Pakistan Looking To Buy China's J-31 Stealth Fighter

[AbdulQadir7]

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is set to enhance its capabilities with the upcoming induction of the J-31C, a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet developed by China. This addition comes on the heels of the recent acquisition of approximately 30 J-10C aircraft, further modernizing Pakistan's air fleet.

Overview of the J-31C​

The J-31C, also known as the Shenyang FC-31 Gyrfalcon, is designed to compete with advanced fighter jets globally, including the U.S. F-35. It features a twin-engine design, stealth capabilities, and advanced avionics, making it a formidable asset for the PAF. The aircraft is expected to significantly enhance Pakistan's air combat capabilities, allowing for deeper penetration into enemy territory and improved tactical flexibility.

Current Developments​

Reports indicate that the PAF has already begun sending pilots to China for training on the J-31C, signaling a commitment to integrating this advanced platform into its operational framework. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu has confirmed that negotiations for acquiring the fighter jet are underway, with expectations that it will soon enter service.

Strategic Implications​

The introduction of the J-31C is poised to alter the balance of power in South Asia, particularly concerning India's air capabilities. As India continues to modernize its fleet with advanced platforms like the Rafale and indigenous projects such as the AMCA, Pakistan's acquisition of fifth-generation fighters could complicate regional defense dynamics.

Enhancing Air Superiority​

The PAF's strategy includes not only acquiring new aircraft but also phasing out older models like the F-16 and Mirage fighters. The J-31C's stealth features and payload capacity will allow Pakistan to maintain a competitive edge in air superiority and strike capabilities.

Conclusion​

With the J-31C on the horizon and recent additions like the J-10C, Pakistan is actively working to modernize its air force in response to regional security challenges. This development underscores the importance of advanced military technology in maintaining strategic deterrence and operational effectiveness in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

 

[Scorpiooo]

Main question is do PAF got actual version or water down version of J31, which mostly getting as export variant

 

[fitpOsitive]

J-31 is not coming to PAF in near future due to several reasons and one of them is that the redesign prototype has not been seen only old obsolete design seen flying.

So it's 2024, and this bird is still not there. You were right.

 

[The Terminator]

Main question is do PAF got actual version or water down version of J31, which mostly getting as export variant

It doesn't matter at all. We knew years ago when early pictures pictures of J-31 surfaced that Pakistan gonna get it. Unless chengdu comes up with a competitive design. China knows and common Pakistani knows that we gonna lease whatever trash China throws at us. Because as our form 47 PM said: "Beggars can't be choosers." We don't even pay for our new shiny toys anymore. God knows since when we have been getting Chinese equipment loaned from the Chinese banks.
We got PL-15E (export version) missiles with brand new loaned J-10C fighters. As various Chinese sources in sino defense confirmed that at least the rocket motor propulsion system in export variants are watered down compared to the PLAAF's ones.

Maybe due to our Govts own blunders and dancing around various superpowers one at a time has created cracks between the Pak-China relationships. As China, like the US, doesn't share the best top of the line Chinese equipment with Pakistan anymore. We have been receiving downgraded export versions which any country globally can also buy off the shelf from China right now.

China operates Type-99, we get VT-4 export tank, China operates J-20s and they were never offered to Pakistan and we are going to get whatever this J-31 would be. We got older variants of the HQ-9 SAMs. Got export type 54A slightly modified only when China is manufacturing the advanced Type 54Bs and the list goes on. And to top it off, lack of transparency in military acquisitions and massive defense projects without any civilian oversight, kept under the wraps of secrecy is just a recipe for disaster.

 

[AbdulQadir7]

Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Marshal Anil Khosla's concerns about the inability to counter Pakistan Air Force's (PAF) future J-31 jets with the F-35 stem from strategic and technological considerations. The J-31 (also known as the FC-31), a Chinese fifth-generation stealth fighter, poses a potential challenge to the region’s air superiority dynamics due to its stealth, advanced radar, and missile capabilities.
Air Marshal Khosla's warning likely emphasizes the following points:

1. Stealth and Advanced Technology: The J-31 is designed with stealth capabilities that make it harder to detect by conventional radar systems. While the F-35 is a capable fifth-generation aircraft, it might face difficulties in maintaining an edge over newer or rapidly evolving technologies like the J-31 in the future.
2. Regional Balance: PAF’s acquisition of J-31 could shift the balance of power in South Asia. With Pakistan's potential to field stealth fighters, India's air dominance could be challenged, which Khosla might be pointing out.
3. Operational Strategy: Khosla might be hinting at the fact that simply acquiring advanced aircraft like the F-35 is not enough if the underlying tactics, strategies, and integration within IAF operations are not updated to match evolving threats like the J-31.
4. Indigenous Aircraft Development: Khosla's comment could be a call for India to focus on developing its own fifth-generation platforms, like the AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft), rather than relying entirely on foreign aircraft like the F-35, which might not always be optimized for India's specific security needs.

In short, his warning underscores the need for India to focus on enhancing its defense capabilities in response to evolving threats posed by Pakistan's future acquisition of advanced stealth aircraft like the J-31.

 

[Akbar26]

Pakistan Air Force pilots, in the coming months of 2024, will be sent to
China to start training on the J-31 Gyrfalcon Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter.

 

[HamzaWaseem]

Pakistan Air Force will acquire between 60 to 80 (4 squadrons of) J-31 stealth aircraft from China,
becoming the first air force in the South Asian region to possess stealth fighter technology.