The Shenyang J-31, also known as "Gyrfalcon", or Falcon Hawk by some military enthusiasts,
is a twin-engine, mid-size fifth-generation jet fighter currently under development by
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. The fighter has also been referred to as F-60 or J-21
Snowy Owl in some media reports.
Development A photo of a model labeled F-60 was posted
on the Internet in September 2011. In June 2012, photos and camera video clips started
to emerge on internet about a heavily overwrapped possible F-60 prototype being road-transferred
on a highway, earning the nickname "the zongzi plane" among Chinese netizens, though some
suspect it of merely being a L-15 trainer aircraft. Pictures of a possibly fully assembled
aircraft parking on an airfield emerged on September 15–16, 2012. The F-60 is reported
to be the export version, where the J-31 would be the domestic Chinese version of the same
fighter. It is unknown if the J-31 is meant to be a
competitor to the J-20 stealth fighter or a complement to it. It is also unknown if
it will be a land-based fighter for the People's Liberation Army Air Force, or a carrier-based
fighter for the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force on the Liaoning Aircraft Carrier
and future Chinese carriers. The J-31's chief designer, Sun Cong, has said that he hoped
that the aircraft would follow his J-15 onto China's aircraft carriers. However, industry
sources say development of the J-31 was provided entirely by the PLAAF with no input from the
PLAN. This would mean the Air Force plans to operate two stealth fighters for different
missions, like the U.S. Air Force with the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II; the heavier
J-20 would primarily be a high-altitude dogfighter, while the J-31 would perform a multitude of
medium and low-altitude missions including close air support, air interdiction, aerial
bombardment, and suppression of enemy air defenses.
On 30 December 2013, Sina Corp reported that the J-31 would be redesigned to have ground
attack capabilities. The J-31 acting as a stealthy tactical bomber fills a gap in Chinese
close air support between the Xian JH-7 and the expensive Xian H-6 strategic bomber. The
PLAAF operates the Sukhoi Su-30MK2 for the mission, but that is vulnerable to radar detection.
By making the J-31 less dedicated to the fighter role, its range, payload, and stealth can
be increased. Strategic implications
The appearance of the J-31 raised concern about a potential arms race in Asia, as some
of China's neighbors might again start to consider purchasing the F-35.
A 1/4 scale model of the J-31 was shown at the China International Aviation & Aerospace
Exhibition 2012, hinting at a desire to offer the aircraft for export, as an alternative
for those countries that cannot purchase the F-35. AVIC confirmed at the exhibition that
the aircraft was intended for export. In 2013 Admiral Zhang Zhaozhong confirmed that the
J-31 was only for export to countries unable to buy the F-35 and would not be used by the
PLAN. Stephen Biddle of the Council for Foreign Relations has speculated that the aircraft
design was intended for domestic use, but found to be under performing and hence relegated
to the export market. However, a new photo which shows PLAAF officials with a model of
the aircraft in air force livery seems to suggest that the aircraft, contrary to previous
beliefs, has received official support. This may indicate the air force or navy might adopt
this aircraft. Flight testing
The prototype conducted a high-speed taxiing test and briefly became airborne. On 31 October
2012, prototype No. 31001 conducted the model's maiden flight. It was accompanied by two J-11
fighters in a ten-minute test flight with its landing gear lowered.
With the maiden test flight of the prototype No.31001 on October 31, 2012, China became
the second nation after the 1991 Advanced Tactical Fighter fly off, to have two stealth
fighter designs in field-testing at the same time. The aircraft has continued a limited
test program, with footage emerging of further flights which took place in February 2013.
In early April of 2014, new pictures of J-31 started to emerge on the internet, one showing
it flying with a new engine which looks very similar to the WS-13 currently powering the
JF-17 thunder fighter for PAF. Design
The J-31 is a mid-weight, twin rudder and twin-engine jet with the typical configuration
that is commonly shared by other 5th generation fighters such as Sukhoi T-50. J-31 incorporates
certain stealth characters such as forward swept intake cowls with diverterless supersonic
inlet bumps and a two-piece canopy. The J-31 appears to be a smaller and more
agile aircraft than the Chengdu J-20 that resembles a twin engine F-35C. This may be
because it might be used as a fifth generation carrier based fighter. Another feature that
the J-31 shares with the F-35C is the twin forward wheels. Bill Sweetman has cited several
improvements to the F-35C design files the Chinese may have acquired in the J-31. Like
the F-35, the J-31 has two internal weapons bays that can each carry two medium range
missiles, along with two heavy hardpoints and one light hardpoint on each wing, but
while it seems to have added an additional light hardpoint to each wing over the capacity
of the F-35, it seems to lack the capacity of the F-35 to mount a centerline gunnery
or jamming pod. Vladimir Barkovsky of Russian Aircraft Corporation
MiG has stated that, despite some design flaws, the J-31 "looks like a good machine." Although
it contains features already in use on the U.S. fifth generation fighter designs, it
is "not a copy but a well done indigenous design." Barkovsky has confirmed that the
engines on the prototype aircraft are RD-93s. However, China already has an engine similar
to the RD-93, the Guizhou WS-13 currently installed on the JF-17 which has the same
thrust and size of the Russian RD-93. China is working on an improved variant named WS-13A
with 100KN of thrust for use on the J-31. Lin Zuoming, chairman of China's AVIC, has
said that he hopes to put domestic engines on the fighter.
As the Chinese build up confidence in newer, more reliable and powerful domestic engines,
they may be able to power the J-31 sooner than the larger J-20 and in greater numbers.
USAF Lieutenant General Charles Davis has said that while the Chinese fifth generation
fighter may have used stolen information from the F-35 program, it was unlikely to measure
up to the American aircraft. Unlike the F-35's "baked in" fiber-mat stealth,
the J-31 uses stealth coatings. The J-31 has a flatter fuselage than the F-35;
which suggests a more pronounced air superiority focus for the J-31, since a flatter fuselage
results in a smaller weapons bay but improves fuel efficiency and speed by decreasing drag.
Specifications Because the aircraft is in development, these
specifications — based on available imagery — are approximate and preliminary.
Data from Chris Pocock and Aviation Week. General characteristics
Crew: one Length: 16.9 m
Wingspan: 11.5 m Height: 4.8 m
Wing area: 40 m2 Powerplant: 2 × RD-93 afterburning Turbofans,
84 kN thrust each Powerplant: 2 × WS-13A afterburning Turbofans,
100 kN thrust each Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
Combat range: 1,250 km Ferry range: 4,000 km
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Chengdu J-20 Northrop YF-23
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Sukhoi PAK FA Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
TFX Mitsubishi ATD-X
Related lists List of fighter aircraft
References