China's Stealth Fighter Could Get Much Better

We don’t know much about the FC-31, China’s other stealth fighter prototype. But a non-flying model of the FC-31 that appeared at the Zhuhai air show in southern China in early November offers some compelling new clues.

The model boasts better stealth features, new engines and a wider range of sensors. If Shenyang adds all these enhancements to the FC-31, the resulting fighter could more closely match the American F-35.

Here’s what we know for sure. The FC-31 first appeared in September 2012 at Shenyang’s factory airfield and took off on its inaugural test flight on Oct. 31 that year. Early on, observers called the new plane the J-31. Shenyang confirmed the FC-31 designation at Zhuhai this year.

There has only ever been one FC-31 prototype—and for good reason. Unlike Chengdu’s J-20 stealth fighter—four copies of which are flying—the FC-31 is a strictly private venture. The Chinese military has not yet ordered the plane … and may never. The J-20 is set to become China’s first, and likely main, front-line stealth fighter.

That’s not unusual. Chinese industry currently produces several warplane designs solely for export—most notably the JF-17, a hugely upgraded MiG-21 variant that forms the backbone of the Pakistani air force.

Indeed, there are rumors that Pakistan is interested in buying FC-31s.

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The F-35 can also carry four medium-range air-to-air missiles in its internal bays.

The new Chinese plane has side-by-side twin nose wheels, a feature often associated with carrier-launched naval fighters. Blurry photos in the summer of 2014 seemed to depict a non-flying FC-31 model on the deck of a land-based mock-up version of Liaoning, China’s sole aircraft carrier—a possible hint at a future role for the FC-31 in Chinese service.

To be fair, some observers say the shape on the carrier mock-up is not an FC-31, rather a shrouded J-15—an older fighter model. In any event, there’s definitely a carrier version of the U.S. F-35.

The FC-31 prototype seems to have limited sensor capabilities. Its nose can surely contain a multi-mode radar. And at least one antenna on its wing could be part of a passive receiver for detecting enemy radar emissions. But unlike many other fighters including the F-35, the FC-31 doesn’t have fittings for a long-range camera.

But if the non-flying model at Zhuhai is any indication, the FC-31 could get a host of improvements. The model has a bigger nose, possibly to indicate carriage of a high-tech electronically-scanned-array radar. The model also includes an under-nose fairing for a camera, similar to the fairing on the F-35.

FC-31 Model at Zhuhai (Chinese social media)

The model’s tail fins are a different shape than the flying prototype’s fins, with parallel angles that could improve the plane’s ability to avoid radar detection. The canopy is one-piece—representing another possible signature reduction.

Likewise, the model’s engines are different, with sawtooth nozzles that could also improve the FC-31’s stealth. Shenyang reportedly wants to fit domestically-made motors to the FC-31 to replace the Russian RD-93s.

Now, we don’t know when—or even if—Shenyang plans to add the model’s improvements to the FC-31. Although, it’s worth pointing out that Chengdu has progressively improved its J-20 prototypes with stealth features.

Nor can we say for sure that the FC-31 will ever evolve into a useful front-line warplane. It needs much more development.

And it needs a buyer.