Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

asif iqbal said:

FC31 V3 has not appeared

It’s mid -2019 and nothing

I am worried about the programme

Click to expand...

I think they're not doing just a V3; they're doing a huge overhaul including in size, to get it suitable for WS-19 engines. This is probably more like making a brand new jet somewhat based on the FC31 rather than making a new version of the FC31 if I'm not mistaken.

siegecrossbow said:

Even if the FC-31 were ready, I don't think China's relationship with Turkey is currently good enough for its export.

Click to expand...

That is hard to say considering the history.

China exported DF-3 to Saudi Arabia in late 1980s just before the two established diplomatic relationship in 1990. Sino-Turkish relationship may not be anywhere comparable to Sino-Pakistani today, but is no worse than Sino-Saudi in the 1980s, if there is a motivation (which I believe so) China may sell FC-31. P.S. China has already sold ballistic (or tech) missile to Turkey which has pretty much more geopolitical impact than a 5th gen fighter jet if not more.

The motivation? Driving a wedge, same as the attempted HQ-9 sale, same as Russia selling S400.

P.S. I personally do not favour such sale, but I don't sit in Xi's chair.

Turkey is likely using both China and Russia to get more concessions from the US.

H2O said:

Turkey is likely using both China and Russia to get more concessions from the US.

Click to expand...

And China and Russia are happy to be "used". It is a geopolitical game.

taxiya said:

And China and Russia are happy to be "used". It is a geopolitical game.

Click to expand...

Definitely free publicity especially for China. But, I can't see the Chinese being too happy as they would end up wasting their time in negotiations to nowhere (i.e. HQ-9 deal). If the Turks do walk away from NATO, Russia will be their supplier.

taxiya said:

That is hard to say considering the history.

China exported DF-3 to Saudi Arabia in late 1980s just before the two established diplomatic relationship in 1990. Sino-Turkish relationship may not be anywhere comparable to Sino-Pakistani today, but is no worse than Sino-Saudi in the 1980s, if there is a motivation (which I believe so) China may sell FC-31. P.S. China has already sold ballistic (or tech) missile to Turkey which has pretty much more geopolitical impact than a 5th gen fighter jet if not more.

The motivation? Driving a wedge, same as the attempted HQ-9 sale, same as Russia selling S400.

P.S. I personally do not favour such sale, but I don't sit in Xi's chair.

Click to expand...

Yeah, but the Saudis turned against China, ran off with the technology and became America’s core ally instead. Don’t think China would touch a hot plate twice.

If the FC-31 is as good as the F-35 or better (as the redesign indicates it will be), then it is FAR to sensitive to sell to any country that is not completely aligned with China.

Selling artillery pieces and ancient drones is one thing, selling state of the art stealth fighters is a whole another matter.

Besides if even the F-35 is criticized for being expensive, how can the FC-31 be justified to foreign buyers? Last time Shenyang wanted 70 million $ apiece + R&D costs to finish it, and that was before WS-19 and the redesign. For reference, non VTOL F-35s go for 80 million $. Maybe the rich Saudis will take it, but again they can’t be trusted with it.

Maybe Shenyang can utterly gut it and make a monkey model that’s safe to sell with a reasonable price tag, but that would be almost a new plane, and also a bit of an insult to the original plane (?)

Biscuits said:

Yeah, but the Saudis turned against China, ran off with the technology and became America’s core ally instead. Don’t think China would touch a hot plate twice.

If the FC-31 is as good as the F-35 or better (as the redesign indicates it will be), then it is FAR to sensitive to sell to any country that is not completely aligned with China.

Selling artillery pieces and ancient drones is one thing, selling state of the art stealth fighters is a whole another matter.

Besides if even the F-35 is criticized for being expensive, how can the FC-31 be justified to foreign buyers? Last time Shenyang wanted 70 million $ apiece + R&D costs to finish it, and that was before WS-19 and the redesign. For reference, non VTOL F-35s go for 80 million $. Maybe the rich Saudis will take it, but again they can’t be trusted with it.

Maybe Shenyang can utterly gut it and make a monkey model that’s safe to sell with a reasonable price tag, but that would be almost a new plane, and also a bit of an insult to the original plane (?)

Click to expand...

SA was always US ally from the beginning, it has NEVER run off or become.

DF-3 (succeeded by DF-26) was not an artillery piece, it is a MRBM that neither US nor USSR/Russia sell to anyone including their closest allies unlike F-35 which is available to many. What China sold to Turkey was not a rocket artillery either, it become Bora missile in the same category of Iskander or DF-11.

Stealth fighter is start of art but far from being the top and only, it just sounds and looks so because of the mainstream media's massive coverage.

Besides, it is really too early to talk about any possible sell of FC-31 at this stage.

H2O said:

Turkey is likely using both China and Russia to get more concessions from the US.

Click to expand...

To get any concessions from the US.
Remember they are being kicked to the curb on F35 not by choice. That’s the one program that they wanted.
They may be trying to woe the US back but that’s a hard bargain to drive.

Biscuits said:

Yeah, but the Saudis turned against China, ran off with the technology and became America’s core ally instead. Don’t think China would touch a hot plate twice.

Click to expand...

taxiya said:

SA was always US ally from the beginning, it has NEVER run off or become.

Click to expand...

SA plays all sides many of the Arab camps do. They buy what they like from east and west.
put on a dog and pony show for the foreign leaders and then go back to what ever they were doing before.

Assuming superiority before seeing the package is a bit much.
Generally speaking military systems tend to be better the more mature they are. This is as they have more problems solved.
Assuming that the redesign will be superior is counting your chickens before they hatch.

FC31 will come in time but They are taking their time on this one.

The official WeChat of the Aerospace Knowledge magazine has listed the FC-31 as an fighter that is to enter Chinese service. It also listed the "J-35" designation for the first time.

Link:



Anyone know how credible or official "Aerospace Knowledge" is?

SinoSoldier said:

The official WeChat of the Aerospace Knowledge magazine has listed the FC-31 as an fighter that is to enter Chinese service. It also listed the "J-35" designation for the first time.

Link:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

View attachment 52768

Anyone know how credible or official "Aerospace Knowledge" is?

Click to expand...

We have heard this rumor before. But there is no official confirmation which includes press releases, or even mockups let alone flying prototypes.
The rumor from around the time the J-10 with TVC was about, was that Shenyang had won the competition to make the medium weight fighter, and that the FC-31 technology would be used as a base, but would be made into a slightly larger aircraft and be dubbed J-35.