DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINE OF AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY
CHINA’S NAVY PLANS FOR A STEALTH FUTURE
There was speculation early on that Shenyang intended for the J-31 to have a naval role. The type features the heavy-duty landing gear and twin nosewheels that are standard on carrier aircraft that must endure high-impact landings
CHINA’S NAVY IS reportedly considering acquiring a stealth ighter and a stealth drone for its growing fleet of aircraft carriers.
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) could buy ‘fourth-generation’ J-31 fighters from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) to replace existing J-15 ‘Flanker’ carrier fighters, state-run Global Times reported.
In Chinese military parlance, a ‘fourth-generation’ aircraft is a radar-evading jet with modern sensors and weapons. Most of the rest of the world refers to such aircraft as ‘fifth-generation’.
The PLAN might also acquire Tian Ying jet powered drones for future lattops. The Tian Ying’s lying-wing shape is inherently stealthy (see also Cutting Edge, January 2019).
In January 2019, China Central Television aired a video depicting a Tian Ying drone taking of and landing. The broadcast represented the jet-propelled drone’s irst public appearance. It’…
