KJ-500 and J-16

At Air Force Academy, Black Students Told to ‘Go Home’

Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria’s strong response to that:

J-20 #2021 prototype: WS-10X turbofan and LOA nozzles

EDIT: Added the original image

CH-5 UCAV: Conducted tests – 100 kg LGB and 80 kg ASM – https://twitter.com/xinfengcao/status/913059361030672385/video/1

Not sure about the occasion, but there are 3x J-20 and 3x J-16 (1 is not very visible since its at back)

Really ? I never really assumed that the J 20 could be an all purpose aircraft. I thought it was an interceptor/fighter hybrid that was geared toward taking out US tankers. There’s nothing really conventional about the J 20 mainly because of its size. The fC 31 is the opposite. It is as conventional of a design that it gets.

J-20 IS A fighter/interceptor. But when dealing with Tankers and AWACS the ultra-long range PL-X are carried by J-16 and J-11B. J-16 also takes the roles of the Su-30MKK and JH-7. J-16 actually takes more of an attack role in the PLAAF. Su-35 can deal with modern 4.5 gen threats but more importantly, for the PLAAF it is needed to train & simulated modern threats. The TVC on the Su-35 will be extremely valuable for the PLAAF to develop new tactics for J-10/J-20 and to counter Su-30MKI, F-22 etc. And as I said before if the J-11D does not go well PLAAF will likely acquire more Su-35. J-11D is really missing in action these days. J-20 currently has a very specialized role. It is needed to deal with 5th gen threats and to provide air-dominance in the future. These are all very long range aircraft. For local defense the J-10B/C is more than adequate for the moment. FC-31 seems redundant and it is not going to be more maneuverable than the J-10. J-10C already has some downgraded EW components of the J-20.

Wouldnt the FC 31 be easier..

Not necessarily. J-10 is a proven platform. PLAAF has a lot of confidence in CAC to deliver a certain platform. While the FC-31 will be stealthier than a future J-10D, the J-10D will share certain components with the J-20 with and the maneuverability will be exceptional. Even the current J-10 are very agile and the AL-31FN series 3 on J-10B/C produces almost 135 kN.

Why is the prospect of the J-31 entering PLAAF or PLAN service getting slimmer?

For the PLAAF:
They don’t want to get into a Su-27/MiG-29 like situation. FC-31 is twin-engined and would be redundant. For decades the PLAAF used single-engined + twin-engined combo. (J-7 + J-8), (J-7E/G + J-8D/H/F), (J-10 + Su-27/J-11), (J-10B/C + Su-35/J-20). CAC is now rumored to be designing a stealthly version of the J-10, some dub this the J-10D. This is supposed to feature some RCS reduction, CFT and conformal weapons carriages, WS-10IPE which will give it 140+ kN thrust in A/B, F-35 type LOA nozzles with 3D-TVC and some EW systems used in the J-20. This should be more than adequate for local defense while the long range mission would be for Su-35 and the most critical missions to the J-20.

For the PLAN:
Now for the PLAN there were genuine prospects for the FC-31 dubbed J-35. There were reports that it may have even been selected for the PLAN but looks like that is now in doubt. Looks like CAC has crashed the party again. Now we hear proposals of navalized J-20 for the PLAN. Here are some concepts – Link-1, Link-2, Link-3. Don’t think any of these have been officially finalized but J-20 is certainly in the game for the PLAN.

Looks like the FC-31 is a poor man’s J-20 and would be relegated to export only. The big fear is CAC is creating a massive monopoly when it comes to Chinese fighter aircraft in the future if the PLAN also goes with the J-20.