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LOL. Once again: currently F-35 has more thrust than J-31. You think J-31 can be upgraded? Maybe. But why F-35 cant be upgraded as well?Not, it is not an imaginary future engine.
The WS-13 has been flying on a FC-1 prototype since 2010. The WS-13B is only an upgrade to it and not a completely new engine. 2 times WS-13Bs will give the J-31 20,000kg of thrust.
Enough difference.2018 or 2020 is not much difference
Another woulda coulda shoulda.Rafale first came into service in 2001 and F-35 is not even in service now. If the French wanted to, the M-88 could easily have been delivering 10,000kg of thrust each now.
J-31 has weaker engines so it cant supercruise either.Anyway, this conversation is going round in circles and here are actual facts about F-35:
1. Unable to super-cruise - this will mean it will be handicapped as the F-35 will need to use afterburners to move through space quickly and it this would mean that it would become a big infra-red magnet for heat-seeking missiles.
Much more maneuverable than J-31 thanks to higher T/W, superior aerodynamics and single engine.2. Not very manoeuvrable - again will give it a disadvantage in close in dog-fighting. I know we have all-aspect missiles but there will be some situations where a more manoeuvrable fighter will have an advantage.
I dont see any "compromise" in F-35 (I can clearly see it in PAK FA for example). F-35s coating will be used on F-22! With American 40 years experience in stealth F-35 will be surely more stealthy than any non American planes.3. Compromised stealth. The US made a deliberate decision here for both operational and strategic reasons. Since it was all all-in fighter it could not be shaped as stealthily as F-22, and also they did not want any other country to get access to a fighter as stealthy as any they had.
In all other fields F-35 also has an edge.Only area where F-35 is likely to be better than J-31 is in radar and electronics. Is this enough to make up for all the deficiencies that I have listed above?
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