J-31 to be inducted soon| Pilot training reportedly in progress

[Michael]

So far, we have not seen any official news from Pakistan regarding the export of FC31 to Pakistan (the internal speech of the senior military officer cannot be considered as an official announcement). We have not seen any official announcements from the Chinese side either.

Based on the statements made by senior Pakistani military officers, PAF should have approached FC31 and been in contact with SAC about the deal, and the two sides should have reached some verbal agreement. But there should be no official signing yet, otherwise, there should be an official official announcement.

=============================

As for when FC31 will arrive in Pakistan, there is a very simple way to judge.

Pay close attention to the changes in the PAF base, whether the airfield is being expanded and new hangars are being built (the stealth skin of the fifth-generation fighter requires a custom hangar). If one of the PAF airports starts working on this kind of hangar, it means that FC31 is really coming soon.

As for the production of the FC31, there is no particular concern. The FC31 was originally positioned as an export air force fighter, and has undergone many test flights, and many of its advanced technologies are directly transplanted from the mature J20. So. The FC31 is not a fighter from scratch, and its flight test work is much simpler than that of the J20.

 

[UKBengali]

So far, we have not seen any official news from Pakistan regarding the export of FC31 to Pakistan (the internal speech of the senior military officer cannot be considered as an official announcement). We have not seen any official announcements from the Chinese side either.

Based on the statements made by senior Pakistani military officers, PAF should have approached FC31 and been in contact with SAC about the deal, and the two sides should have reached some verbal agreement. But there should be no official signing yet, otherwise, there should be an official official announcement.

=============================

As for when FC31 will arrive in Pakistan, there is a very simple way to judge.

Pay close attention to the changes in the PAF base, whether the airfield is being expanded and new hangars are being built (the stealth skin of the fifth-generation fighter requires a custom hangar). If one of the PAF airports starts working on this kind of hangar, it means that FC31 is really coming soon.

As for the production of the FC31, there is no particular concern. The FC31 was originally positioned as an export air force fighter, and has undergone many test flights, and many of its advanced technologies are directly transplanted from the mature J20. So. The FC31 is not a fighter from scratch, and its flight test work is much simpler than that of the J20.

This is a very good point that I have made many times before.

The FC-31 base aircraft has been flying since 2012 and so it has had 12 years now to test its airframe and flight paramters.

Radar and electronics will just be customised version of what has already been developed for the J-20.

Only the engine may not be ready by 2026 and anyway it can start off with an interim engine like WS-13E.

If PAF wanted it by December 2026, then they could have just placed an order at the start of this year and China could have delivered a squadron of 12 by December 2026 for IOC.

 

[Michael]

I'm not worried about the technical issues of the FC31, nor about the production capacity of the FC31. From the point of view of the Chinese, SAC is fully capable of delivering FC31 in a very short time.

My only concern is: whether the Pakistani government can afford to pay the money.

=============================

The fifth-generation fighter is like a 5G smartphone, which needs to be supported by a more advanced information network. PAF does not currently have this advanced information network system. The price of this system is much higher than the price of an airplane.

If PAF does not purchase this advanced information network system, then there are two solutions:

1. Borrow PLA's advanced information network system. This means that the PAF fully shares the data information of this batch of FC31s with the PLA, and at the same time, the PLA has some control over this batch of FC31s. This model is adopted by many countries around the world when purchasing F35. It's not clear to me if PAF would like to do that.

2. Castrated version FC31. It is equivalent to using a 5G smartphone in a 3G/4G network. The disadvantage is that it is very versatile, and it is bound to be limited. The advantage is that the control is in your own hands.

None of the existing and soon-to-be-purchased AWACS aircraft of the PAF, the existing command data link, can fully support the fifth generation fighter.

 

[NGAD IS THE BEST]

Even if officials tell him he would have objection on them also and will call them wrong. An Air Chief says we would induct a 5th Generation Fighter soon and he still assumes that jet is at least 5 years away if not more, so basically nothing will satisfy this guy.

He didn't give a damn timeframe, so how you guys have wishful thinking that J31 will come in PAF colors in Dec 2026

Soon have VAST meaning,

And last J31 is not ready for mass production yet

 

[NGAD IS THE BEST]

This is a very good point that I have made many times before.

The FC-31 base aircraft has been flying since 2012 and so it has had 12 years now to test its airframe and flight paramters.

Radar and electronics will just be customised version of what has already been developed for the J-20.

Only the engine may not be ready by 2026 and anyway it can start off with an interim engine like WS-13E.

If PAF wanted it by December 2026, then they could have just placed an order at the start of this year and China could have delivered a squadron of 12 by December 2026 for IOC.

Sir with the advance airframe developed later (second and third prototypes) Chinese did not do extensive flight testing and need a state certification before it will enter mass production

 

[Michael]

Sir with the advance airframe developed later (second and third prototypes) Chinese did not do extensive flight testing and need a state certification before it will enter mass production

Chinese often say, "只要钱到位，没有什么不可能！As long as the money is in place, nothing is impossible."

Ha.....Ha.....

 

[UKBengali]

Sir with the advance airframe developed later (second and third prototypes) Chinese did not do extensive flight testing and need a state certification before it will enter mass production

Errr, the JC-31 did MOST of the airframe testing already.

Newer airframes would just need to have a newer capabilities tested. They are not different planes but just refined versions of the original FC-31.

You need to let this go as this plane first flew in 2012 and China will just use customised radar and electronics from J-20. Missiles are already developed and so with the WS-13E available as interim engine, then there is no reason for it not to be ready by end of 2026 if PAF wanted it then.

 

[NGAD IS THE BEST]

Errr, the JC-31 did MOST of the airframe testing already.

Newer airframes would just need to have a newer capabilities tested. They are not different planes but just refined versions of the original FC-31.

You need to let this go as this plane first flew in 2012 and China will just use customised radar and electronics from J-20. Missiles are already developed and so with the WS-13E available as interim engine, then there is no reason for it not to be ready by end of 2026 if PAF wanted it then.

Original FC31 (1st prototype) was rather had a raw/minimal stealth feature but second and third prototypes had a advanced stealth features then first prototype and show me sir what extensive flight testing they did (second and third prototype)?

And what about state certification

You want PAF to induct unfinished J31?

 

[MastanKhan]

I'm not worried about the technical issues of the FC31, nor about the production capacity of the FC31. From the point of view of the Chinese, SAC is fully capable of delivering FC31 in a very short time.

My only concern is: whether the Pakistani government can afford to pay the money.

=============================

The fifth-generation fighter is like a 5G smartphone, which needs to be supported by a more advanced information network. PAF does not currently have this advanced information network system. The price of this system is much higher than the price of an airplane.

If PAF does not purchase this advanced information network system, then there are two solutions:

1. Borrow PLA's advanced information network system. This means that the PAF fully shares the data information of this batch of FC31s with the PLA, and at the same time, the PLA has some control over this batch of FC31s. This model is adopted by many countries around the world when purchasing F35. It's not clear to me if PAF would like to do that.

2. Castrated version FC31. It is equivalent to using a 5G smartphone in a 3G/4G network. The disadvantage is that it is very versatile, and it is bound to be limited. The advantage is that the control is in your own hands.

None of the existing and soon-to-be-purchased AWACS aircraft of the PAF, the existing command data link, can fully support the fifth generation fighter.

Hi,

"Payment--" what is that? Has it ever stopped any needed procurements in the past---?

 

[UKBengali]

Original FC31 (1st prototype) was rather had a raw/minimal stealth feature but second and third prototypes had a advanced stealth features then first prototype and show me sir what extensive flight testing they did (second and third prototype)?

And what about state certification

You want PAF to induct unfinished J31?

What on earth has "advanced stealth features" got to do with starting flight testing from scratch?

Stealth coatings do not change the flight performance parameters of a plane.

You make little sense as you are trying to suggest that all that flight testing on FC-31 protoype from 2012 has been a total waste of time.

Majority of flight testing has now been done and it only remains to do some "extra" to certify the slight difference with latest prototypes.

 

[PakFactor]

Hi,

"Payment--" what is that? Has it ever stopped any needed procurements in the past---?

Well, that thinking is why you're in the position you're in now and kicking the can down the road to defer payment.

 

[Deino]

Original FC31 (1st prototype) was rather had a raw/minimal stealth feature but second and third prototypes had a advanced stealth features then first prototype and show me sir what extensive flight testing they did (second and third prototype)?

And what about state certification

You want PAF to induct unfinished J31?

Even more so, the second prototype was a static test specimen, so there were only two flying demonstrators, however how far they featured a functioning avionics system is questionable.

 

[NGAD IS THE BEST]

What on earth has "advanced stealth features" got to do with starting flight testing from scratch?

Stealth coatings do not change the flight performance parameters of a plane.

You make little sense as you are trying to suggest that all that flight testing on FC-31 protoype from 2012 has been a total waste of time.

Majority of flight testing has now been done and it only remains to do some "extra" to certify the slight difference with latest prototypes.

Design changes from 1st prototype to better quality stealth features do changes flight parameters and last there's only one prototype of J-31 is flying no additional prototypes are flying since late 2023

Rest of the prototypes are not J31 prototypes but J35 prototypes

 

[Michael]

Hi,

"Payment--" what is that? Has it ever stopped any needed procurements in the past---?

Didn't the Pakistani news media report on the situation?

The Pakistani government has just negotiated with China on the debt issue and wants China to extend and reduce the interest rate on the debt............ Pakistan receives United States economic aid............ China has not fully acceded to the Pakistani government's request............ After returning from a visit to China, the Pakistani prime minister said: Pakistan hopes to improve relations with United States, but this cannot be at the expense of relations with China............

In fact, the vast majority of Pakistan's cooperation with China has been carried out in the form of loans from China or other countries. In addition to China's debt, Pakistan also has Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., and the International Monetary Fund........... Huge debts

This is a matter between governments, we don't understand, there is no need to be too concerned. However, this will seriously affect the process of FC31 reaching Pakistan.

 

[Michael]

Design changes from 1st prototype to better quality stealth features do changes flight parameters and last there's only one prototype of J-31 is flying no additional prototypes are flying since late 2023

Rest of the prototypes are not J31 prototypes but J35 prototypes

Having received support from the PLA Navy, SAC went all out to develop and test the FC31 carrier-based aircraft version (J35).

The core work on the FC31 Air Force version (J31) has long been completed. The rest of the work is just customer-specific adjustments. At the moment there are no orders for J31, so the relevant work is suspended.----------The J31 appeared at the Yanliang Flight Test Institute for testing many years ago (you can confirm this with early satellite images).

-------------------------------------------

There is currently no official information on the official purchase of FC31 (J31) by PLAAF and PAF

The PLA Navy has publicly confirmed that it will be equipped with the FC31 carrier-based aircraft version (J35)

So, you can see a lot of J35 information now, and you can barely see J31 information. Here's why.