weasel1962 wrote:There are only 2 J-31s sighted, both of which flew. The first sighted in 2012 was numbered “31001” which is not a unit but was suggested as a cheeky reference to 31 Oct. The second was sighted in late 2016 in LRIP yellow. No other units have been sighted (table top units for airshow displays excluded). As Milosh has pointed out, by this time of the J-20 development, there were a lot more J-20s already sighted.
There aren’t actually any engine issues associated with the RD-93. China bought quite a number for the JF-17 production and certainly no issues encountered since JF-17s are already into Block 3. Milosh is probably referring to the WS-13 Taishan engine development. It has taken quite a while and was slated for JF-17 use but Pakistan has not adopted this just yet. I think the 2nd J-31 is using the WS-13 engine which may explain the long timing difference between the 1st and 2nd J-31. The LRIP J-20s are using the AL-31F engines, not the indigenous engine so it might be a case of the Government prioritizing the J-20 program.
@DR - Shenyang aircraft corporation is a subsidiary of AVIC. So is Chengdu.
China has built two prototypes of the First Generation and Second Generation.
1st Generation (31001)
2nd Generation (V2)*
*Note: Some sources have reported that another second generation J-31 has flown. Yet, I haven't see any credible sources to support that??? Nonetheless, V2 was powered by the WS-13E and a number of eyewitnesses state that it was totally smokeless......
