--- title: "China’s Highly Evolved FC-31 Stealth Fighter Makes Its First Flight" description: "China’s high-low stealth fighter mix strategy is evolving rapidly." date: "2016-12-23" modified: "2016-12-23" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/6673/chinas-highly-evolved-fc-31-stealth-fighter-makes-its-first-flight" categories: - "Air" - "Around The Globe" - "China" - "Fighters" - "Indo-Pacific" - "J-31" - "News & Features" - "Stealth" tags: - "China" - "FC-31" - "First Flights" - "J-20" - "J-31" - "Shenyang Aircraft" - "stealth" --- # China’s Highly Evolved FC-31 Stealth Fighter Makes Its First Flight ![]() *www.twz.com* *The War Zone* reported on the existence of a [second rendition of China’s Shenyang FC-31]() Gyrfalcon stealth fighter when pictures of the design under construction surfaced during the [Zhuhai Air Show in early November](). Now that aircraft—which features substantial upgrades in its low observable [shaping and manufacturing quality]()—has flown for the first time, as evidenced by the photos and video below. https://twitter.com/_/status/812165692380225537 https://twitter.com/_/status/812197953624477696 https://twitter.com/_/status/812163194940596224 Not only could an operational FC-31 help fill the ranks of PLAAF medium and light fighter squadrons, but it could also be adapted for China’s emerging [CATOBAR aircraft carrier]() program. This would give China a stealthy fighter that can project power far from the Chinese mainland. https://twitter.com/_/status/806585338458210306 If this redesign proves fruitful, it's all but guaranteed China will move to export the FC-31 to anyone with the cash to buy it. Many countries either can't afford, or are not allowed to buy, the Lockheed Martin F-35 from the US. These nations could turn to China and the FC-31 to provide them with a “poor man’s” Joint Strike Fighter. Pakistan, in particular, is a very ripe candidate to join the FC-31 program early on–especially as new aircraft join the Indian Air Force’s fleet, including the [PAK-FA based on Russia’s stealthy T-50]() fighter. The FC-31 [appeared for the first time over four years ago](), and the fact that already moved from “YF” configuration to a near production configuration is telling. It shows how committed China is to developing multiple stealth fighters as part of a high-low capability mix, and to take a larger share of the fighter export market abroad. ![ggf.jpg]() *The FC-31/J-31 prototype appeared at Zhuhai in 2014 but disappeared for some time thereafter, with some analysts saying the program was dead. Now it is reemerging in a vastly upgraded form., *AP** The FC-31 is one of three light to medium-weight stealthy fighters being developed indigenously in the region—[Japan]() and [Korea ]()are the other two countries taking on such endeavours, and both are also F-35 customers. They will likely end up with designs that will be similar to what the F-35 would have been like without [the F-35B’s damning STOVL requirements ]()that mired the jet’s design and specifically its aerodynamics. How stealthy an airframe and how advanced China's FC-31's sensor fusion and avionics suite will be is unknown. But even an 70% solution alternative to the F-35 that costs 40% of Lockheed Martin's price is an enticing proposition, as quantity has a quality all its own. ![davav.jpg]() *An artists impression of the FC-31/J-31 and the J-20 over China's only carrier the Liaoning. , *AP** *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]()