Shenyang FC-31 / J-31 Fighter Demonstrator

rcrmj said:

one mis-conception about J-35 is that it is technologically inferior to the J-20```````but in reality it is other way around.
it is much harder to develop a fighter with confined size which will have similar efficiency as bigger ones, and even more harder when this platform will be operating in both air-force and navy`````

J-35's high technology availability and readiness is much much much in favor over the J-20's, their biggest challenge is to mould them all together to make an efficient platform.....

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Might want to put a "/s" at the end to let people know you're joking or else some of us might just think you're being real.

aahyan said:

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I mean, yeah I made this chart like two years ago for the situation at the time.

The bottom right "land based J-XY/35 or FC-31 variant" is very much still a question that we do not know about whether it exists or is being pursued or not.


I'm not sure what posting this again without context is meant to demonstrate.

A nice comparison between a FC-31 prototype (top) and J-35 (bottom).

Front landing gear is further back on the second one.

There is credible rumor that J-35 and so called FC-31 will be very similar in appearance. Maybe there is some nugget of truth to the Pakistan rumor after all.

siegecrossbow said:

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There is credible rumor that J-35 and so called FC-31 will be very similar in appearance. Maybe there is some nugget of truth to the Pakistan rumor after all.

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I feel like the consensus is that the J-35 and the J-31 will be more or less the same, with differences being only smaller wing, less robust gears, etc., and they will not be exported. Only the FC-31 line without the hump and such will be exported.

siegecrossbow said:

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There is credible rumor that J-35 and so called FC-31 will be very similar in appearance. Maybe there is some nugget of truth to the Pakistan rumor after all.

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Well, I think these rumours make indeed sense and also the claim, Pakistan may be the first to introduce it too, but what is simply ridiculous ate claims, the PAF would have them ready already within the next 1 1/2 years!

So, even if this alleged FC-31new or J-31 will be as described, from what is known today it is not ready yet with no prototype flying and even if it will surely not be ready within 18 months!

Based on Rick Joe's chart, I made an updated one and here's the speculated relationship between the so-called J-31 and FC-31:

Just a draft. Feedbacks welcome.

Alfa_Particle said:

Based on Rick Joe's chart, I made an updated one and here's the speculated relationship between the so-called J-31 and FC-31:
View attachment 127930
Just a draft. Feedbacks welcome.

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Nice chart.
A few pieces of feedback in terms of chart format/readability:
- swap the blue and the green dots around (i.e.: blue for carrier based, green for land based)
- change the background to something black or grey so it's easier on the eyes (my one should've done so as well but it was quite and dirty on microsoft paint
- a few too many boxes (related to below in terms of content/aircraft)

... in terms of the actual content:
- I think there are too many "potential variants" listed that are unconfirmed, which probably don't deserve to be acknowledged as having equal status to confirmed airframes and variants, while there are also some which I think are redundant.

- Some boxes/variant which I think should be deleted include: FC-31V2 prototype 03, FC-31 (export), J-35 painted prototypes, J-35 (production version), and J-31 (land based). To explain why:

• "FC-31V2 prototype 03" is the same as "FC-31V2". Which is to say, prototype 31003 is not the "third" prototype of FC-31V2, rather it is the "third prototype" of the FC-31 tech demos which began with FC-31V1 serial 31001, followed by FC-31V1 serial 31002 (never witnessed, likely to be a static testbed), and then FC-31V2 serial 31003. Thus, "FC-31V2 prototype 03" is redundant
• we don't know if there is actually a "FC-31 export" that has been developed or is being developed
• we don't know if there is actually a "J-31 (land based)" that has been developed or is being developed
• I don't think we need separate boxes for "J-35 painted prototypes" and "J-35 production versions". J-35/XY prototypes are EMD/preproduction prototypes intended to be prototypes of a representative production model in the same way J-20 201X prototypes were.

- I think those above boxes/variants can be deleted, and are better off integrated into the existing boxes for FC-31V2 and J-35/XY instead. Alternatively, having various speculated/proposed variants on the side as bullet points without having dedicated boxes to acknowledge them could work. Having too many boxes gives the false impression of individual variants which is how most of these charts and diagrams end up getting read.


Or, overall: