Saifullah Sani
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2011
- Messages
- 3,339
- Reaction score
- 2
- Country
- Location
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) plans to perform the maiden flight of a production-standard FC-31 'fifth-generation' fighter before the end of the decade, with full-operational capability to be declared a few years later, a company official said on 8 November.
Speaking at the Dubai Airshow 2015, vice-president of China's National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation Li Yuhai said that with a prototype J-31 'Falcon Eagle' having been flying since 2012, a production-model FC-31 dubbed 'King of the Hawks' will fly in 2019 before initial operating capability is declared in 2022, with full operating capability following in 2022.
As noted by Yuhai, this timetable depends on a customer launch being signed up in the near future. Billed by AVIC as an export fighter, the FC-31 has received interest from Pakistan, with IHS Jane's reporting earlier this year that the Pakistan Air Force has a potential requirement for 30 to 40 of the fighters. While Yuhai said AVIC is in discussions with the People's Liberation Army Air Force, he did not provide details.
AVIC's press conference at the Dubai Airshow marked the first time that the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation FC-31 fighter had been discussed by the corporation outside of China. Although neither Yuhai nor any of the other officials present took questions, the press conference did reveal further specifications and characteristics for the single-seat, twin-engine multirole combat aircraft.
As noted by the aircraft's chief designer, Lin Peng, the FC-31 is 16.8 m in length, has a 11.5-m wing span, is 4.8 m in height, and has a maximum take-off weight of 25,000 kg.
The aircraft is fitted with 10 stores points (four internal, six external) and has a loading weight of 8 tonnes (2 tonnes internal and 6 tonnes external). Possible weapons fits include an internal gun, PL-9 air-to-air missiles (AAMs), SD-10A (improved) AAMs, small-diameter bombs, and export air-to-surface missiles.
Dubai Airshow 2015: AVIC sets out plans for FC-31 export fighter - IHS Jane's 360
Speaking at the Dubai Airshow 2015, vice-president of China's National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation Li Yuhai said that with a prototype J-31 'Falcon Eagle' having been flying since 2012, a production-model FC-31 dubbed 'King of the Hawks' will fly in 2019 before initial operating capability is declared in 2022, with full operating capability following in 2022.
As noted by Yuhai, this timetable depends on a customer launch being signed up in the near future. Billed by AVIC as an export fighter, the FC-31 has received interest from Pakistan, with IHS Jane's reporting earlier this year that the Pakistan Air Force has a potential requirement for 30 to 40 of the fighters. While Yuhai said AVIC is in discussions with the People's Liberation Army Air Force, he did not provide details.
AVIC's press conference at the Dubai Airshow marked the first time that the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation FC-31 fighter had been discussed by the corporation outside of China. Although neither Yuhai nor any of the other officials present took questions, the press conference did reveal further specifications and characteristics for the single-seat, twin-engine multirole combat aircraft.
As noted by the aircraft's chief designer, Lin Peng, the FC-31 is 16.8 m in length, has a 11.5-m wing span, is 4.8 m in height, and has a maximum take-off weight of 25,000 kg.
The aircraft is fitted with 10 stores points (four internal, six external) and has a loading weight of 8 tonnes (2 tonnes internal and 6 tonnes external). Possible weapons fits include an internal gun, PL-9 air-to-air missiles (AAMs), SD-10A (improved) AAMs, small-diameter bombs, and export air-to-surface missiles.
Dubai Airshow 2015: AVIC sets out plans for FC-31 export fighter - IHS Jane's 360
