China’s J-31 has entered the competitive arena alongside Russia’s Su-75 ‘Checkmate,’ challenging the American F-35 fighter jet, particularly in the affordable fifth-generation fighter market in developing countries. This shift comes in the wake of Pakistan’s announcement to acquire Chinese combat aircraft in the next few years.

The J-31, originally introduced as the FC-31, struggled to attract buyers initially, including China’s own military forces. However, geopolitical shifts, such as the intensifying US-China rivalry, prompted significant enhancements to the jet.

China’s aviation industry has adapted its marketing strategy to compete in the stealth fighter market, actively engaging in arms markets worldwide. The J-31’s advanced design, competitive pricing, and low political barriers to purchase have been highlighted by Chinese state media.

As the J-31 evolved through various prototype iterations, enhancing radar and stealth characteristics. The Su-75, featured in promotional material with international aviators, including those from India and the UAE, aims to court global partners. Russia has also disclosed plans for new features and shared manufacturing arrangements, emphasizing technology-sharing possibilities.

China’s J-31 boasts several advantages over its foreign competitors, such as the US F-35 and the Russian Su-75: cutting-edge technology, competitive pricing, lack of political movement, and comprehensive support.

In terms of specifications, the J-31 has a slightly smaller footprint than the Su-75 but boasts impressive capabilities, including a maximum takeoff weight of 28,000 kg. The J-31 is equipped with 2× WS-13 afterburning turbofans, generating 56.75 kN thrust each in dry conditions and 87.2 kN with afterburner. In comparison, the Su-75 features a single Saturn izdeliye 30 turbofan engine with an estimated thrust of 107.9 kN dry and 171.7 kN in afterburner. While both aircraft share similar maximum speeds, reaching Mach 1.8.

Essentially, the rivalry between China’s J-31 and Russia’s Su-75 in the accessible fifth-generation fighter market, especially within developing nations, is intensifying. The technical and commercial evolution of these planes, coupled with geopolitical developments, points towards a dynamic and competitive future in the global fighter jet arena.