China offers its most powerful stealth aircraft to Saudi Arabia with technology transfer

[The SC]

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly shown keen interest in the Chinese FC-31 stealth fighter, global news sites have reported.

The Chinese arms industry showcased a wide range of advanced weapons and equipment, including the FC-31 stealth fighter plane, at the first edition of the World Defense Exhibition that was held in Saudi Arabia in Riyadh last March.

Analysts said that China offered Saudi Arabia the Chinese FC-31 stealth fighters with the transfer of technology and the establishment of factories to produce them locally.

There is also talk of massive air defense deals between China and Saudi Arabia that may include advanced HQ 17 systems.

Eight Chinese companies presented their equipment at the four-day exhibition, including the LY-80 air defense system, the SR5 multiple launch missile system, the JY-27A air warning radar, the Y-9E transport plane, the electronic warfare defense system, the unmanned multipurpose boat and multiple UAVs. Species such as Wing Loong-2, CH-5 and WJ-700, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The state-owned Aerospace Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) also announced in a social media post that the FC-31 stealth fighter aircraft is one of the high-quality products also displayed at the fair.

The FC-31 is AVIC's iconic product and the company has dedicated a unit to promoting and exporting the aircraft abroad, according to the report.

Experts told the Global Times that the Chinese weapons are technically mature, highly cost-effective, and come with complete after-sales services with few political restrictions, making them a good choice in the international arms market.

Experts said that China can transfer technology and help build assembly lines in the customer's country on demand, which will not only create local jobs, but also enhance the customer's independent industrial capabilities in general.

These unprecedented Chinese moves in the Persian Gulf region come at a time when differences between the United States and its Gulf allies such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, especially on a range of issues, including relations with Iran, the war in Ukraine, cast a shadow over the sale of the F-35 and even the problem of the qualitative supremacy of Israel Beijing sees an opportunity to offer its FC-31 stealth aircraft to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, without conditions.

 

[Ahmadbhutta01]

Uncle Sam would never allow it

 

[tman786]

Drone strikes incoming

 

[Solidify]

Go get weapons before Israel bombs heck out of ya

 

[Azadkashmir]

no instead china will be selling automatic a ss wiper, with water jet, which is laser guided.

 

[tower9]

Seems like the Saudis have noticed which direction the wind is blowing and have gotten a new benefactor, one that won’t constantly demonize them in public while secretly doing deals in private.

 

[Signalian]

Most powerful stealth a/c isn't J-20, strange.

At least no financing issues with KSA.

 

[Trango Towers]

Uncle Sam would never allow it

But this will send shock waves in Washington..
Will the arms industry now look for another war or removal of MBS

 

[Trango Towers]

Seems like the Saudis have noticed which direction the wind is blowing and have gotten a new benefactor, one that won’t constantly demonize them in public while secretly doing deals in private.

Mbs will be a target now

 

[Brainsucker]

Most power stealth isn't J-20, strange.

At least no financing issues with KSA.

You must miss the photograph that showed Shenyang studied J-20 some years ago in this forum. I forget which thread it was. But assuming that Shenyang already study J-20 and now developing Chinese 2nd Stealth Fighter (J-35), we can assume that FC-31 can also get the benefit of J-20 stealth tech.

 

[Signalian]

You must miss the photograph that showed Shenyang studied J-20 some years ago in this forum. I forget which thread it was. But assuming that Shenyang already study J-20 and now developing Chinese 2nd Stealth Fighter (J-35), we can assume that FC-31 can also get the benefit of J-20 stealth tech.

Depends if China offers its top end J-20 to anyone.

 

[MultaniGuy]

Looking forward to seeing Saudi Arabia working with China. This is great news.

 

[SQ8]

Depends if China offers its top end J-20 to anyone.

The J-20 is the F-22 to the Chinese - it may not be top dog in terms of evolved tech but it certainly may be top performing in terms of sheer aerodynamics and innovative architecture.

The Raptor is still top dog so far even 16-18 years after FOC/or IOC? Simply because the tech that was developed for it - some of it bespoke is still extremely good at what it does.

The program was capped at 187.. but the lessons it provided are doing wonders for the F-35.. and those lessons from the F-35 are doing wonders for the NGAD.

To me, the J-20 is somewhere between the Raptor and F-35 to the Chinese while the FC-31 is more akin to 7/8ths of a F-35 because it iterated faster while the tech was still evolving from the J-20(and another program)

 

[GreatHanWarrior]

Go get weapons before Israel bombs heck out of ya

Saudi Arabia has DF-3 and DF-21

 

[Deltadart]

Habibis have the deep pockets to buy anything they desire, and the chinese have the greatest desire to keep making tons of money.
However, the only thing that can scuttle this impending deal would be an offer from the US to provide downgraded F35s, and arm twist the Habibis into accepting it, considering US will be moving on to 6th generation planes in the near future anyway. Besides, Israeli backers in the US would be able to extort 6th generation technologies from the US, in order to let this sale go through the congress.