J-10 C deal was signed in March 2021 but it was only in December of 2021 that it was announced that J-10 was coming to Pakistan by Sheikh Rasheed, PAF never announced it and then by 11 March 2022 the J-10 C were in Pakistan. That is how China and Pakistan work. Air Chief is not a child that he would announce an induction of J-31 which is years and years away.
Sorry and why didn't you argue or reply to my last post?? ... there is indeed a major misunderstanding on your side and in fact this reply seems to prove it even more:
First you cannot compare the J-10CE acquisition with this alleged one since the J-10 was in production since years, in numbers well within several hundreds by the PLAAF itself, it was a proven type and developed even in improved variants, aka the J-10C. As such, the timeline is not even close to comparable.
Second, even if the Air Chief is surely not a child - no-one said this - his term "soon" is a political flexible term. Even five to eight years from now (aka 2029-2032) would be "soon" and therefore I do not understand your obsession on this very soon term "several months to 1.5 years at a maximum"!? This is plain impossible ...
Third: You noted several additional prototypes, even one in 2018 and quoted even an alleged Tweet from me!
THIS IS ALL WRONG!!! Fact is the first FC-31 demonstrator no. 31001 flew in late 2013. The second heavily revised demonstrator no. 31003 flew in late 2016 and in 2018 a yet again revised proposal was chosen to become the PLAN‘s new stealth fighter, but no new prototype flew in 2018.
In summary, the first true J-35 prototype no. 350001 flew first in October 2021 followed by a second one no. 350003 in May(?) 2022. Since then a most likely third one was seen in green primer at SAC in July 2023 and allegedly flown in September. = we have three confirmed prototypes between late 2021 and late 2023 and not a third in 2018 and like no. 04 & 05 without images! This is plain wrong! Yes, we have at best some very vague rumors about a possible landbased prototype - aka the third one seen in August 2023 - but the latest images I have show it is most likely simply a third J-35 and surely not a J-31 in 2018 or maybe more later.
Therefore again, SAC and esp. the PLAN needs additional J-35 prototypes for testing that bird in order to start carrier tests off the PLANS-18 once the sea trials are completed. In summary I don’t know why you think „There are really high chances Prototype and 3 and 4 and even 5 have been flying and no picture released.“ - and even IF, then these are more likely J-35s as explained - and I surely never posted this on twitter.
I admire your enthusiasm and I'm the first - contrary to what again an old member lies again! - who wants Pakistan to get this bird ASAP, but one need to stick to facts.
