First Public Flight For China's Stealth Fighter

First Public Flight For China’s Stealth Fighter

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

China publicly showcased its J-31 twin-engine stealth fighter for the first time at the Zhuhai airshow.
The J-31 is intended for global marketing as a lower-cost alternative to the Lockheed Martin F-35, aiming to break the foreign monopoly on new-generation jet fighters.
The Zhuhai airshow, where the J-31 debuted, is recognized as Asia's largest commercial and defense aviation event.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Chinese officials flew their J-31 twin-engine stealth fighter in public for the first time at this week’s Zhuhai airshow, and said they plan to market the airplane globally as a lower-cost alternative to the Lockheed Martin F-35. “It is our dream to break the monopoly that foreign countries have on new-generation jet fighters,” said Li Yuhai, the deputy general manager at AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China), at an airshow news conference. “The J-31 will also be a flagship product for us in the international arms market.” The J-31, which first flew in October 2012, flew during the Tuesday airshow, but was not put on display on the flight line. A mock-up of the jet is on exhibit.

The biannual China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai is being held this week for the 10th time. It has become the biggest commercial and defense aviation event in Asia, with more than 700 companies exhibiting.