Absurd…………China is developing the WS-13 for the J-31 and last I heard it was progressing well.

But it doesn’t offer stealth. And, given that China is experiencing some hiccups with the Ws-15 – the real engine for their intended stealth platform – they are tied down on that and don’t have the resources to undertake a major retrofit of the Ws-13 design. So that leaves the FC-31 with a great vulnerability/weakness from the rear which will not be mitigated for the foreseeable future.

So, I see it’s prospects as very “grim”

[USER=”1416″]Scooter[/USER] – I see. Yet the FC-31 doesn’t have a suitable engine. And, as far as anyone here knows, there is not one in development! So, considering the time involved in producing one, what are the FC-31’s prospects if not “grim?” It’s a dead end. The design was likely a useful technology demonstrator, and it may find some future export potential as a cheap fighter (assuming the Chinese can figure out how to make it cheap). But by the time an engine will come along which would allow the design to grow into an all aspect stealth aircraft it will be borderline obsolete.

There are only two viable foreign stealth fighter designs on a short time horizon. J-20 and Su-57.

[USER=”4698″]bring_it_on[/USER] – I’ll take your word for it. I really don’t know how involved the USAF gets involved with the purchases of partner nations. I still am going to try to find out as much as I can on how they did at Red Flag though. Any initial evaluation was done in the late 00s early 10s. After Syria and such, we know a lot more on how to model a future battlespace.

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-03-22/saudi-red-flag-involvement-gives-usaf-glimpse-advanced-eagle

A pretty nice summary of the improvements made in the F-15 line and how SA’s F-15’s in Red Flag might provide a nice assessment on how a F-15X would fair under modern battlespace conditions. I’m not sold on the F-15X (an ordinance trucker), but if the F-15SA does well then maybe.

[USER=”1416″]Scooter[/USER] – If you had some news that said the deal was equal to 1% of Egypt’s nominal GDP and they were paying cash up front then you would be on to something…

Russian Mi-28 attack helicopters to receive missile with extended range.

http://tass.com/defense/1049469

Surely, Egypt doesn’t have that kind of money.

[USER=”1416″]Scooter[/USER] – News page, man! Post news or at least meaningful commentary. Drivel like the above just shows that you didn’t even bother to read (or understand) the article. A deal worth less than 1% of Egypt’s nominal GDP isn’t very hard to do…especially if they finance over several years.

[USER=”20563″]haavarla[/USER] – I think the Su-35 is probably the better fit for them. They already have a very good fighter in the Rafale. The Mig-35 wouldn’t get them much. The Su-35, with its hefty range, does though.