Pictures of a previously unknown brand new fighter jet have started to appear online over the weekend.
Built by the Shenyang company, the new aircraft, could be the answer of the aerospace firm to the Chengdu J-20, whose two prototypes have already become quite famous across the world since the first images of the large, short-take off and landing stealth plane, leaked on the Chinese defense forums about two years ago.
Image credit: Tixue.net
The new aircraft, coded 31001 (hence, believed to be designated J-31) it’s a sort of copy of the F-22 Raptor the most advanced (and troubled), (multi-role) fighter jet in the U.S. Air Force inventory: same nose section, same twin tails and trapezoidal wings along with the distinctive lines of the stealth design. Anyway, even if it has two engines, the new aircraft doesn’t seem to feature thrust vectoring capabilities. At least on this first prototype.
It has also some F-35-like features, as the air intakes and wings dimensions.
The J-31 is smaller than the J-20, from which it differs for the grey paint job and the presence of a colored emblem on the tails (in place of the typical red star) with the text 鹘鹰, Chinese for “Falcon Eagle”
Image credit: Tixue.net
Although it’s almost impossible to say whether the new aircraft will eventually reach production phase, for sure it proves that China has at least two stealth projects for future combat capable aircraft.
Considered all the cyber attacks targeting Lockheed Martin stealth projects in the last years, one could believe Chinese hackers were able to put their hands on some useful technical drawings of the Raptor. Still, it would be the avionics, radar-evading features, equipment and weapons, rather than the shape, to make the difference in a dogfight. Unless the Chinese will build some thousand examples such jets.
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Actually the Chinese stealth fighter F-60/j-21 looks like a pirate copy of the aircraft Mitsubishi ATD-X shinshin, and most interesting is the zero Japanese reaction on this.
http://gigapositive.blogspot.com/2012/09/china-f-60-j-21-stealth-fighter-vs.html
There is zero reaction because the ATD-X is just a paper model while the J-20 is a flying prototype. Thus the ATD-X is a pirate copy of the J-20
Good One!!
I agree how fun the one who came up with a new protoype can be accused of copying a none-existent fantasy art work.
This has already happened with the Chinese copy not yet presented at the time iPhone 5
Oh really, do you actually have any proof to back up your statement? And if you have not filed the patent or registered the design, how can you claim you invented the design in the first place?
Specially in the case, the Chinese have built a working prototype and ATD-X, whatever it is called never went beyond paper drawing. Wow I didn’t know all the Chinese engineers are not only good but also PSYCHIC.
In general, talking about lightweight j-21(F-60/J-31) – pirate copy of ATD-X, and NOT about heavy J-20 which has the engine from Su-30, tail from Mig-1.42, nose from F-22 Raptor…
http://malevichart2.blogspot.com/2012/09/blog-post.html
The ATD-X is a J-20 wannabe, the Mig-1.42 looks more like the franken-plane sitting in a jyard, China financed the F-22……..
as if china gives a $$$ about the reactions.
Actually, I have nothing to say to your logic.
Saying it’s a copy of an existing plane like the F-35 and F-22 is one thing. Saying it’s a copy of a plane that doesn’t even exist yet is “plane” insulting.
Srly, the ATD-X is just a stealthified chibi F-15, which is itself a copy of the Mig-25.
Hey, what an engineering achievement it is to be able to copy part of F35, part of F22 and other parts of whatever, and make it all happen on one air frame, and it can still fly???!!!??? I am totally impressed. This is called top notch innovation, guys. :-) Please give me another name/country to match this up…
it’s like it combine some features of thew US F-35 and the Russian PAK FA
Some people need to learn the difference between “copy of” and “shares a similar layout because that shape works well for that purpose”.
copied? where is the source? Does USA ever sell any fighter to China?
i am a chinese ,and i agree with you,we have first class enginers.
your guys still lack realization of our chinese ability..
Lol, not your airforce anyway. It’s a joke and its copied from STOLEN designs from the US.The Chinese never design anything technological wise, especially fighter jets. You copy or steal the concepts from other nations. Just because you built it with your own materials does not mean you designed it. Stop being so naive, I like the Chinese people, I think your government like mine is corrupt as sin..