--- title: "Video Shows China’s Newly Constructed And Enhanced FC-31 Stealth Fighter" description: "China’s state-ran AVIC corporation is showing off a new video at the Zhuhai Air Show that features what appears to be a freshly built second generation J-31 stealth fighter." date: "2016-11-04" modified: "2016-11-04" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway" url: "https://www.twz.com/5869/video-shows-chinas-newly-constructed-and-enhanced-fc-31-stealth-fighter" categories: - "Air" - "Around The Globe" - "China" - "Fighters" - "Indo-Pacific" - "J-31" - "News & Features" - "Procurement" tags: - "AVIC" - "China" - "FC-31" - "J-31" - "prototype" - "Shenyang" - "stealth" --- # Video Shows China’s Newly Constructed And Enhanced FC-31 Stealth Fighter ![]() *www.twz.com* China’s “other” stealth fighter was mysteriously [absent at this year’s biennial Zhuhai Air Show]() after [being the star of the show in 2014](). There have been rumors that the type was being reworked into a much enhanced iteration, while other rumors have suggested the program has been passed over, with China instead concentrating on a single stealth fighter design—[that being the larger J-20](). The idea that China would abandon its middleweight stealth fighter program was somewhat laughable, as the jet clearly has high export potential and could help China garner a larger share of the international fighter aircraft market than it does today. Not only that, but there seems to be a clear place for the jet in PLAAF inventory as part of a high-low type stealth fighter capability mix. Now, a promotional video is being shown on the small screen at the arms expo portion of the Zhuhai Air Show, one that depicts a J-31/FC-31 2.0 of sorts. The somewhat flashy video includes depictions of the aircraft’s various loadouts and even footage of what clearly looks like a flying prototype of this new evolution of the J-31 design being completed. https://twitter.com/\_/status/794463772920266752 This new configuration appears to closely match the models that have been displayed at recent weapons expos showing a much more more refined J-31 concept. Included in this updated model are smaller “clipped” and swept vertical tails, a less angular overall appearance, and cleaner surfaces, among other changes. Overall, these modifications appear very similar to those made from the X-35 to the F-35, the YF-22 to the F-22, and even from the J-20 prototype to the more advanced configuration it is flying in today. https://twitter.com/\_/status/793391037779771392 The fact that another and updated flying example of the J-31/FC-31 appears to be nearly finished solidifies the notion that China will continue to develop a middleweight stealth fighter, one that will likely be accessible for purchase by nations who do not have access to or cannot afford the F-35. Also, we have an official name and designation for the jet: the Shenyang FC-31 Gyrfalcon. Check out the images and videos below. (The first video has the beginning, the second includes the end, with some overlap in the middle.) https://twitter.com/\_/status/794464177624477696 https://twitter.com/\_/status/794464368737927168 If AVIC is showing this prototype under construction now, expect a test flight of the jet soon. *Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()