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

[lightning f57]

According to Fu Qianfeng, the 31st Air Force version was ultimately named the J-35A. It will be extensively equipped in the air force to replace models such as J-10A, J-7, and J-8. Moreover, due to its latecomer advantage, the stealth performance, electronic equipment, and language weapon performance of the J-35A will be more advanced
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This was exactly my expectation as well.

 

[Deino]

Hopefully soon …

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[FuturePAF]

The "merger" just seems to be a formality, as the platforms were essentially the same and being developed using the same prototypes...at least from what I can tell.

From what I can tell, they're just killing the FC-31 designation to decrease confusion.

@Deino

Does that sound about right?

The J designation means it’s for domestic/PLAAF use. Not given out easily. So this plane has made a breakthrough into being acceptable for large scale domestic procurement.

A potential good news for the PAF is that the PLAAF may therefore retire its J-10s faster, and the PAF maybe able to pick them up in a sale to bulk up its numbers, so the PAF can finish off the retirement of the F-7s and Mirages faster. Eventually when those J-10s deplete their lives, and hopefully the PAF has more money, it can procure more J-35s to replace those older J-10s as well.

 

[FHN]

The J designation means it’s for domestic/PLAAF use. Not given out easily. So this plane has made a breakthrough into being acceptable for large scale domestic procurement.

A potential good news for the PAF is that the PLAAF may therefore retire its J-10s faster, and the PAF maybe able to pick them up in a sale to bulk up its numbers, so the PAF can finish off the retirement of the F-7s and Mirages faster. Eventually when those J-10s deplete their lives, and hopefully the PAF has more money, it can procure more J-35s to replace those older J-10s as well.

J-35a will replace j,7,j-8, and j-10a. Would PAF be happy with early version of j-10?

 

[FHN]

I think china will eventually cease production for flankers and j-10 and focus solely on j-35 and j-20. Give it 8-10 years.

 

[FuturePAF]

J-35a will replace j,7,j-8, and j-10a. Would PAF be happy with early version of j-10?

As a stop gap in the transition from over 50 year old mirages to the PFX or J-35, perhaps, especially if they came basically free. The infrastructure is already being built for the J-10, why not use it.

Perhaps not the earliest versions, but the ones with a WS-10 engine, J-10B?

J-10A versions maybe too used up and would probably need too many upgrades to be worth it. Although there are 313 airframes of the A and the S models to choose from. Procuring the best 150-200 and putting them through a modest upgrade can buy the PAF some time, in the face of what looks to be a major IAF buying spree coming soon. The rest of the airframes can be sent to Pakistan as spare parts for the fleet.

It will give the team at Guizhou a major project to work on with PAC Kamra; the overhaul and upgrade of the jets with a modern radar and WS-10 engine.

PLAAF fleet numbers per

• The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). The Military Balance 2024. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-78004-7.

236 J-10A
55 J-10B
220 J-10C
77 J-10S

 

[FuturePAF]

I think china will eventually cease production for flankers and j-10 and focus solely on j-35 and j-20. Give it 8-10 years.

It makes sense, as long as the PLAAF thinks it has enough flankers in service to make the transition. Sheyang can focus on the J-35 and Chengdu can focus on the J-20.

 

[guangdongt]

It makes sense, as long as the PLAAF thinks it has enough flankers in service to make the transition. Sheyang can focus on the J-35 and Chengdu can focus on the J-20.

China did not retire the J10A so quickly, and the J10A was only publicly put into service in large quantities in 2006. At least wait until the batch service of J35A equipped with WS19. Economy is an unavoidable issue, no country can grow at a high speed forever, and cost is another problem. Countries equipped with a large number of second-generation/third-generation aircraft have different replacement costs compared to those equipped with fourth generation aircraft. The reason why China has seen a large number of J20/J16 in service is precisely because the Chinese military has been restraining for decades, and the dilapidated J6 was not retired until 2010. Not long ago, there was news about J20 replacing J7. This shows that China's second-generation machines have occupied too many positions in the long years

 

[Alter_Ego]

I think china will eventually cease production for flankers and j-10 and focus solely on j-35 and j-20. Give it 8-10 years.

Hmmm
Flankers like J-15 and J-16 would still be needed for Strike role and Carrier operation… dont you think??

 

[FHN]

China did not retire the J10A so quickly, and the J10A was only publicly put into service in large quantities in 2006. At least wait until the batch service of J35A equipped with WS19. Economy is an unavoidable issue, no country can grow at a high speed forever, and cost is another problem. Countries equipped with a large number of second-generation/third-generation aircraft have different replacement costs compared to those equipped with fourth generation aircraft. The reason why China has seen a large number of J20/J16 in service is precisely because the Chinese military has been restraining for decades, and the dilapidated J6 was not retired until 2010. Not long ago, there was news about J20 replacing J7. This shows that China's second-generation machines have occupied too many positions in the long years

Honestly it's better to just retire j7 and j8. Keep j-10 or move the early version to training role. Sell a couple to other countries for cash. China needs a fleet of 3000 fighters not less .

 

[FHN]

Hmmm
Flankers like J-15 and J-16 would still be needed for Strike role and Carrier operation… dont you think??

You are right but maybe just a small batch of flankers to keep supply line running.

 

[FHN]

Hmmm
Flankers like J-15 and J-16 would still be needed for Strike role and Carrier operation… dont you think??

There are currently 350 j-16 in service a production of 50 a year means 650 by 2030. 100 j-11a, 180 j-11b, 90 j-11BS, 40 j-11BH, and 32 j-11BSH. There are plenty of flankers In PLA service for strike role. Source from wiki btw take it with a grain of salt.

 

[MH.Yang]

Honestly it's better to just retire j7 and j8. Keep j-10 or move the early version to training role. Sell a couple to other countries for cash. China needs a fleet of 3000 fighters not less .

The J8 has a special purpose.

the J8 has Mach 2.5 speed, can fly at 21,000 meters, and has a 2,000km range.

We need J8 to intercept Russian tu160 and it's big range is good for south china sea patrol.

J7 will be retired all the time but J8 will not be retired so soon.

 

[FHN]

The J8 has a special purpose.

the J8 has Mach 2.5 speed, can fly at 21,000 meters, and has a 2,000km range.

We need J8 to intercept Russian tu160 and it's big range is good for south china sea patrol.

J7 will be retired all the time but J8 will not be retired so soon.

Mhm they will be shot down before making any attempt to intercept a bomber. It's a vintage plane. J-11 can fill that role.

 

[FuturePAF]

China did not retire the J10A so quickly, and the J10A was only publicly put into service in large quantities in 2006. At least wait until the batch service of J35A equipped with WS19. Economy is an unavoidable issue, no country can grow at a high speed forever, and cost is another problem. Countries equipped with a large number of second-generation/third-generation aircraft have different replacement costs compared to those equipped with fourth generation aircraft. The reason why China has seen a large number of J20/J16 in service is precisely because the Chinese military has been restraining for decades, and the dilapidated J6 was not retired until 2010. Not long ago, there was news about J20 replacing J7. This shows that China's second-generation machines have occupied too many positions in the long years

When China has the economy and aircraft manufacturing capacity to replace these jets, for China, not replacing the jets would be more costly.

Furthermore, building up the PAF, through basically gifts of J-10A/S (for whose upgrades the PAF could pay for), would help Guizhou, the PAF, and be in China’s interests to pre-occcupy India with the PAF so China can focus elsewhere.