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SAC - FC-31 Grey Falcon Stealth aircraft for PAF : Updates & Debate

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Yes, that's true ... the prototypes so far are said to use an uprated modified WS-13 called WS-21 and similar to the WS-15 for the J-20, the true engine foreseen for the J-35 is the WS-19, said to be comparable to the F414 or EJ200.
Will the WS-19 be as responsive as the F-414 in spooning up and down? Any estimate of the MTBO of the engine?


Thinking back to the F-14 and its engine problems, could it be said the current J-35 prototypes with the WS-21 are the equivalent of the F-14A and the J-35 program is just waiting for the engines to mature to allow the J-35 to reach true IOC. All the tech developed for all the other sub-systems could easily be adapted from the J-20 to the J-35, it the major hold up are the engines.

Btw, any indication there is a plan for a Pelikan rail variant of the J-35 down the line? The most obvious external visible difference between US 5th and European 6th Gen (Tempest and FCAS) designs is the adoption of Pelikan tails. I’m sure China is also working on a variable cycle variant of their engines, even before their current designs are fully mature, and will be able to integrate it into their 6th gen designs, but in the mean time, baking in the Pelikan tail could allow the PLANAF to leapfrog to an anticipated design advantage.
 
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Will the WS-19 be as responsive as the F-414 in spooning up and down? Any estimate of the MTBO of the engine?


Thinking back to the F-14 and its engine problems, could it be said the current J-35 prototypes with the WS-21 are the equivalent of the F-14A and the J-35 program is just waiting for the engines to mature to allow the J-35 to reach true IOC. All the tech developed for all the other sub-systems could easily be adapted from the J-20 to the J-35, it the major hold up are the engines.

Btw, any indication there is a plan for a Pelikan rail variant of the J-35 down the line? The most obvious external visible difference between US 5th and European 6th Gen (Tempest and FCAS) designs is the adoption of Pelikan tails. I’m sure China is also working on a variable cycle variant of their engines, even before their current designs are fully mature, and will be able to integrate it into their 6th gen designs, but in the mean time, baking in the Pelikan tail could allow the PLANAF to leapfrog to an anticipated design advantage.
Hi,

Nothing like that---. Engine is the least amount of worry for the 5th gen aircraft---.

Any modern engine---due to the current technology uptick would by default be a very capable engine regardless---.

It is all about the overall EW warfare package and potent weapons---.
 
Hi,

Nothing like that---. Engine is the least amount of worry for the 5th gen aircraft---.

Any modern engine---due to the current technology uptick would by default be a very capable engine regardless---.

It is all about the overall EW warfare package and potent weapons---.
Aren’t those two aspects already been developed vis a vi the J-20, or is Shenyang (and it’s sub-system suppliers) suppose to independently develop their own EW package and stealth coatings/air frame “mat” stealth?
 
Trust me when India is about to aquire 5th Gen then their will be a project of J35 similar to J10C vs J10CE. 😇

Post 2040, TFX is like F-16 of PAF & will be in limited numbers and J35XE will be like JF-17/J10 and in bigger numbers.

At the moment Pakistan doesn't need a 5th generation jet, and China already has the J20s. India will likely buy a 5th generation jet after 2030s and by that time J35 will be ready, tfx will also be inducted by Turkey, the engine issue maybe resolved by then, we can only guess. J10C, F16s, Jf17 block 3s are enough for us till 2030s.
 
I agree that Pakistan should have invested in a NGFA program like the Chinese or Turkish fighters. To me the purchase of the J-10C was a waste of money.

Paf had 75 F16s which the USA wouldn't upgrade or give new jets. They have 150 Jf17s but they are light weight, planes like Mirage F7s needed replacing. So 100% it was correct to go for J10Cs, we got advance weaponry, long range missiles, with future upgrades. Hopefully Pakistan will take J10Cs to 150 number, and keep Jf17s to 200 maximum. Total around 400 4th and 4.5th generation fighter jets.

Regarding investing in 5th generation, China doesn't need a partner and Turkey maybe willing to allow Pakistan become a partner, but Pakistan doesn't have technology to contribute, they don't have the money, resources, technology to produce own jets so it was just day dreaming. The best scenario is to wait for Tfx and J35s and buy both with Pak specs.
 
The FC-31 is still a developmental aircraft, it perhaps when the plane is fully developed many anticipate it will get re-designated J-35.

At that point, should it get a new Chinese and English name?

For Chinese perhaps “JingWei” (a persistent against all odds bird in Chinese mythology), and considering its naval strike potential and improved engines about to come online, in English Perhaps Peregrine? These names easier to pronounce in both languages.

Btw, if the engines help the jet reach a higher altitude and faster speed it can impart that energy to the missiles it fires. This will be vital as next generation air to air missiles will be coming online soon. The next generation of PL-15 may also need an imaging infrared sensor to have a second way to increase the probability of a kill in an environment of increasing RF EW.
 
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Paf had 75 F16s which the USA wouldn't upgrade or give new jets. They have 150 Jf17s but they are light weight, planes like Mirage F7s needed replacing. So 100% it was correct to go for J10Cs, we got advance weaponry, long range missiles, with future upgrades. Hopefully Pakistan will take J10Cs to 150 number, and keep Jf17s to 200 maximum. Total around 400 4th and 4.5th generation fighter jets.

Regarding investing in 5th generation, China doesn't need a partner and Turkey maybe willing to allow Pakistan become a partner, but Pakistan doesn't have technology to contribute, they don't have the money, resources, technology to produce own jets so it was just day dreaming. The best scenario is to wait for Tfx and J35s and buy both with Pak specs.
If Pakistan procured a squadron of J-35 and operates them in all comparable anticipated domains, that experience could be their contribution to the T-FX program.
 
J-35 Gyrfalcon equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, very long-range BVR missiles and very low RCS, will dominate most existing aerial threats!
J-35 remains an option for PAF's Vision 2030 laid down by ACM Sohail Aman. KAAN and J-35 can become PAF's future Hi-Lo Combo!
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The FC-31 is still a developmental aircraft, it perhaps when the plane is fully developed many anticipate it will get re-designated J-35.

At that point, should it get a new Chinese and English name?

For Chinese perhaps “JingWei” (a persistent against all odds bird in Chinese mythology), and considering its naval strike potential and improved engines about to come online, in English Perhaps Peregrine? These names easier to pronounce in both languages.

Btw, if the engines help the jet reach a higher altitude and faster speed it can impart that energy to the missiles it fires. This will be vital as next generation air to air missiles will be coming online soon. The next generation of PL-15 may also need an imaging infrared sensor to have a second way to increase the probability of a kill in an environment of increasing RF EW.

The Jingwei; the bird that tried to drop pebbles after pebbles into the sea to cover it.

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The FC-31 is still a developmental aircraft, it perhaps when the plane is fully developed many anticipate it will get re-designated J-35.

PLAAF hasn't made up its mind yet whether to choose this bird (FC-31) or stick with J-20 as a only 5th generation aircraft prior shift to 6th generation.

The PLAAF bird will most likely be designated as the J-31 (no information available of its development) if they choose the SAC option.

J-35 is the naval variant which is under development for PLANAF.
 
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Carrier based 5th Gen VLO Fighter jet J-35 [Naval version of J-31 & further development over FC-31] Prototype spotted flying with J-16 Flanker.The changes mean its deployment with PLAN as Carrier borne fighter is near.
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J35 matures with each passing day, nevertheless today we may just contend with some possible CGI images.
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