Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has unofficially claimed that the J-31, the country's second fifth-generation stealth fighter, is designed for the international market instead of its own air force, according to Aviation Week & Space Technology, a magazine with ties to the US military.
Labeled an "Advanced Concept Fighter," a model of the J-31 was on display at the Zhuhai Airshow held in Guangdong province last week. Information provided by AVIC indicates that the combat range of the J-31 is 1,250 kilometers, greater than the 1,080 kilometers of the F-35. With external fuel tanks, the J-31's range can be extended to 2,000 kilometers. It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 with takeoff and landing distances of 400 and 600 meters. "Operational effectiveness will be higher than current or upgraded fourth-generation fighters or almost equivalent to typical fifth-generation," said AVIC.
Read the full story at Want China Times