No way in hell. It will be ready by 2020. We're talking about Chinese here, not uncle sam.
It could be in mass production by 2020, provided final basic design is produced and accepted by mid 2017. This would give 1.5 years for systems, weapons and tactic development with a short batch production of 15-18 aircraft. This was the way JF-17 was developed.. 50 aircraft per block and in 5-7 years this aircraft would be fully developed into an advance 5th gen aircraft.
No way, that is way too early.
Really! Have you heard the Idiom
"Early bird catches the worm"
I think it will be avaliable for production in 2021 ...
Chinese and Pakistani development methodology is different ... like J10 and JF 17 it will enter low rate production and while we will be making strategies the development will continue and there will be block 2 with removal of all the issues ...
This is the benefits of having state owned manufacturer ... unlikely like LM and Boeing which will be charging separately for everything ....
Well China uses both methodologies.
J-10's followed the concept of J-11's before they were upgraded, hence you can see that those aircraft are in very high numbers. There upgrades were produced in the same way as LM and Boeing.
Where as PAF invented a new concept which would keep the cost of production and upgrade low, hence JF-17 were manufactured in blocks of 50. This allowed PAF to upgrade as well as manufacture the upgraded aircraft simultaneously as well as continue development of next block.
Yo I got a question,
Why do all the people I have met on this forum love the J-31 so much?
Well this does not put any limit on the love for the F-16's on this forum. You can not quantify love period.
Do note, that LM had Pakistan on its marketing list till 2014, listed as a potential customer by 2025 (I assume that's because they had calculated some growth in Pakistan's economy). But they removed Pakistan from the list.
Sir, the basis LM thought PAF would be a potential customer by 2025 was not based on the fact of economic growth but on the delivery of fifth generation platforms to India. In 2014 T-50 PAK-FA project faced financial problems due to falling oil prices and low economic growth in Russia. India also panicked at this to rush for procurement of Rafales as well as saw the local AMCA to be shelved.
Moreover TFX project was also introduced and the Turks advertised Pakistan to be interested in this, though till now no official conformation or denial has come from Pakistan.
If PAF decided to purchase F-35's it has time till 2022 till then the F-16 can be operated.
Did anyone notice that the FC31 V2 don't have head up display same as F35 ? I think FC31 now is a back up plan for PAF, serve as a stepping stone to Get F35A. If they can't get F35, FC31 is there for them. But it might cause delay in 5 than gen fighter induction. SAC will do its best to suit PAF's desire for F35, means they will incorporate lots of F35 tech in FC31.
The reason could be a next generation helmet might be under development.
Yesterday a Pakistani member said he want Tukey put liscensed produced EJ200 on FC31, I like the idea.
If this happened then PAF would also request for EJ200 for JF-17 and option of TFX opens up a the replacement of F-16's.
A J31 with EJ-200 also opens up GCC market.
FC31 stand a chance in Pla navy to replace J15.
It would be a very interesting development. What new technologies would be seen...
Don't forget Saudi, if USA don't sell them the F35A. We sold ballistic missile to them, one of the best Chinese friend in the Middle East.
KSA wold go for TFX to replace EFT and J-31 would replace tornados in my opinion.