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

[aqdus]

I don't think J20 will be up for sale. Even if the Chinese agree to a sale it would be prohibitive cost wise.Also time wise you will probably have to wait at least a decade before getting any of the 5th generation platforms. So at best the talk is in preliminary stages. The chinese have a habit of surprising us and don't think these are the only 2 platforms they will churn out. So lets just wait and see what happens.
Araz

yes you are right in the way you said about cost that we cant afford. But China will not have any issue with selling J-20 to Pakistan as it is shown by their attitude as PAF is only airforce in the world which is allowed to take closer look at j-20 but its all what i guess but future is never far we will see what will happens to our economy and these projects. All we can do is just hope for the best.

 

[Syed Hussain]

I don't think J20 will be up for sale. Even if the Chinese agree to a sale it would be prohibitive cost wise.Also time wise you will probably have to wait at least a decade before getting any of the 5th generation platforms. So at best the talk is in preliminary stages. The chinese have a habit of surprising us and don't think these are the only 2 platforms they will churn out. So lets just wait and see what happens.
Araz

I don't know much but I heard from this very forum that Chinese officials agreed on J-20 if Pak was willing. J-20 may come with cost of around 80 million per unit & that's indeed prohibitive, for PAF has no choice but to always go for "cheap price tag". But there won't be much difference of cost between both fighters. So if going for a 5th gen fighter has been decided than better be it J-20 than under performing J-31.

 

[Basel]

It is surprising that CAC has not offered any 5th gen Solution to PAF or PAF have not announced it as they may be evaluating it? PAF has very close working relationship with CAC since inception of JF-17 project and it is said in media that PAF continuously posted few of its staff on CAC, whereas PAF don't have much working relationship with SAC which is building J-31.

 

[araz]

yes you are right in the way you said about cost that we cant afford. But China will not have any issue with selling J-20 to Pakistan as it is shown by their attitude as PAF is only airforce in the world which is allowed to take closer look at j-20 but its all what i guess but future is never far we will see what will happens to our economy and these projects. All we can do is just hope for the best.

My friend.
China has repeatedly refused to let you have looks at systems when it is against their national interests. For instance they did not allow you to see the Quing submarine. Also PAF was initially not allowed to see the J10. Every one has a project which it does not want to share with anyone else. the US has F22 and for China it is J20.

yes you are right in the way you said about cost that we cant afford. But China will not have any issue with selling J-20 to Pakistan as it is shown by their attitude as PAF is only airforce in the world which is allowed to take closer look at j-20 but its all what i guess but future is never far we will see what will happens to our economy and these projects. All we can do is just hope for the best.

The J20 is currently not for sale to any nation like the F22 is not for anyone else. People who say J20 can be sold to PAF need to prove their statements.

 

[Last Samuri]

j20 is,the premiere fighter of plaaf and not availablec.for export. just like f22 raptor of usa wil not be exported the j20 of china will not be exported to keep their best technology away from enemies.

the j31,or fc31,is a poor mans fifth generation fighter.and will be exported just like f35 lightening of USA.

The j31 will be the only fifth generation fighter without tvc engines

Too keep it cheap

 

[Saifullah Sani]

Pakistan hankers after China's J-31 stealth fighter

China's J-31 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, which will be fitted with a made-in-China engine, is being highly sought after by Pakistan, reports the state-run China News Service.

The J-31, also known as "Gyrfalcon" or Falcon Hawk by some military enthusiasts, is a twin-engine, mid-size fighter currently under development by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. The jet revealed some new additions last week at the 10th Zhuhai Airshow in southern China's Guangdong province, displaying a metallic film designed to improve stealth and prevent radar waves from penetrating the inside of the cockpit.

The plane's chief designer, Sun Cong, also told reporters that the J-31 won't just have a "made in China" exterior, but will also have a "Chinese heart," indicating that the aircraft's engine will also be domestically developed.

It is believed that the J-31 matches a strong need for fifth-generation fighters by Pakistan, which is struggling to find an aircraft to go up against the Russian-developed T-50 fifth-generation fighter currently being modified for export to part-financier India.

Of the current fifth-generation fighters, the only one being exported on a wide scale is the F-35 Lightning II, for which the costs of development are being shared by NATO members or close US allies. The US-made F-22 Raptor and Chinese-made J-20 do not appear to be being prepared for export at this stage.

The smaller J-31 is not necessarily perfect for Pakistan because of its lower fuel capability and narrower battle radius, but its agility and strong stealth capabilities are considered to be strong positives. The most attractive aspect of the jet, however, is its price, which should be well below that of the F-35, expected to cost between US$150 million to US$300 million depending on the model.

The most advanced fighter jet being exported by China right now is the JF-17 Thunder, a lightweight, single-engine, multi-role combat aircraft developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation of China. Given that it is not particularly cheap and its capabilities are arguably no stronger than upgraded secondhand versions of the F-16, the JF-17 has so far had difficulty locating buyers apart from the Pakistan Air Force.

Pakistan hankers after China's J-31 stealth fighter｜Politics｜News｜WantChinaTimes.com

 

[Syed Hussain]

My friend.
China has repeatedly refused to let you have looks at systems when it is against their national interests. For instance they did not allow you to see the Quing submarine. Also PAF was initially not allowed to see the J10. Every one has a project which it does not want to share with anyone else. the US has F22 and for China it is J20.

The J20 is currently not for sale to any nation like the F22 is not for anyone else. People who say J20 can be sold to PAF need to prove their statements.

Pakistani pilots are working in PLAAF on deputation where they are flying both Chinese & Russian made Flankers along with J-10's & training Cino pilots as well...& it's going on since last two decades.
& Quing class submarines are under construction to be delivered to Pak.... & I do not speak on the basis of "web links" but "ground links"...!

 

[farhan_9909]

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has expressed interest in procuring fourth generation stealth fighter aircraft FC-31 from China.

Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain told Dawn on Friday the matter was being discussed with Chinese authorities.

It is for the first time that a senior government functionary has confirmed talks with China over purchase of the longer-range stealth aircraft — an issue that has been a subject of speculation in defence circles since the 10th edition of the Zhuhai Air Show (China) held earlier this month, when the aircraft was unveiled.

The Jane’s Defence Weekly had quoted an unnamed Pakistani official as saying that the PAF was holding talks with China for the purchase of 30 to 40 of the Shenyang FC-31 fighter planes and that discussions had gone beyond initial inquiries.

The FC-31 is being developed by China primarily for the export market. Chinese officials claim that several countries have expressed interest in the aircraft believed to be comparable to US F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

A prototype of the aircraft, designated as J-31, has been flown by the Chinese aircraft research and development firm Shenyang Aviation Company for a couple of years now.

What particularly interests the PAF is that FC-31 prototype (J-31) and JF-17 use the same Russian Klimov RD-93 engines.

Pakistan is increasingly relying on China as a reliable source for its defence procurements.

Mr Hussain said that Pakistan was also interested in Chinese attack helicopter Z-10.

China and Pakistan had earlier co-produced JF-17 Thunder. Pakistan has been eagerly trying to market this fighter aircraft.

“We have nearly confirmed orders from seven countries for JF-17,” Mr Hussain said.

Pakistan, which is at present producing Block-2 of JF-17 at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, is eyeing orders from countries in the Middle East and Africa.

“The PAF has a requirement of 250 aircraft, but now we have decided that we’ll sell some of the JF-17 Block-2 to international buyers besides fulfilling our local demand,” the minister said.

The minister sounded upbeat about the upcoming four-day defence exhibition IDEAS 2014 beginning in Karachi on Dec 1.

Some 175 companies, including 34 local firms, are participating in the international event this year.

Mr Hussain said a few MoUs and agreements on joint ventures were expected to be signed during the exhibition, but no orders were expected at the event.

“The basic spirit behind the exhibition is to increase interaction with defence industry (officials) of other countries and provide exposure to our own industry,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2014

PAF wants to buy Chinese stealth aircraft: minister - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[farhan_9909]

First ever official confirmation

 

[datalibdaz]

Looks like we will be inducting FC 31 the same time when our neighbour will be inducting the rafale

 

[farhan_9909]

Looks like we will be inducting FC 31 the same time when our neighbour will be inducting the rafale

i still remember when the deal was suppose to be signed in 2012,they initial delivery schedule was set at 2018,considering that the deal will be signed in 2015-16 so expect the delivery schedule to begin from 2021-22 or the complete delivery by 2028-29

 

[dil_dil]

Isn't FC31 downgraded version of China 5th gen aircraft? I mean considiring India will have advance western aircrafts while Pak will get downgraded version of 5th gen Chinese aircraft? :/

Unless China can make exception for Pakistan and provide same aircraft as they will use themselves.

 

[datalibdaz]

i still remember when the deal was suppose to be signed in 2012,they initial delivery schedule was set at 2018,considering that the deal will be signed in 2015-16 so expect the delivery schedule to begin from 2021-22 or the complete delivery by 2028-29

You never know, don't underestimate the pace with which Chinese are developing and inducting jets.

 

[datalibdaz]

Isn't FC31 downgraded version of China 5th gen aircraft? I mean considiring India will have advance western aircrafts while Pak will get downgraded version of 5th gen Chinese aircraft? :/

Unless China can make exception for Pakistan and provide same aircraft as they will use themselves.

How you know FC31 is downgraded when there is no info released yet. Stop this verbal diarrhea and take some pills.

 

[fatman17]

FC-31 needs plenty of development work. it will be a while before it is inducted (if ever) into the PAF. the airforce has its hands full on the JFT Program for the next 2-4 years plus lobbying the US for surplus F-16s (at least another 18-36).