Did V2 always have one-piece cockpit canopy?
Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator
- Thread starter RedSky
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Yes ... since it was revealed in November 2016
Anyway I like it ... what is even more astonishing - as per some tweets - that image was allegedly taken already in 2018!
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S
So the pic was taken in 2018, partially sent out (I believe a strip of the photo containing the tail sections and a horizontal stablizer) in 2019 and finally "declassified" in 2020... I wonder what the actual progress of the project is
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Ah ok
I thought it was a bit much
j15 batch 3 and V3
I thought it was a bit much
j15 batch 3 and V3
Can anyone tell me why did it take this long to develop this fighter, when the J20 was started at around the same time, and it is now in service where as this is nowhere near complete?
Shenyang developed the J-31/FC-31 independently as a way to get ahead of the curve, but that may have offended the "powers that be", anyway it was an inside the company R&D project, it may be that folks don't like hearing that it bears a family resemblance to the "other side of the family"?? who knows, it should be an awesome airplane, I can't imagine why its not at the "head of the class"?
manqiangrexue
Brigadier
Very seriously doubt that disdain for its aesthetics turned it into a political decision to not fund it. Has to be a performance deficiency (that can't be eyeballed) which can be addressed by the V3 evolution. Or it could be that the PLAAF simply did not want a stealth fighter of its size (range, payload) and without anything between the RD-93/33/WS-13 and AL-31/WS-10, Shenyang could not answer. Now they can answer with the WS-19 powered V3 if everything goes well.
A long-range heavyweight air superiority fighter like the J-20 has a much higher cost/benefit ratio than a J-31.
So best to use the limited funding to develop the J-20 first.
But at some point, there will be a lack of worthwhile missions for the J-20, given its cost.
For a lower-priority role like defensive counter-air, a J-20 is overkill.
So cheaper J-31 will suffice for this mission.
MastanKhan
Junior Member
More like 'powers that be '---. The 'powers that be' will only let you go so far---. You may flaunt your product at your own peril and the chinese are very smart people---.
I completely agree, and I was just throwing that out there a bit "tongue in cheek", I agree that the J-31/FC-31/J-35 is a work in progress, what we know currently is that we have two flying "proof of concept aircraft", so we've been holding our breath for a while, so I am looking forward to V3 and as you have so astutely pointed out, the real question has been the engines, and if WS-19 is ready, it may very well be the key to bringing V3 to the forefront.
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