China Unveils J-31 Stealth Fighter At Zuhai Airshow

                                                                 

              Chinese J31 Stealth Fighter (Photo: SinaBlog)

China showed off its new J-31 stealth fighter at the biennial Zuhai Air Show last week. Known as the “Falcon Eagle”, the J-31 is China’s answer to America’s Lockheed Martin F-35. Built by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) this fifth generation fighter aircraft uses Chinese technology and is powered by Russian Klimov RD-93 engines. The J-31, like the F-35 is capable of being used on aircraft carriers. This would make it a prime candidate for China’s expanding naval aviation capability.

Of note at the Zuhai show was a scale model of the Shenyang FC-31, an export model of the J-31 produced by AVIC’s subsidiary Shenyang Aviation Company. According to experts, the FC-31 shows modifications not seen on the flying model of the J-31. The big question is who would be in the market for the FC-31. What countries have the need and could afford to add an advanced stealth fighter to their lineup? Pakistan is often cited as a possible customer for the J-31 to counter Indian acquisition of its own stealth fighter.

Recently, China has been criticized for being opaque in its defense capabilities and expenditures. The introduction of the J-31 in public might not have been designed to foster transparency, but it did give observers a first-hand look at what China is up to in the sky.

 

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20141115/DEFREG03/311150035/With-J-31-Flight-China-Makes-Statement