Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

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manqiangrexue

manqiangrexue

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b787 said:
relax 11 kg empty weight for J-20 cheerleader fan #1
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11 empty kg for J-20 is more likely than junkyard fighter Su-57 having any real stealth LOL.

What's the matter? Even you're so embarrassed at your pathetic comment you replaced it with a smiley face? Why? You run out of vodka and sobering up? LOL
 
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ougoah

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This is why rule with an iron fist is necessary for forums and sovereign nations :p

Manqiang has done my job for me in the last two pages. I will refrain from derailing and adding to the flame war.
 
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ougoah

Brigadier
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The J-15 video is where we got the footage and photo of J-31 prototype from. They threw it in there for a few seconds (thank you thank you thank you) during a commentary on 3D printing in weight reduction. Assuming this is all done intentionally with respect to the context of the topic, I think it's fair to say they are suggesting that J-31 represents a project where weight saving using newer manufacturing techniques like 3D printing, takes a significant role in the development of this fighter. I find it hard to believe J-15 manufacturing could be that revolutionary since they are working with an existing and established design in the flanker series. SAC's experience in building Sino-Flankers in all their variants, and Ukrainian Su-33 prototype must have limited them to using the old techniques maybe with a few parts 3D printed here and there. To change the distribution of weight so dramatically must have certain impacts on FCS and the rest. Just because they can do it, doesn't mean they will especially if it's untested and makes little economic sense to.

J-31 being developed from the ground up (even with Lockheed Martin design inspirations, the finer details definitely have to be Chinese since SAC don't have direct access to all LockMart machinery and subcontractors lol), has a much greater chance at exploiting the full advantages of these new manufacturing tech.

On the question of carrier fighter, new EMALS or catapult launching will allow PLAN to launch J-15 with full combat load and fuel. I have doubts that can be done with ramp because I haven't seen J-15 take off with full load before (although it's entirely possible I'm wrong). We know third and all future Chinese carriers are all catapult so no problems there. I bet there are projects to develop flanker based carrier borne electronics warfare plane (growler role maybe based off J-16), carrier launched AWACS, early warning, sub hunter MAD all based on one medium sized platform, UAVs and UCAVs (piece of cake to do now). Those are not pressing since PRC is likely to remain a regional role for decades to come and won't be carrying the kind of big stick around since the political projection is vastly different to the American method. If China is projected to overtake the US on nominal economic terms before 2050 (PPP already happened), we will only see similar naval power around that time and likely only after that since it takes decades to develop and build to that level. The bigger question therefore isn't the rest of carrier borne air support but fifth gen carrier borne fighter. I'd personally prefer J-20 as the carrier fighter and J-31 purely for export since CAC can receive all the carrier experience from SAC by central authority. But given the new prototypes being shown and not a peep about FC-31 being exported, the money being poured into this project might suggest J-31 is indeed the carrier 5th gen fighter.
 
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