SAC FC-31 Stealth Fighter: News & Discussions

[Maxpane]

sir can you translate it

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in english?

 

[leviathan]

sir can you translate it

in english?

An office news about chief engineer of SHENYANG aero insinuation pays an official visiting to meet GUIYANG aero insinuation. GUIYANG aero insinuation is the place where research and manufacture W13E and WS19. So lots of people guessing its FC31 try to chase them to make the engine...

 

[samsara]

An office news about chief engineer of SHENYANG aero insinuation pays an official visiting to meet GUIYANG aero insinuation. GUIYANG aero insinuation is the place where research and manufacture W13E and WS19. So lots of people guessing its FC31 try to chase them to make the engine...

Thanks for your translation. It is generally comprehended, but there is some annoying error, no offence but I can't help myself to do the correction.

"An official news about the chief engineer of SHENYANG aero institution pays an official visit to GUIYANG aero institution. The GUIYANG aero institution is the place where the research and manufacturing of W13E and WS19 engines are being done. So lots of people are guessing that FC-31 is trying to approach them to make the engine..."

 

[GeraltofRivia]

The following is based on a recent blog of a reputable military blogger regarding FC31 project, some of which have been shared above but hope this is a more complete story:

PLAAF is still looking for a “light weight” stealth fighter that is relatively economical, , can be produced and procured in mass, and is complementary to PLAAF top of the line fighter J20. The cost reduction is mostly achieved through economic of scale, sharing the same supply chain for J20, low maintenance design and taking advantage of the technology that has already been developed, as opposed to using low end technology. There should be a material life cycle reduction in cost.

The light fighter should be designed as an air superiority fighter with some land attacking capabilities. It should be designed to have better air combat capabilities than its main counterpart.

SAC is still highly hopeful that FC31 is inducted into PLAAF as their “lightweight” fighter and the author appears to share the optimism. SAC’s proposal does fit many aspects of the light fighter requirements although some tweaks are needed and currently being working through. They are working closely with the main engine developer to seek a material performance uplift. It also has the advantages of being designed with naval aviation elements.

He commented that Chinese military looks to establish a fleet with multiple 5-gen air superiority aircraft to handle different missions. Navy may choose one from the multiple fighter stock or may like to have an entirely different design. Having multiple fighters in the stock is important to develop and maintain a large scale aerospace industry in China.

In his final remark, he criticized the view that regards China’s 5-gen fighter development as a zero sum game between SAC and CAC, where SAC’s design is seen as no value altogether.

 

[Deino]

Thanks a lot!

Any hints on the timeline until when a decision will be made?

 

[LKJ86]

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1. FC-31 V1 in Zhuhai Airshow-2014 had two different engines, one from Russia, another one from China.
2. FC-31 is very likely to have a similar internal weapon bay as J-20, which can take 4-6 PL-15, but there will be no side bays.

 

[ZeEa5KPul]

The light fighter should be designed as an air superiority fighter with some land attacking capabilities. It should be designed to have better air combat capabilities than its main counterpart.

This seems bass-ackwards. The J-20 is already a supreme air-superiority fighter (or rather it will be once it gets its WS-15) - it regularly wipes the floor with opposing forces in air combat exercises. A lightweight fighter will at best be as good, but will sacrifice strike capability to achieve that performance.

China needs a strike aircraft with a weapons bay configuration similar to the F-35 for land attack.

 

[Akasa]

1. FC-31 V1 in Zhuhai Airshow-2014 had two different engines, one from Russia, another one from China.
2. FC-31 is very likely to have a similar internal weapon bay as J-20, which can take 4-6 PL-15, but there will be no side bays.

What did "gongke101" say about the PLA Navy adopting the FC-31?

 

[ozranger]

What did "gongke101" say about the PLA Navy adopting the FC-31?

He said PLANAF pilots evaluated it with a J-20 simulating a F-22 as opponent. While Institute 601, which is the design agency of FC-31, states that a FC-31 can achieve 70% cost and 90% capability of a J-20, PLANAF estimates that it will only have 75% capability with a 85% cost of a J-20. So the comment is pretty negative in terms of cost effect.

 

[LKJ86]

PLAAF has made a request for a light-weight fourth-generation fighter, and SAC is working hard for that.

The "light-weight" fourth-generation fighter also can be called the "low-cost" fourth-generation fighter.

SAC maybe consider to develop a new one with empty weight of 13-14 tons, based on the FC-31.

 

[Akasa]

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The "light-weight" fourth-generation fighter also can be called the "low-cost" fourth-generation fighter.

SAC maybe consider to develop a new one with empty weight of 13-14 tons, based on the FC-31.

The FC-31 already has an empty weight of ~13-15 tons, though.

He said PLANAF pilots evaluated it with a J-20 simulating a F-22 as opponent. While Institute 601, which is the design agency of FC-31, states that a FC-31 can achieve 70% cost and 90% capability of a J-20, PLANAF estimates that it will only have 75% capability with a 85% cost of a J-20. So the comment is pretty negative in terms of cost effect.

That's pretty bad, and a contrast to the rumors about the naval J-XX being a derivative of the FC-31.

 

[Akasa]

The following is based on a recent blog of a reputable military blogger regarding FC31 project, some of which have been shared above but hope this is a more complete story:

PLAAF is still looking for a “light weight” stealth fighter that is relatively economical, , can be produced and procured in mass, and is complementary to PLAAF top of the line fighter J20. The cost reduction is mostly achieved through economic of scale, sharing the same supply chain for J20, low maintenance design and taking advantage of the technology that has already been developed, as opposed to using low end technology. There should be a material life cycle reduction in cost.

The light fighter should be designed as an air superiority fighter with some land attacking capabilities. It should be designed to have better air combat capabilities than its main counterpart.

SAC is still highly hopeful that FC31 is inducted into PLAAF as their “lightweight” fighter and the author appears to share the optimism. SAC’s proposal does fit many aspects of the light fighter requirements although some tweaks are needed and currently being working through. They are working closely with the main engine developer to seek a material performance uplift. It also has the advantages of being designed with naval aviation elements.

He commented that Chinese military looks to establish a fleet with multiple 5-gen air superiority aircraft to handle different missions. Navy may choose one from the multiple fighter stock or may like to have an entirely different design. Having multiple fighters in the stock is important to develop and maintain a large scale aerospace industry in China.

In his final remark, he criticized the view that regards China’s 5-gen fighter development as a zero sum game between SAC and CAC, where SAC’s design has no value altogether.

Thanks for the translation; who is the blogger that wrote this?

Thanks a lot!

Any hints on the timeline until when a decision will be made?

End of 2018 to early 2019, according to a fairly-reputable "big shrimp".

 

[GeraltofRivia]

Thanks for the translation; who is the blogger that wrote this?



End of 2018 to early 2019, according to a fairly-reputable "big shrimp".

He is Xiyazhou, his latest entry is in post #3730.

 

[Akasa]

He is Xiyazhou, his latest entry is in post #3730.

Can you provide a link? Thanks.

 

[GeraltofRivia]

This seems bass-ackwards. The J-20 is already a supreme air-superiority fighter (or rather it will be once it gets its WS-15) - it regularly wipes the floor with opposing forces in air combat exercises. A lightweight fighter will at best be as good, but will sacrifice strike capability to achieve that performance.

China needs a strike aircraft with a weapons bay configuration similar to the F-35 for land attack.

Yes, having one air superiority fighter doesn’t lessen the need of another one with slightly different role. Having both top of the line, performance oriented fighter and a lighter, more economical (relatively speaking), still capable fighter is a practical and flexible configuration for an Air Force. This can be seen through the recent history in US F15/F16, F14/F18, Soviet Su27/Mig29, China J11/J10.

Another food for thought is that the future of air warfare is probably going to be more like a football game as opposed to boxing with rollout of networking enabling technology. It is probably more appropriate to evaluate the value of fighter on a team basis as opposed to the traditional metrics like range, speed or payload, which are sill important naturally.

Just my 2 cents. Have a wonderful day.