Chinese SAC - FC-31/J-35 5th Gen Stealth Aircraft

J-31s are no "urban legends"! Slowly, steadily, and clandestinely it's taking the shape. And, what a plus it'll be for the PAF!

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Deino said:
So far clearest image of a J-35 - here prototype no. 3503 - flight.However my feeling tells me this is already an older image only released now since we‘ve seen J-35s already without the pitot & quite strangely the catapult bar is missing.

(Image via @年年有余V5168 from Weibo)

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This phenomenon is very common in China.
Usually only a few insiders are able to take such high-resolution photos, and they usually release them in the media long after the incident. ------They usually receive the news in advance and use professional equipment to shoot in some good locations in advance.
Ordinary netizens can only take photos when they encounter them, and it is difficult to take photos with high definition and good viewing angles.

FuturePAF said:
The PLAAF has also signed onto the project, not just the PLANAF (carrier force)?

“PLAAF self-use version J35A (WS19)”

Btw, is it true that the PLANAF (and now PLAAF) version will have the baked in stealth into the airframe, while the export version will be stealth focused on the paint?
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Here's the news at the moment.
J35 (WS21) and J35A (WS19), apart from the difference in engine, there is no other message that they have other differences.
Of course, the differences caused by standard export procedures are not in this comparison. ------ the identification system and communication system of the two are definitely different.

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Current news: The Air Force version codes J35 (WS21) and J35A (WS19) are already in use in the military-industrial system, and these codes have officially appeared in the workflow documents of the military-industrial system. Navy version code unknown.

The military-industrial system does not have the right to use the "J" prefix without military authorization.
Theoretically, the Navy version will also use the "J35x" code, but this "x" could be "H" or "T" and we need to wait for further news to confirm. ------The PLA Navy has authorized it, there are just no source channels to tell us an accurate answer.

This is different from the J31 and J35 code definitions we used earlier. We can choose the latest code definition to describe, or we can continue to use the old code way until the official announcement. But the difference needs to be noted.
 
Wow 😮… and another new image of the J-35 no. 350003.

Again this looks like an older image released only now but here the catapult bar is attached.

Is this the prelude to the public presentation in Zhuhai? 😉

IMG_7033.jpeg
 
Deino said:
Wow 😮… and another new image of the J-35 no. 350003.

Again this looks like an older image released only now but here the catapult bar is attached.

Is this the prelude to the public presentation in Zhuhai? 😉

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Am I the only one noticing the serrated engine nozzles?

Thats a WS-19

very different from the WS-13s on the older prototypes.

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Deino said:
Wow 😮… and another new image of the J-35 no. 350003.

Again this looks like an older image released only now but here the catapult bar is attached.

Is this the prelude to the public presentation in Zhuhai? 😉

View attachment 70016
Click to expand...

Gorgeous looking design.
Now put some 2D vector nozzles and it would be perfect.
 
Deino said:
Wow 😮… and another new image of the J-35 no. 350003.

Again this looks like an older image released only now but here the catapult bar is attached.

Is this the prelude to the public presentation in Zhuhai? 😉

View attachment 70016
Click to expand...

It is an absolute beauty.
 
Deino said:
So far clearest image of a J-35 - here prototype no. 3503 - flight.However my feeling tells me this is already an older image only released now since we‘ve seen J-35s already without the pitot & quite strangely the catapult bar is missing.

(Image via @年年有余V5168 from Weibo)

View attachment 69818
Click to expand...
Some Chinese military fans think : This is the STOBAR mode for the shipboard version of the J35. The standard shipboard version of the J35 has a removable catapult bar to match China's existing STOBAR mode (001/002) and CATOBAR mode (003) aircraft carriers.
Expected. A similar design scheme will appear on the J15B.
 
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New images of Chinese stealth fighter J-35 emerge​

Ricardo Meier
October 7, 2024
Shenyang aircraft to be part of the air wing of the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s Fujian aircraft carrier and bears similarities to the US F-35 fighter

Shenyang J-35 fighter


Shenyang J-35 fighter (Weibo)

Images of the new Chinese naval fighter Shenyang J-35 have been emerging from time to time, and two of them have been shared on social media in recent days.

The stealth fighter that will be part of the air wing of China’s new aircraft carrier, the Fujian, was photographed before takeoff and in flight.

The prototype is already known from other images, with the designation 350003.


Shenyang J-35 fighter (Social media)

It is not clear when the J-35 will be officially unveiled, but journalist Andreas Rupprecht, a Chinese defense expert, suggested that this could happen at the Zhuhai air show in November.

Rupprechet also found it strange that the image of the J-35 in flight does not have the catapult bar, which could indicate that it is an old image.

Stealth naval fighter similar to the US F-35​

As has been known for some time, the J-35 is a naval variant of the J-31, a stealth fighter originally planned for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

As it was eventually supplanted by the Xian J-20, the J-31 ended up being an alternative for export and to provide the Chinese Navy with a 5th generation carrier-based fighter.

To this end, the twin-engine fighter received profound changes to its design, in addition to a reinforced landing gear capable of being launched by electromagnetic catapults.


A mock-up of the J-35 on the deck of the aircraft carrier Fujian (Social media)

In some aspects, it resembles a US F-35, which has a naval version as well as another short or vertical takeoff and landing.

The aircraft carrier Fujian is conducting sea trials before entering service and was recently seen with mock-ups of aircraft that will operate on board it.

Among them was a J-35 with its wings folded.
 

China’s J-35 stealth fighter: What it means for the Indian navy​

Vinay Sadham
Published on: Sep 19, 2024

China’s J-35 stealth fighter: What it means for the Indian navy
China’s J-35 stealth fighter: What it means for the Indian navy

Chinese media reports indicate that China has made significant progress in developing its new naval stealth fighter jet, the J-35, which is being touted as China’s equivalent to the American F-35.

According to Global Times, quoting CCTV, “a new type of warplane was tested earlier this year on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning.” This aircraft is speculated to be the J-35, China’s next-generation carrier-borne stealth fighter jet. Experts stated that CCTV’s report serves as official confirmation of the aircraft’s readiness for service.

China’s aircraft carrier fleet includes the Liaoning, a modernised Soviet-era carrier, and the Shandong, an indigenously built carrier commissioned in 2019. The Fujian, China’s third carrier, is significantly larger, with a displacement of 80,000 tonnes, and is undergoing trials. It is notable as the first carrier fully designed and built in China and features an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) similar to that used on the US Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford.

The CCTV report also stated, “The J-35 is operational not only on the Fujian, but also on the Liaoning and Shandong,” suggesting that the aircraft is reported to be in use on these carriers. However, aside from the reports by CCTV and Global Times, there is no additional independent confirmation that the jet has officially entered service.

China’s progress with the J-35 aligns with its intent to challenge American military supremacy and regional rivals, such as India. The country also aims to operate six carriers by 2035, with the J-35 serving as a counterpart to the American F-35, while the J-20 is seen as the Chinese equivalent to the American F-22.

Additionally, China is developing an air force version called the J-31, which is being marketed as a cost-effective alternative to the F-35. Pakistan is confirmed to be purchasing the J-31, and Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in acquiring the new stealth fighter.

The J-35, a twin-engine stealth fighter designed for aircraft carriers, first flew as the FC-31 in 2012. It features advanced stealth technology, a sleek design, and is powered by two WS-13 engines, reaching speeds of up to Mach 1.8. The jet carries a range of weapons, including air-to-air missiles like the PL-15 and air-to-ground missiles such as the CJ-10, significantly boosting China’s carrier-based air power.

A message for the Indian navy​

China’s progress with the J-35 has important implications for the Indian Navy. The PLA Navy is expected to deploy a carrier battle group in the Indian Ocean by 2025-26. It is anticipated that the jet will eventually be stationed in the Indian Ocean, especially once it has been sufficiently deployed against the US Navy.

The Indian Navy operates two carriers: the Vikramaditya, a modified Soviet-era carrier, and the Vikrant, an indigenously built vessel. Both deploy the MiG-29K jet, which faces limitations due to its limited numbers and outdated technology.

In response, India is procuring 26 Rafale M jets from France as a stopgap measure before the introduction of the Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF). Deliveries of the Rafale M are expected to begin in 3-4 years after the contract signed, with the Indian Navy planning to finalise this deal within the current fiscal year.

China’s advancements with the J-35 underscores the need for the Indian Navy to modernise its carrier-based air power to maintain regional competitiveness. The advancement of China’s naval capabilities, particularly with the J-35, could impact the balance of naval power in the region, highlighting the urgency for India to enhance its own naval forces.

thenewsmill.com

China’s J-35 stealth fighter: What it means for the Indian navy

Chinese media reports indicate that China has made significant progress in developing its new naval stealth fighter jet, the J-35, which is being touted as China's equivalent to the American F-35. According to Global Times, quoting CCTV, "a new type of warplane was tested earlier this year on the
thenewsmill.com thenewsmill.com
 
CMIIW but TEDBF is not a 5th gen jet no ?

So what will the TEDBF offer that the Rafale F4/F5 can't to meet the J-35?
 
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