Can China’s Carrier-Launched, Stealthy J-31 Fighter Jet Rival a F-35?

Related Video Above: F-35s to Europe

By Kris Osborn – President & Editor-In-Chief, Warrior Maven

China will soon reveal its first ever carrier-launched, 5th-generation stealth fighter jet to project power offshore and attempt to rival the U.S. F-35B and F-35C.

For quite some time, speculation and reporting has been mounting that China has been fast developing a carrier-launched variant of its J-31 5th Generation stealth aircraft.

A recent report in the Chinese government-backed Global Times newspaper is now saying the new stealth fighter will emerge “this year.” The paper quotes the chief designer of the FC-31 saying “this year, people should be able to see good news on the next-generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet. When the aircraft is ready, people will get to see it.”

According to previously published photos, the configuration of the FC-31 looks very much like an F-35 design “rip-off.” However, little may be known of its actual performance characteristics regarding speed, targeting, weapons and sensors, so there may be little available basis upon which to compare it to an actual F-35.

Aircraft Carriers

One interesting dynamic to note is that China only operates two aircraft carriers, and while they have plans to rapidly add several more, the numbers of carriers and numbers of yet-to-be-formally produced carrier-launched FC-31s will have a long way to go before being able to present any kind of credible counterbalance to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.