The Chinese Academy of Aeronautics released an article on June 29 titled “A new type of fighter aircraft technology foundation special project of the comprehensive institute of the aviation industry goes all out to ensure the schedule”. It mentioned “a new-generation fighter to make its first flight in 2021”, which is widely believed to be J-35 carrier-based fighter.
The article indicates this so-called “next-generation fighter” has at least No. 601 and No. 29 research institutes involved, and since No. 601 institute was responsible for carrier-based aircraft and No. 29 institute was in charge of carrier-based aircraft coordinated electronic countermeasures in the past, the project that the two intersect again is most likely a carrier-based aircraft. Therefore, the “next-generation fighter” that will first fly in 2021 is highly likely to be the fifth-generation carrier-based aircraft (fourth-gen for American Standard), which is named J-35 fighter by some analysts.
Since the FC-31 demonstrator has been tested for years, some analysts pointed out that it is very likely that the fourth-generation naval carrier-based aircraft called J-35 will be developed based on this demonstrator. Its first flight will be completed in 2021. It will take two years to complete the test flight and one year to complete the finalization. It can be put into service in batches before 2025. This is also in line with the time point of type 003 catapult-type aircraft carrier.
Some analysts believe that if a major change or a new design is made on the basis of the FC-31, and a new medium-thrust turbofan engine is installed, combined with some advanced technologies of the J-20 fighter, J-35 fighters with good performance can indeed be developed.
Of course, the “new generation fighter” mentioned in the article may also be a brand new sixth-generation fighter (Russian standard).