China is about to become the second country after the United States to have two fifth-generation aircraft at the same time. At present, the United States has the F-22, a twin-engine heavy fifth-generation aircraft, which focuses on air superiority, and the F-35, a general-purpose single-engine fifth-generation aircraft. Although Russia launched the Su-75, a fifth-generation aircraft, after the Su-57, the aircraft is still quite far from mass production. However, China's first self-developed fifth-generation aircraft, the J-20, has already achieved mass production and equipment, and a second fifth-generation aircraft seems to be on the horizon.
Recently, Pakistan Air Force Chief of Staff Barber revealed that they have been in talks with China to purchase the J-31. Since China and Pakistan have always maintained close cooperation in the military field, Barber's message should be quite reliable. This means that China's second fifth-generation aircraft, the J-31, is likely to be available for the international market. It is said that China has developed a carrier-based aircraft similar to the US Navy F-35C based on the J-31, which is recent news.
Considering that the Chinese Navy urgently needs a new carrier-based aircraft, the J-15 carrier-based aircraft in service is too large, resulting in a limited number of aircraft carriers, which seriously affects the combat effectiveness of aircraft carriers. China's third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, uses the latest and most advanced electromagnetic catapult technology, so it also needs to be equipped with stealth carrier-based aircraft. Therefore, from the perspective of China's urgent need for stealth carrier-based aircraft, most of the news about the "Pakistan Railway" is true. Even if the J-31 becomes China's new generation of stealth carrier-based aircraft, it will not affect its exports.
Taking the American F-35 as an example, the aircraft has three models: A, B, and C, of which the A and B models have been exported. Therefore, it is not excluded that China will develop a fifth-generation aircraft for export while developing a new generation of stealth carrier-based aircraft. In fact, there are quite a few countries around the world that want to equip fifth-generation aircraft, but the choice of products is limited, only the American F-35. Due to the limited choice and high demand, the problem of over-the-top product quality has arisen. China is expected to use the J-31 as a basis to develop a more people-friendly fifth-generation aircraft.
While maintaining stealth performance, this aircraft can make some reductions in other aspects, such as the use of second-class avionics and ** systems. In this way, ** will inevitably fall, leaving some cash-strapped countries with the ability to buy.
According to some Indian analysts, the main purpose of the "Pakistan Railway" to purchase the J-31 from China is to replace the F-16 fighters currently in service with the Pakistan Air Force; since these fighters are now out of service beyond their age, if they are not replaced in time, they will pose a serious hidden danger to the safety of the pilots and at the same time affect the combat effectiveness of the Pakistan Air Force. The author is also full of expectations for this, hoping that China can successfully develop a second stealth fighter and smoothly enter the international market to compete with the American F-35.