China’s newest stealth fighter could fly at Zuhai Airshow next month

Defense Update ^ | Oct 25, 2014

[sukhoi-30mki]

The upcoming Zuhai airshow taking place in China next month will provide an opportunity to get first impressions of the new stealth jets and modernized fighter aircraft currently under development or recently delivered to the People's Republic of China Army, Air Force, Navy.

China is expected to unveil its newest stealth fighter next month at the 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition to be held next month in Zuhai. The J-31 stealth fighter will be shown to the public in demonstration flight, Chinese officials informed. China is intending the J-31 for export markets, initially as a land based fighter, the stealth plane could also evolve later into a carrier based ‘naval configuration’, thus positioned directly as a competitor for the F-35.

Still in an early prototype stage, the Shenyang J-31 stealth fighter is expected to enter production in five years. As a smaller and lighter aircraft, compared to the Chengdu J-20, the J-31 has the potential to become the next carrier-borne combat aircraft type to serve on board the future Chinese aircraft carriers.

J-31 is expected to show for the first time at the 2014 Zuhai air show in China.

The J-31 made its maiden flight in 2012 and is continuing its flight testing and envelope expansion tests. Due to its high potential as an export aircraft, China is likely to make the effort to display the prototype at China’s premier biennial aviation event.

While J-31 is designed as a stealth aircraft, its systems and design is more comparable to current 4-4.5 generation fighters, thus it is expected to be significantly cheaper than the US Joint Strike Fighter. The prototype is currently powered by two Russian made RD-93 afterburning turbofan but production versions are expected to use the Chinese developed WS-13A, delivering 20 percent more power.

The new-generation heavy military transport aircraft Xian Y-20 Kunpeng, independently developed by China, will also debut at Zuhai. With the maximal takeoff weight of 220 tons and the loading capacity of over 66 tons, the Y-20 is the largest aircraft developed by China. The Y-20 had its maiden flight less in 2012 and is expected to be fielded with the Chinese Army Air Force in 2016.

The airshow is expected to provide a first peek into other new jet fighters that have recently become operational with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Navy (PLAN).

The J-10B has already been inducted to PLAAF service, as an upgraded version of the J-10. The most distinctive feature is it’s different ‘smile’.

The Chengdu J-10B is an upgraded variant of the J-10 which has already entered operational service with the PLAAF and spotted by aircraft enthusiasts but has never been officially displayed in public. The aircraft integrates advanced avionics including AESA radar, helmet mounted sight, infra-red search track (IRST) and modern cockpit architecture. The Shenyang J-15, nicknamed “Fei Sha” (Flying Shark) in Chinese, is derived from the Russian Su-33, but represents’ a Chinese improved 4th-generation fighter integrating technologies already implemented by China in the J-11B. It is currently positioned as China’s current carrier-based fighter. To fit on carrier deck and hangars the J-15 has foldable wings and strengthened landing gear and arrester hooks and redesigned high-lift devices.

The land based Shenyang J-16 is a new model of the multi-mission J-11, which was based on the Russian Su-30 design. The main improvements introduced in the J-16 are the AESA radar technology and advanced beyond visual range (BVR) air/air missiles that can independently and simultaneously engage multiple targets. The first batch of J-16s was delivered to the PLAAF in May this year.

The J-16 represents a development of the J-11, introducing modern avionics and weaponry.

[clearcarbon]

I wonder how long their stealth will be able to keep them airborne before they turn into chaff.

[Gay State Conservative]

Over the last 20+ years at least 95% of the Chinese diplomats,businessmen,tourists and students who have traveled to industrialized countries (US,Europe,Japan,South Korea,etc) have been military and/or economic spies.There can be no doubt that the technology found in this aircraft came from one,or more,of those countries.

[knarf]

Right after your android melts in your hand, not in your mouth.

Here's the money line;

"The prototype is currently powered by two Russian made RD-93 afterburning turbofan but production versions are expected to use the Chinese developed WS-13A, delivering 20 percent more power."

If true, 20% is a mammoth increase

[Yo-Yo]

India halts Su-30 flights after latest crash

The Indian air force has temporarily suspended flying on its entire fleet of an estimated 200 Sukhoi Su-30MKIs, following an uncommanded ejection involving the type on 21 October.

“Flying of the Su-30 fleet has been temporarily suspended. The Court of Inquiry is in progress and certain specific checks are being conducted on the aircraft,” says India's defence ministry.

Both crew members from the air force's 30 Sqn escaped injury when their aircraft – tail no SB 050 – came down 10.8nm (20km) short of the runway at Lohegaon air base in Pune, with its airframe largely intact. “Both ejection seats had fired whilst the aircraft was coming in to land,” the defence ministry confirms.

The latest mishap was the fifth crash to have involved the multi-role type in Indian service, and has called into question the safety of its Zvezda K-36D ejection seats. The nation's Su-30MKIs have also been dogged by trouble with the type's NPO Saturn AL-31FP engines and a poor serviceability rate, according to informed sources.

Counting the latest crash, the Indian air force has lost 20 combat aircraft since August 2011, including two other Su-30s, eight Mikoyan MiG-21s, three RAC MiG-29s, three Sepecat Jaguars, two Dassault Mirage 2000s and one MiG-27.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

America we need to support American jobs.

Stop buying everything from China.

American companies, bring back jobs to the USA. Our own companies, are building up China to be a threat to our own country.

Everyone is building up the threat.

Democrats. Republicans. Everyone.

[IronJack]

But it’s so stealthy no one will know ...

[skimbell]

Looks like Bubba and Algore sold them the plans for the Tomcat.

[GBA]

I remember the line "Only Nixon could go to China", but it was all who followed who've turned China into a high tech factory with the most modern and most flexible manufacturing facilities, along with all the world has learned to date.

Let's keep slapping ourselves on the back and telling ourselves that "we're number one", but sometime we ought to stop for a moment and figure out what we're number one at.

I think the answer has changed since Nixon went to China.

[hattend]

Russia sold them an SU-27