American military analysts are closely monitoring the latest Chinese fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Shenyang FC-31. It is being called a competitor to the Russian fifth-generation multirole fighter Su-57. This is according to Bulgarian Military.
According to military expert Brandon J. Weichert, China has made great progress in aviation. And although the Shenyang FC-31 has not yet participated in real combat operations, it has great potential.
If a conflict breaks out between China and the United States, aircraft such as the F-22, F-35, Su-57, and J-20 will play an important role. However, the FC-31 could become a significant threat.
The FC-31 is produced by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. It is designed to be less visible to radar and other detection systems. The fighter can be used for both air combat and ground attacks, making it versatile.
The FC-31 has two engines: either Russian RD-93s or Chinese WS-13s. These engines give it the power needed for supersonic flight.
As Bulgarian Military writes, the new Chinese FC-31 aircraft is "not pleasing" to Russia. This means that China will buy less military equipment from its partner.
China intends to make the FC-31 a cheaper fifth-generation fighter compared to the Russian Su-57. If other countries start choosing these fighters, Russia could suffer significant losses. The Russians say that their Su-57 is much better than the FC-31, but this has not yet been proven.
Brandon J. Weichert notes that the United States cannot ignore the Chinese stealth fighter; it would be a big mistake. "Underestimating China is risky," he concluded.
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