China Displays 5th-Gen Stealth J-31 Jet to Rival US F-35

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

Many observers and Pentagon experts are quick to recognize the fast-growing Chinese Naval threat in terms of fleet size, industrial production capacity and weapons and technology sophistication, as the People’s Liberation Army – Navy is now larger than the US Navy. While this certainly does not mean it is superior by any estimation, there is little question the Pentagon takes the threat quite seriously given the pace at which China is adding new carriers, destroyers and amphibious assault ships. 

At the same time, lurking beneath the shadows of China’s Naval threat is the at times “under-recognized” PLA Air Force, a fast-evolving force which is progressing in what is clearly a transparent attempt to rival, catch and eventually “out-match” US power in the skies. Although the PRC is known to operate slightly more than 100 5th-generation J-20 Stealth aircraft, the PLA AF does at the moment not appear capable of rivaling an integrated US and allied force of 5th-generation aircraft. The J-20 is land-launched and arguably less well-equipped for air supremacy when compared to the F-22 and F-35, although its potential ability to rival US 5th-generation aircraft may be unknown as it likely pertains to variables such as the J-20s sensor range, targeting, weapons, mission systems and computing.

China’s nascent carrier-launched stealth J-31C jet, is likely to present much more of a threat to US 5th-generation aircraft, provided it is armed with comparable sensing, weapons targeting, computing and aerial maneuverability. The challenge for the PRC, however, is it is not clear just how far along or advanced the aircraft is. Public Chinese-government backed news reports have for years detailed upgrades, enhancements and capabilities related to the J-31, however there appear to be only a small number of prototypes. Could the J-31 evolve to the point where it could rival or somehow match the US carrier-launched F-35C and amphib-launched F-35B?

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A model of the PLA’s FC-31 was recently on display at the World Defense Show 2024 in Saudi Arabia, and the model looks almost indistinguishable from an F-35, at least in terms of external configuration. Many public reports, including Pentagon essays and Congressional research projects have indicated that indeed it appears Chinese cyberespionage may have resulted in the theft of US weapons specs ….to include the F-35. Replicating the external design features, however, does not mean the J-31 has comparable mission systems, computing, targeting, weaponry or composite, radar absorbing coating materials.

The J-31-F-35 design similarities are not only recognizable to the observers eye, but they are also specifically cited in a Chinese newspaper as far back as 2013. The Chinese-government-backed “People’s Daily Online” essay in 2013 cites specific design similarities, writing “the J-31 and F-35 use the same DSI inlet (non boundary-layer separated land supersonic inlet).”