Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

I'm still asking myself how does it handle short range AAM.
Does the new prototype have side weapon bays like J-20?

FORBIN said:

Good idea

How long this bird i see 16.8 to 17.3 m ?

Click to expand...

Is this prototype is same in size comparison to the first one
Thx

defenceman said:

Is this prototype is same in size comparison to the first one
Thx

Click to expand...

Might be elongated, but not by much.

A slightly bigger version of the image from 11. May

Deino

cloyce said:

I'm still asking myself how does it handle short range AAM.
Does the new prototype have side weapon bays like J-20?

Click to expand...

does not look like it has side weapon bays.

1. The side of the intake is still too short by looking at the proportion.
2. The under side weapon bay doors are of difference color from the side of intake.
3. Although not of high resolution, it is sharp enough to see details of joints. There is no gap/joint on the side.

taxiya said:

does not look like it has side weapon bays.

1. The side of the intake is still too short by looking at the proportion.
2. The under side weapon bay doors are of difference color from the side of intake.
3. Although not of high resolution, it is sharp enough to see details of joints. There is no gap/joint on the side.

Click to expand...

I think you are right, so what happens if J-31 gets into close quarter combat?
Cause I don't think J-31 can open the belly weapon bay while manouvering at high G.

cloyce said:

I think you are right, so what happens if J-31 gets into close quarter combat?
Cause I don't think J-31 can open the belly weapon bay while manouvering at high G.

Click to expand...

The doors will open fine, that's what they're designed to do.

Why wouldn't it carry WVR missiles inside the big bay, if necessary? Locking onto a target after launch should be a perfectly valid method nowadays.

Air Force Brat said:

The doors will open fine, that's what they're designed to do.

Click to expand...

Sorry, I mean I think it can't fire Short range AAM while doing high G manouver. Because I suppose it's safer to drop weapons when the body is in its horizontal position

: J-31 v3.0 (3rd prototype) to make first flight on 1st June 2017(Unconfirmed/Rumored).

Looking back to Air force Monthly issue, April 2017, Alan Warnes clearly stated that in June 2017 Paris Air show, J-31 PT-3 will be marketed at AVIC Stall.

PT-3 is used to refer to J-31 v2.0 (2nd prototype which took first flight on 23 Dec 2016). If this news proves to be true that a 3rd prototype appears too sooner then there is no holding back on the statement that PLAN (Navy) is indeed funding the FC-31 program as China's 3rd aircraft carrier CV-002 is about to get assembled while the 2nd Carrier Type-001A will be combat ready in about 2.5 - 3 years.