serenity
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2007
- Messages
- 2,102
- Reaction score
- -1
- Country
- Location
Recently a Chinese member posted that it is confirmed that China will not allow any partner for J-35 program and considering that it is reported that AZM is supposed to be a clean sheet design, is it possible that China wishes to build another 5th gen fighter besides J-20 and J-35?
@araz @IblinI @Aamir Hussain @Quwa
There has been some cheap rumors from leakers saying CAC has also presented their light weight stealth fighter. The second PLAAF stealth fighter and PLAN stealth fighter is claimed to be two different fighters and CAC may won PLAAF light weight stealth fighter. Probably just bullshit rumors but if there is more talk about another 5th generation fighter, it may be referring to this CAC single engine developed from J-10 according to random fans. Actually there is probably no way CAC has this much money to be gambling against SAC's FC-31 based 5th generation. CAC more likely working on improving J-20 and J-10 series while already developing 6th gen. Rule is one generation finishing career, better generation becoming introduced, and higher generation being developed when second group introduced.
PLAN fighter for carrier 003 and above should be J-35 which is based on SAC's FC-31 prototype demonstrators. PLAAF maybe forget about all this since PLAN's 5th generation fighter will be fighting along with J-20 anyway since real serious air combat is not on Indian side but on eastern side where carriers will operate from.
More credible rumors say FC-31 is going to be exportable but engines are waiting for better than WS-13. Pakistan does not wish to use WS-13 and RD-33 series will not be suitable either for such an export fighter. Export of such a fighter is difficult too. At the moment only Pakistan is potential buyer but the fighter will be very expensive. Western nations cannot even buy Huawei forget J-35. Other countries either don't need something like this or can't afford many examples. Selling to Iran also means offending Saudi Arabia and Israel. So I don't think it's a problem of not allowed to sell but politics and price.
We will first need to wait and see SAC report successful PLAN or PLAAF sale. Another stealth fighter of 5th generation is unlikely because it's just too expensive to fully develop three. Definitely many prototypes exist. SAC had another heavy 5th gen fighter that competed with J-20 and lost. It looks like Su-37 stealthified and with canards too. SAC revealed the other one FC-31 to create some interest and let future potential customers see this FC-31 will be developed for a long time and not just come from nowhere. It was beginning from day 1 as a exportable fighter. However if PLAN and PLAAF decide to buy, there may be changes to this or there will be discussions on how to create another line for export. Maybe discussions result in foreign production line like JF-17. Just personal idea not definite.