China has unveiled its second prototype of the radar evading stealth fighter, marking a major milestone in the country's drive to catch up with US technology.
The J-31 fighter, made its 11-minute maiden flight at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) in Liaoning Province, state-run Global Times reported. The fighter which aviation experts believe is still far from induction was tested with a Russian engine though it will reportedly be equipped later by an indigenous WS-13 engine. China launched the first version of the fighter almost two years ago. The paper said that ‘experts’ hailed it as a milestone as China is the second country after US to have developed it.
China announces its m ilitary hardware through speculative reports in the official media.
The Global Times quoted various military news websites in its write up on the fighter, which was expected to take years to get operationalised.
Compared with the heavy fighter J-20 launched early last year, the J-31 is a middle sized fighter using Russian middle-thrust engines, although it will later be equipped with Chinese-made WS-13 engines, the report said.
‘Just like the US F-22 and F-35 fifth-generation fighters, the J-20 and J-31 will complement each other during future operations,’ Bai Wei, former deputy editor of the Aviation World weekly, told the Global Times.
Though China made major breakthroughs in avionics of its fighter aircraft, it is yet to come out with an engine of its own.
The J-31 fighter, made its 11-minute maiden flight at Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) in Liaoning Province, state-run Global Times reported. The fighter which aviation experts believe is still far from induction was tested with a Russian engine though it will reportedly be equipped later by an indigenous WS-13 engine. China launched the first version of the fighter almost two years ago. The paper said that ‘experts’ hailed it as a milestone as China is the second country after US to have developed it.
China announces its m ilitary hardware through speculative reports in the official media.
The Global Times quoted various military news websites in its write up on the fighter, which was expected to take years to get operationalised.
Compared with the heavy fighter J-20 launched early last year, the J-31 is a middle sized fighter using Russian middle-thrust engines, although it will later be equipped with Chinese-made WS-13 engines, the report said.
‘Just like the US F-22 and F-35 fifth-generation fighters, the J-20 and J-31 will complement each other during future operations,’ Bai Wei, former deputy editor of the Aviation World weekly, told the Global Times.
Though China made major breakthroughs in avionics of its fighter aircraft, it is yet to come out with an engine of its own.