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

[BP2]

Can J31 be effective stealth air superiority fighter without sidebays and limited internal payload option?

In this case it is like a first gen KF-21 south korean jet.
A less risky business than to built directly a bird with bays.

Or only 'small" bays for few air to air missiles (in a only air to air config), and if more are needed and air to ground weapons : under the wings in a less stealthy mode.

 

[BP2]

Also some europeans countries are pulling their hair out for falling for the F35's for the maintenance costs---and down time---@Oscar ---.

F35 is the new pizzo to pay USA for military assurance..... It's not so important to be really potent at the Lockeed Martin marketed level.

 

[maverick]

In fact the final few weeks have been so busy that I could hardly pay attention to these things, but even under ideal conditions and everything in honeymoon mode, I see little chance of SAC outsourcing production to Pakistan.

These are all wet dreams, just like these rumors, "soon" there will be J-31 ... soon in 2028 maybe at best.

Dec 2026.

 

[Oscar]

Dec 2026.

Someone has already “marked his words” for 2025

Bets on 2026 are open.

 

[UKBengali]

it would be a waste of rescources for both countries to outsource production to Pakistan, and if I am honest, too much of a threat, Pakistan still has many very pro US officers in the Air force (maybe even the majority!?). Also the numbers may not justify it, be surprised if we go for more then say 4 qds (80 planes). Max.

Pakistan has no experience in stealth materials and so unless China transferred all its know-how that it has built up over decades, then it would be simply impossible for Pakistan to be able to do anything more than assemble from kit form.

China would sell completed J-31s and there is unlikely to be any production lines built overseas and it is highly unlikely that even PAF will get exactly the same version as PLAAN.

 

[MastanKhan]

Acquisition, probably.
Production? I have a doubt China agree to give such asset to be built autside, even if Pak is a strong ally.

Hi,

There is no reason for pakistan to ask for production line---. It is not tactful.

 

[Fatman17]

China teases J-31B Gyrfalcon​

By
Jr Ng
-
July 11, 2024

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) subsidiary Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) has revealed its J-31B Shen Fei/Gyrfalcon combat aircraft in a new computer-generated video showcasing its fighter portfolio in early July.
The company did not disclose further details of this particular variant of the J-31 development, which was first made known to the public in late 2012 as the FC-31 and believed to be originally intended to be marketed as an affordable and stealthy multirole combat aircraft for international customers.

However, official updates from the company over the years have also acknowledged the ‘Jian-31’ (J-31) which denotes aircraft being used by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) air and naval aviation services.
The single-seat FC/J-31 to be considerably smaller than the PLA Air Force’s J-20 Mighty Dragon, suggesting that it might make up the ‘low’ end of a ‘high-low’ fifth-generation capability mix with its larger stablemate. The general design characteristics of the FC/J-31 – low aspect-ratio wings and tailplanes of trapezoidal planform; chined fuselage, with forward-swept engine intakes; outward-canted twin vertical fins; and internal weapons carriage – are fairly typical of today’s crop of fifth-generation fighters, and indicate at least some degree of stealth.

As with the J-20, the FC/J-31 is a twin-engined design and is also currently powered by Russian Klimov RD-93s turbofan engines with an indigenous Chinese powerplant expected to be fitted for production-standard aircraft.
AVIC earlier in 2022 established an office to actively promote domestic and international sales of the FC/J-31, which suggests that the aircraft is close to initial production and could be ready for export orders within the decade. The type would be the third Chinese-made combat aircraft to be offered for export, alongside the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) FC-1 Xiaolong light fighter – which is being manufactured under license by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex as the JF-17 Thunder – and the CAIG J-10 Vigorous Dragon multirole fighter.
by JR Ng
https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sha...iew.com/2024/07/china-teases-j-31b-gyrfalcon/

 

[mythbuster]

Pakistan has no experience in stealth materials and so unless China transferred all its know-how that it has built up over decades, then it would be simply impossible for Pakistan to be able to do anything more than assemble from kit form.

China would sell completed J-31s and there is unlikely to be any production lines built overseas and it is highly unlikely that even PAF will get exactly the same version as PLAAN.

During the last few years pak has made more than expected progress in material sciences .

 

[maverick]

During the last few years pak has made more than expected progress in material sciences .

Is there a dedicated facility producing top notch materials at scale or in lab only environment ?

 

[mythbuster]

Is there a dedicated facility producing top notch materials at scale or in lab only environment ?

Not sure about scale .

 

[Zarvan]

It seems more likely that pigs will fly above Karachi before the J31 will.
I don't get why people on this forum act like drastic and otherworldly changes like this will come very soon lol. The J31 is a fifth generation fighter that China has not even put into production for domestic use, let alone rolling it out to the export market in under a year, and not even considering the necessary fielding challenges that Pakistan will inevitably face from the costs of fielding a fifth generation aircraft.
2030 is also too soon, it definitely seems like the earliest would be around 2035 onwards

You will see it for yourself in next 1.5 to two years

 

[Zarvan]

A new J-35 "350x" was seen in green primer and according to some, this particular aircraft exists already since about two months.

(Image via @恒苏Actline from Weibo) Credit @Deino

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

J31 model with 2D engine nozzles

 

[r3alist]

During the last few years pak has made more than expected progress in material sciences .

More than the Taliban? Who would have guessed

Sorry, unnecessary comment

 

[That_Guy]

F16s should start to retire in the 2030s

Should be when we start to induct j-31s

I have doubts that PAF retires any of its F-16s before 2040. I have a feeling that they're going to look to upgrade then via Turkiye, as it's just the cheaper option.