As cost-blowouts and technical troubles continue to delay the United States' only new fighter, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, China appears to be rapidly gaining ground in the technological arms race.
Earlier this year China' first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, entered active service. A large stealth fighter, designated the J-20, was revealed to the public last year.
Late last week, China's state media unveiled the new, smaller strike fighter designated J-31.
The prototype flew for 11 minutes on Wednesday morning, the state-run Global Times reported.
China's first stealth fighter - the J-20 - is not expected to enter service until 2018.
The latest prototype appears to be designed for use on an aircraft carrier, as it has particularly strong landing gear.
The home-grown aircraft bears striking visual similarities to the United States' new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a significant break from China's previous adoption of Russian aviation technology.
Aviation experts say it will take almost a decade for the J-31 fighter to transition from prototype to operational status.
Original Article
Source: news.com.au
Author: -
No comments:
Post a Comment