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

[Michael]

Just now, I checked some of the things again. In the meantime, a correction and additional clarification to my message #204.

1. Air Force version: foreign trade version J35 (WS21), PLAAF self-use version J35A (WS19). This code is official.
2. Navy version: official code unknown (WS21)
Three versions are being produced simultaneously.

@Deino Here's the result after I just confirmed it to the source over the phone.

This news means that the J35 will probably arrive at the PAF very quickly.

 

[SiliconBit (silicon0000)]

J31/35 land based version getting ready early is good news for Pakistan. Order placed or not is secondary thing. Maybe PAF want a little more refined product or probably short on cash right now.

 

[TAC]

Just now, I checked some of the things again. In the meantime, a correction and additional clarification to my message #204.

1. Air Force version: foreign trade version J35 (WS21), PLAAF self-use version J35A (WS19). This code is official.
2. Navy version: official code unknown (WS21)
Three versions are being produced simultaneously.

@Deino Here's the result after I just confirmed it to the source over the phone.

If I understand this correctly the ‘foreign’ export version is planned to have a different engine than the domestic PLAAF version?If so, I wonder if this has been specified by PAF, in which case, while they’ve not placed an official order, there is significant progress?

 

[SiliconBit (silicon0000)]

Just now, I checked some of the things again. In the meantime, a correction and additional clarification to my message #204.

1. Air Force version: foreign trade version J35 (WS21), PLAAF self-use version J35A (WS19). This code is official.
2. Navy version: official code unknown (WS21)
Three versions are being produced simultaneously.

@Deino Here's the result after I just confirmed it to the source over the phone.

That's confusing. Maybe translator didn't work quite well here.

1- Naval version should be more powerfull than land based version so why it is WS21/WS13IPE for naval version? Reliability???

2- Three versions are being produced simultaneously. ..... without orders? If only PLAAF gives order than only this will be produced or if all 3 types of order is ready???

 

[mythbuster]

If I understand this correctly the ‘foreign’ export version is planned to have a different engine than the domestic PLAAF version?If so, I wonder if this has been specified by PAF, in which case, while they’ve not placed an official order, there is significant progress?

Yep , pretty confusing .....

 

[Deino]

Yep , pretty confusing .....

Indeed, however the most surprising & confusing news is - the priority of a PLAAF variant, since per my understanding all the years, the J-35 was more or less a pure PLAN project and the land-based variant J-31 was at best for export. This news, the PLAAF already ordered some would turn my current understanding totally up-side down.

Additionally I thought so far all J-31/35 are powered by the WS-21, the improved WS-13 and the WS-19 will only power the final variant when certified?!

 

[Michael]

@TAC @silicon0000 @mythbuster
The information I got was indeed so. It's not convenient for me to ask for too many details.

I think this may have something to do with the fact that WS19 and WS21 are not being developed at the same time.
I got the news that WS19 only completed its first test flight in January of this year. WS21 was clearly ahead of that.
The use of J35 (WS21) for export should be a change decision made after the success of J35A (WS19).
The WS19 for the naval version of the fighter also needs to do some modification work, which will take some time. But the PLA Navy can no longer wait. Use the WS21 for the Navy version first, and wait for the WS19 Navy version to mature. A similar phenomenon is very common in PLA.

@Deino
Your judgment is mostly correct. The only difference is the involvement of PLAAF. In fact, it was completely beyond my predictions.
WS19 completed its first test flight in January this year. Production began subsequently. I remember announcing the news once..........

 

[TopGun786]

Indeed, however the most surprising & confusing news is - the priority of a PLAAF variant, since per my understanding all the years, the J-35 was more or less a pure PLAN project and the land-based variant J-31 was at best for export. This news, the PLAAF already ordered some would turn my current understanding totally up-side down.

Additionally I thought so far all J-31/35 are powered by the WS-21, the improved WS-13 and the WS-19 will only power the final variant when certified?!

If possible can you give here rough/estimated (known/rumored) specs of all these 3 engines... WS-21, WS-19 & WS-13 ?

 

[Michael]

If I understand this correctly the ‘foreign’ export version is planned to have a different engine than the domestic PLAAF version?If so, I wonder if this has been specified by PAF, in which case, while they’ve not placed an official order, there is significant progress?

The original text of my message is: J35 (WS21) is the foreign trade version.
But it is not indicated to whom it is offered. PAF is only one of the most possible options, but it's still not entirely certain. We need more information to confirm it.

If possible can you give here rough/estimated (known/rumored) specs of all these 3 engines... WS-21, WS-19 & WS-13 ?

The situation with WS19 has been explained in previous statements. The total production volume will be about 30 units this year, which will be supplied only to PLAAF. ------ Note: The settlement time for Chinese companies is usually before the Chinese New Year, not December 31.
Production status of WS21/WS13 is unknown.

What is known at the moment: orders for WS19 are only from PLAAF. Orders for WS21 came only from the PLA Navy. The foreign trade version uses a WS21 engine, and the order status is unknown.

 

[TopGun786]

The original text of my message is: J35 (WS21) is the foreign trade version.
But it is not indicated to whom it is offered. PAF is only one of the most possible options, but it's still not entirely certain. We need more information to confirm it.


The situation with WS19 has been explained in previous statements. The total production volume will be about 30 units this year, which will be supplied only to PLAAF. ------ Note: The settlement time for Chinese companies is usually before the Chinese New Year, not December 31.
Production status of WS21/WS13 is unknown.

What is known at the moment: orders for WS19 are only from PLAAF. Orders for WS21 came only from the PLA Navy. The foreign trade version uses a WS21 engine, and the order status is unknown.

I was asking about "specifications" comparison among these three engines.

 

[Michael]

I was asking about "specifications" comparison among these three engines.

There are currently no publicly available queryable messages. But this diagram can give you some references.

This image is from the speeches of China's top experts at professional forums. All medium-thrust engines in China and the main medium-thrust engines in other countries appear in the chart. You can compare it yourself.

Speakers in pictures: Ms. Huang. China's top aviation power expert. The core R&D personnel of many types of aero engines, and the chief designer of several national key aero engines. She is a national-level core expert who is closely protected by the Secret Service around the clock.

 

[Deino]

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)

 

[PakAl]

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

Beautiful and looks nearly ready (design), just needs the ws19 engine.

 

[FuturePAF]

Just now, I checked some of the things again. In the meantime, a correction and additional clarification to my message #204.

1. Air Force version: foreign trade version J35 (WS21), PLAAF self-use version J35A (WS19). This code is official.
2. Navy version: official code unknown (WS21)
Three versions are being produced simultaneously.

@Deino Here's the result after I just confirmed it to the source over the phone.

This news means that the J35 will probably arrive at the PAF very quickly.

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?

 

[air marshal]

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