SAC - FC-31 Grey Falcon Stealth aircraft for PAF : Updates & Debate

[I FLY HIGH]

wonderful , i think PAF is involved in its development too , it is a future bird for PAF.

 

[royalharris]

Maybe PAF will be the first one in South Asia to produce 5th gen fighter in the near future.

I think maybe Iran or ksa
Paf are more infatuated with west options,like Tfx or F35

 

[MystryMan]

WE13E

Any information or specifications available for WS13E?

 

[I FLY HIGH]

I think maybe Iran or ksa
Paf are more infatuated with west options,like Tfx or F35

not at all , F35 is nowhere , F16s are refused , TFX is on paper may or may not mature . Pakistan has no other choice available. Secondly now Chinese scientists and engineers have really bridged the technological gap between European and Chinese defence products . We have JF17 as a best example of quality and reliabilty.So i am sure PAF will go for fc31.

 

[帅的一匹]

Any information or specifications available for WS13E?

Max wet thrust: >90KN
Weight: 1050KG
Life span: 3000 hours
First overhaul interval: 1000 hours

The final target will be >98KN

 

[aftab_s81]

Some nice pics of J-31 V2 here:

http://www.combataircraft.net/2016/12/23/second-fc-31-takes-to-the-air/

Fight Global: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/chinas-second-fc-31-takes-flight-432720/

 

[aliyusuf]

Max wet thrust: >90KN
Weight: 1050KG
Life span: 3000 hours
First overhaul interval: 1000 hours

The final target will be >98KN

Could you kindly post whatever that is known of the specification of this aircraft? Like dimensions, engines, performance, radar and EW Suite etc. if possible?

This would be a great help for everyone I presume.

Thanks

 

[Daniel808]

WS-13 IPE Engine + 3D Printing Technology

Cannot wait to see, this beast with PAF Colour

 

[khanasifm]

Is there official statement that engines are chi nese ws13 or rd93 modified version???

I guess everyone is guessing correct?

 

[WarFariX]

Is there official statement that engines are chi nese ws13 or rd93 modified version???

I guess everyone is guessing correct?

yes officially confirmed that it is using WS-13E . Check the other SAC FC31 thread , a guy their posted a link in which an official confirms ws13e

 

[aziqbal]

Is there official statement that engines are chi nese ws13 or rd93 modified version???

I guess everyone is guessing correct?

Just look at the picture we don't need official statement

 

[WarFariX]

Just look at the picture we don't need official statement

bro clearly its not a rd93 coz its even darker

 

[messiach]

Since you are quoting a senior engineer, i will accept it otherwise Jian10 & lavi programmes have nothing in common. I have been involved, I aught to know.

I know a very senior GD engineer who would state otherwise. The Israelis sent a fairly large team to FW to learn to maintain their own jets in house and manufacture spare parts. In their goodwill , the GD engineers were very open to them. Information that ended up on the Lavi, and information that was shared beyond IAI.

Not saying that the J-10 is the lavi or that the program originated from there. But a lot of concepts were shared, and then a lot of assistance was taken from the Russians too.

Just because international relations point in one direction doesnt mean that cooperation for cash stops. The F-7MGs wing isnt something thought up in house either, or at least not without inspiration.

I am searching for an image from an old Grumman notebook which shows the idea for the cranked delta done by the Grumman engineer during the Super 7 program.

 

[SQ8]

Since you are quoting a senior engineer, i will accept it otherwise Jian10 & lavi programmes have nothing in common. I have been involved, I aught to know.

Please do not misconstrue my inference on information as indicating that IAI engineers sat in Chengdu or anything of that sort. I am referring to information sharing , idea sharing and so on which was very much a monetary transaction.

I am not questioning your knowledge or involvement, but lets not discount that for many years despite our vehement opposition to Israel; various spare parts and even knowledge has been transferred to us(via channels) as pure monetary transaction.

 

[Naif al Hilali]

China’s Highly Evolved FC-31 Stealth Fighter Makes Its First Flight
China’s high-low stealth fighter mix strategy is evolving rapidly.
By Tyler Rogoway
December 23, 2016

Chinese Internet

The War Zone reported on the existence of a second rendition of China’s Shenyang FC-31 Gyrfalcon stealth fighter when pictures of the design under construction surfaced during the Zhuhai Air Show in early November. Now that aircraft—which features substantial upgrades in its low observable shaping and manufacturing quality—has flown for the first time, as evidenced by the photos and video below.

Not only could an operational FC-31 help fill the ranks of PLAAF medium and light fighter squadrons, but it could also be adapted for China’s emerging CATOBAR aircraft carrier program. This would give China a stealthy fighter that can project power far from the Chinese mainland.

If this redesign proves fruitful, it's all but guaranteed China will move to export the FC-31 to anyone with the cash to buy it. Many countries either can't afford, or are not allowed to buy, the Lockheed Martin F-35 from the US. These nations could turn to China and the FC-31 to provide them with a “poor man’s” Joint Strike Fighter. Pakistan, in particular, is a very ripe candidate to join the FC-31 program early on–especially as new aircraft join the Indian Air Force’s fleet, including the PAK-FA based on Russia’s stealthy T-50 fighter.

The FC-31 appeared for the first time over four years ago, and the fact that already moved from “YF” configuration to a near production configuration is telling. It shows how committed China is to developing multiple stealth fighters as part of a high-low capability mix, and to take a larger share of the fighter export market abroad.

AP
The FC-31/J-31 prototype appeared at Zhuhai in 2014 but disappeared for some time thereafter, with some analysts saying the program was dead. Now it is reemerging in a vastly upgraded form.

The FC-31 is one of three light to medium-weight stealthy fighters being developed indigenously in the region—Japan and Korea are the other two countries taking on such endeavours, and both are also F-35 customers. They will likely end up with designs that will be similar to what the F-35 would have been like without the F-35B’s damning STOVL requirements that mired the jet’s design and specifically its aerodynamics.

How stealthy an airframe and how advanced China's FC-31's sensor fusion and avionics suite will be is unknown. But even an 70% solution alternative to the F-35 that costs 40% of Lockheed Martin's price is an enticing proposition, as quantity has a quality all its own.

AP
An artists impression of the FC-31/J-31 and the J-20 over China's only carrier the Liaoning.

Contact the author Tyler@thedrive.com