But most of the F-35’s current customers and likely future customers are unlikely to want Chinese equipment since they’re either part of NATO or have been using Western equipment for a long time. Unlikely that they’ll switch to a J-31 even if it turns out to be good. I’d expect long time Chinese customers like Pakistan, Egypt and possibly even Iran to be interested in this fighter.
although Pakistan hasn’t operated a twin engined fighter anytime and prefers single engined fighters due to their lower operating and maintenance costs, unless a heavily modified JF-17 appears in the next 10 years, they’re very likely to take a long hard look at the J-31.
On the contrary, i can see as POTENTIAL J-31 customers all those asian countries that currently operate MiG-29 (Myanmar, Bangladesh, hell, even North Korea), Pakistan (probably the most likely), i can see several latin -american countries , Peru, Venezuela , Brazil, Argentina and possibly others, i can see several ME countries like Egypt, Iran, Iraq, hell even the likes of Saudis, perhaps some african countries , like Algeria, Lybia and others further inland, and of course there’s always the chance for some rather unexpected customers!
Imo, for any country wishing to acquire 5th gen for prestige, diversification considerents and national defence considerents, there will be 3 aircraft available at the end of this decade: F-35 (you buy it , you sold your soul basically, ITAR, all that limitation , downgrade and political baggage, plus expensive), T-50 (fairly expensive or overshoot in some cases), and J-31 (China only wants your money or some of your oil, and it’s all yours). Not sure if J-20 will be offered for sale so i haven’t counted it. F-22, very fat chance indeed.
AMCA, KFX, TFX and FX-3 japanese won’t be available until the first or second part of the twenties.
Of course all the above is speculation as of now.
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