Su-27 was 4-6xBVR(R-27), 2-4x WVR(R-73). Actually lower figures(4+2) were considered to be more practical.
Barely above 1t.

Btw, say, F-15 early on typically carried about same in air superiority - iirc, 4 Arrows+2 sidewinders. With AMRAAMs BVR got more, but not much(generally - 6)
All fancy "4 AScM", "12 AAM" etc setups aren't really practical in typical big war scenarios.

If you are expecting trouble, and you're operating off a CATOBAR or a land base, you load em up,,,,
If you're expecting trouble - you think not only about shooting at bandits, but also what bandits can actually shoot back. And external A2A stores, while light - are very draggy. This is very serious matter in both long range missile combat and in a dogfight.

Things like 16-amraam boeing proposal for F-15 are basically ambush platforms. Because if you're caught with all this under wings - you're FUBAR.
 

Skywatcher

Captain
If 6th generation USN and USAF (and potentially Japanese) platforms exist -- as they will by the early 2030s -- then China needs aircraft ready to counter and, if possible, overmatch them.

From the mid-2020s, China is in the big leagues. Second best, ten years late, is no longer good enough.

Nonetheless, it's possible that an aircraft like J-31 could go forward as a low-risk, low-cost project intended to supplement J-15 in the 2020s while a more ambitious project enjoys a longer incubation period.

Frankly, given the usual length of defense aerospace programs, it's take at least twenty years for a next generation something in projection definition (like where the F/A-XX and PCA are right now) to get into LRIP, which would place the first non prototype F/A-XX in the 2035-2040 timeframe.
 
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