CAD images suggest 'strike' version of Shenyang J-31 | Janes

[Kompromat]

CAD images suggest 'strike' version of Shenyang J-31

Richard D Fisher Jr, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
11 November 2013

Key Points

• CAD images that have appeared on Chinese websites suggest a strike version of Shenyang's J-31 stealth fighter
• The CAD images cannot be verified but would make sense given the PLAAF's lack of interest in the existing J-31 programme

Computer-aided design (CAD) images that have appeared on the Chinese internet indicate that the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) may be considering a larger "strike" version of its J-31 fighter.

It is not possible to confirm whether these CAD images are from a corporate source, such as SAC's 601 Design Institute, or perhaps the work of a student from the associated Shenyang University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, which was involved in designing a flying scale model of the J-31 first seen in 2010.

However, it is plausible that SAC would be working on additional variants of the J-31, which is an industry rather than military-funded programme. The lack of People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) support for the existing J-31 may have prompted SAC to develop a new version that may prove more attractive.

The lengthened J-31 concept is reminiscent of the US Air Force's interest in a stealth fighter-bomber version of the Lockheed Martin F-22, sometimes called the FB-22, which was abandoned in favour of a new long-range bomber.

The J-31 strike version has a triplane planform and is here shown fitted with a single YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile on the centreline. (via Chinese internet)


The CAD images show a triplane-configured fighter with front canards and rear horizontal stabilisers. The chined nose and the vertical stabilisers are similar to the J-31 fighter that first flew on 31 October 2012. The design also features clear planform co-ordination among the lifting surfaces to aid low observability.

The wing is much larger than the J-31 and increases fuel capacity for a greater strike radius, but the fuselage does not appear to be much wider. An internal weapon bay is not pictured but one image shows it armed with a single YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile on the centreline.

A chart that also appeared online shows the new design in comparison to the SAC J-15 carrier fighter, suggesting a possible future role on China's current and future aircraft carriers.

The chart shows that in terms of length, height, and wingspan, the new design is only slightly larger than the J-15, and as such may be compatible with Liaoning, China's Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier, and a second indigenously designed carrier expected to be similar in size and configuration.

This lengthened and heavier version of the J-31 would require a more powerful engine than the Klimov RD-93 fitted to the J-31 to be employed from a short take-off but arrested recovery carrier such as Liaoning.

Russia's Klimov bureau has developed the 20,000 lb-thrust RD-33MK, while unconfirmed Chinese sources indicate that a slightly more powerful version of the WS-13 turbofan is also under development. The WS-13 has been WS-13 testing on a Chengdu FC-1 fighter since about 2010.

IHS-Janes. 
CAD images suggest 'strike' version of Shenyang J-31 - IHS Jane's 360

 

[applesauce]

looks more likely to be ShenYang's bid for the next generation fighter project, it lost to the J-20

 

[Nishan_101]

I am sure that they J-31 will going to have a Dual seat version too..

 

[Luftwaffe]

The CAD design remotely doesn't even look like J-31, Janes Def is writing poor Articles these days. J-31 might be privately funded but it could be the only hope for countries like Pakistan in a long as affordability of any other stealth is impossible. Again the idea that smart skin or stealth skin on regular aircraft and tweaking design was dissed by some members behold US is working on Advanced F-18/F-15 which is part of the programs since F-35 developed in extremely slow and messed up, could be applied to Thunder; Funds can solve every damn problem.

 

[Zabaniyah]

I don't recall the J-31 having canards.

The CAD design remotely doesn't even look like J-31, Janes Def is writing poor Articles these days. J-31 might be privately funded but it could be the only hope for countries like Pakistan in a long as affordability of any other stealth is impossible. Again the idea that smart skin or stealth skin on regular aircraft and tweaking design was dissed by some members behold US is working on Advanced F-18/F-15 which is part of the programs since F-35 developed in extremely slow and messed up, could be applied to Thunder; Funds can solve every damn problem.

I've noticed that as well. Pity, it used to be highly reliable. What the heck is wrong with them?

 

[Luftwaffe]

I don't recall the J-31 having canards.

I've noticed that as well. Pity, it used to be highly reliable. What the heck is wrong with them?

Seems cheap journalists from certain sites have joined Janes Def since JD is also hard hit financially so hiring poor writers with no credibility. I have stopped reading/subscriptions to certain magazines as the Article title is something else and all I read is anti-china rants and japan's might in Articles where it has no remote connection ruining the titles, if such biases continued JD and similar companies will collapse yet there are a very few good aviation related magazines.