What is the difference between J-20 and J-31 In term of range, tech and roles
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Lin Xieyi, Aviation Enthusiast
Updated Jul 3, 2017
Thanks for the A2A. The J-20 is a heavy air-superiority stealth interceptor similar to the F-22A, but with a longer combat range(~1,800 km vs F-22A’s 760km combat radius) and probably heavier weapons payload(~11 tons) base on max takeoff weight of 32 metric tons. The J-20 encapsulates the latest cutting edge techonology and is not for export, with an estimated cost of around US$140 million per aircraft.
On the other hand, the SAC FC-31 is a medium multiRole stealth platform. From AVIC specs, the FC-31 has a maximum takeoff weight of 25 metric tons, combat range of 1,200 km and a top speed of Mach 1.8. It can carry 8 metric tons of weapons and could perform the role of naval aircraft carrier, strike or inteceptor role. Like the F-35, it is the only other fifth-gen stealth fighter available in today’s aviation export market, with a price range half of the F-35, at US$70 million.
An FC-31 model is currently on display at the Paris Air Show 2017. The FC-31 features high survivability, a low radar signature, supreme electronic countermeasures, strong information capacity, outstanding situation awareness and beyond-visual-range combat capability, putting an end to the United States’s monopoly on fifth-gen fighter jet market.
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Henry Yeh, Married to a Mexican woman
Answered Jun 25, 2017
Nobody beside the manufacturers & PLA knows for sure what they’re designed for, but there’re some reasonable speculations out there.
It’s believed that J-20 is China’s
attempt at building a F-22 (an air-superiority fighter) equivalent. But that’s not entirely true, as photos J-20 carrying
PL-15 long-range AAM seems to indicate a rather important interceptor role. However neither is it a pure interceptor like MiG-31 (or its proposed replacement), as its aerodynamic configuration seems to suggest a fair degree of maneuverability. In short, J-20 is probably the closest thing to a stealth F-14 (but without carrier ops capability): a compromise between air-superiority fighter and interceptor.
FC-31 (J-31) does no have a direct Western equivalent. While F-35 can carry prestigious amount of internal fuel and half-decent internal A2G payload, FC-31 probably lacks such capability. This is because the largely defensive PLA does not accord offensive A2G capability such high priority. FC-31 is probably limited to defensive counter-air ops when in “stealth” (internal fuel, internal weapons) mode. To do anything else, it may have to carry drop tanks and external weapons, making it comparable to some 4.5th generation fighters. It’s also speculated that FC-31 may have carrier ops potential.
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Dustin Everhart
Answered Jun 25, 2017
The J-20 appears to be designed to be stealthy from the front, carry a large payload and plenty of fuel. The consensus currently tends to be that it is a long range high value target stealth interceptor capable of high Mach nunbers. Meaning in a hypothetical war between the US & China it would go after the tankers and AWACS with deep strike being a secondary role and potentially a communication node to other assets.
The real purpose behind China's mysterious J-20 combat jet. This article does a decent job explaining it I think.
The J/FC-31 appears to be a multi-role stealth fighter with emphasis on penetration missions such as going behind enemy lines to Target ammunition/fuel depots (the J-20 would go after higher value target like airbases) and to some extent dogfight from BVR or the far end of WVR and it should have plenty of networking built in as well. Hope this helps give you an idea until someone who knows much more provids more detail.
Ben Hardy, Aviation Enthusiast
Answered Jul 13, 2017
The J-20 is already in production and seems to be a counter to the USA’s F/A-18C/D Super-Hornet and F-35A/C Joint Strike Fighter While the J-31 appears to be a direct counter to the USAF F-22A Raptor; even in it’s resemblance to the Raptor. Both are multi-role fighters and both are stealthy but the J-31 is the one most optimized to be stealthy.
(Please click on links below both images)
Shenyang J-31 - Wikipedia
Chengdu J-20 - Wikipedia