Chinese Shenyang J-31 fourth-generation stealth fighter made official debuts at Airshow China 2014

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World Aviation Defense & Security News - China

 
 
Chinese Shenyang J-31 fourth-generation stealth fighter made official debuts at Airshow China 2014
 
China officially pulled the curtain back on its new fourth-generation stealth fighter — the Shenyang J-31 "Falcon Eagle" — during the Airshow China 2014 exhibition in Zhuhai. The J-31 represents China’s chief competitor for arms market share against the U.S.' F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
     
China officially pulled the curtain back on its new fourth-generation stealth fighter — the Shenyang J-31 "Falcon Eagle" — during the Airshow China 2014 exhibition in Zhuhai. The J-31 represents China’s chief competitor for arms market share against the U.S.’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Shenyang J-31 fourth-generation multirole stealth fighter at Airshow China 2014
     
The prototype aircraft, with twin-engines and said to have features similar to the stealth F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter from Lockheed Martin, maneuvered in the sky above the 10th China International Aviation & Space Exhibition in Zhuhai, southern China, but only a mockup appeared on static display.

The aircraft from AVIC, or Aviation Industry Corporation of China, is about 55 feet in length, with a wingspan of 38 feet. Its propulsion systems are, for the time being, the Russian made RD-93, but it's said that China is trying to develop the indigenous WS-13 engine to take the RD-93’s place on the FC-1 and, presumably, the J-31.

     
China officially pulled the curtain back on its new fourth-generation stealth fighter — the Shenyang J-31 "Falcon Eagle" — during the Airshow China 2014 exhibition in Zhuhai. The J-31 represents China’s chief competitor for arms market share against the U.S.’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Shenyang J-31 fourth-generation multirole stealth fighter at Airshow China 2014
     
Other features include two internal weapons bays in addition to weapon hardpoints on the wings, much like the F-35. Additional aircraft specifications were unavailable. So, too, was an expected date for production of the aircraft.

China hopes its much-expected J-31 stealth fighter jet, developed by AVIC, the Aviation Industry Corp of China, the top aircraft manufacturer of the country will compete with US-made hardware in the export markets. China is diligently working towards enhancing its stand as a weapons producer, reports from the state media said.
     
Shenyang J-31 fourth-generation multirole stealth fighter at AirShow China 2014 in Zhuhai
     
Shenyang has also displayed a large model of an advanced development of the J-31, that it called the FC-31.

The J-31 aircraft is the second domestically manufactured stealth fighter jet of China. Analysts say that the growth of stealth fighter jet facilitates China to improve its supremacy, which will help China become more assertive in the South China seas and East China.

Stealth fighter jet is very important for the air force of China, to progress from a typically territorial air force to increase their capacity to bring out both defensive and offensive operations, said the reports from the Pentagon that is closely watching the developments.