sources schmorses, the latest pictures show not one but TWO models with no internal bay.. it’ll barely be able to lick the F-35 or J-31, let alone defeat it.

The Internal Weapons Bay is not due until the Block 2. At least the KFX is a supercruiser from the start, unlike the J-20/J-31.

Aha… I mis(?)interpreted the text as if SAAB was chosen as a partner for the KF-X project.

Saab has been doing the consulting work under the radar. The standard Korean weapons program practice is to hire an experienced foreign consultant to review and validate the local engineering work if it’s the local industry’s first attempt at doing things.

It is also notable that Turkey returned to the KFX participation negotiation table after Turkey withdrew from an earlier negotiation and hired Saab to do a preliminary design study. Saab may have something to do with Turkey’s return to the KFX negotiation table.

An interesting observation is that this jet is intended to kill the J-20 AND the F-35(JASDF F-35s and Aussie F-35), so this would explain the lack of Korean interest in the F-35, where the current F-X is now a battle between the Silent Eagle and the Typhoon.

Just like making a plane look like an F-22 or F-35, doesn’t mean it will be as good as one. 😉

The PLA operates on the principle of numerical superiority, made famous by the human wave attack. The PLA belief is that they could overcome technologically superior US forces by overwhelming them with sheer number, and that dooms day scenario has been studied by the RAND corporation.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/08/think-tank-china-beats-us-in-simulated-taiwan-air-war/

Think Tank: China Beats U.S. in Simulated Taiwan Air War

Still, with or without F-22s, the Chinese air and missile force “dramatically outnumbers [U.S. and Taiwanese] forces and wins the war of attrition,” according to Steve Trimble’s summary of the RAND study. The Chinese lose 241 jets on the first day of fighting, while the U.S. and Taiwan together lose 147, but this lopsided kill ratio doesn’t matter, when China has hundreds more planes to put into the air. Moreover, most of the U.S. and Taiwanese planes lost, are destroyed on the ground by barrages of Chinese ballistic missiles. (It’s not for no reason that the U.S. Air Force is working hard to win new friends, each with juicy new bases, all over the Pacific.)

So as long as enough J-11, J-20, and J-31 could close in enough for IR missile launches, the US loses.

A Chinese replica of a prime brand watch (Breitling, Omega..) might measure time exactly well.. does it mean anything? If you had $3900.00 to spend, which one would you buy, the original or a 40% discounted Chinese copy??

Based on the statistics of auto sales where foreign brands has taken over the 70% market share in China, even Chinese consumers shun Chinese brand cars.

Low price Chinese goods are competitive when they are throw-away goods, like cloth, cheap furniture, $100 electronics, etc. Chinese goods are not competitive when they are long-term durable. This is why China’s having trouble selling jet fighters with the exception of ones provided as foreign aids, because even the 3rd world customers are wary of Chinese weapons and would rather shop Russian instead.

chinese f35 not harrier.

J-31 = Chinese F-35 replica
J-18 = Chinese Harrier or Yak-38 replica.

there is many foreigners who think china cannot make aesa.

Including Pakistan which wanted to yank out Chinese radars and avionics from the JF-17 and replace them with French ones, until blocked by India.