The Pakistan Air Force has reportedly sent pilots to China to begin training to fly Shenyang FC-31 fighters, BOL News reported.
The FC-31, also referred to as the J-31, is a 5th-generation twin-engine stealth fighter that has been in development for several years.
The PLAAF (People’s Liberation Army Air Force) was originally supposed to operate the aircraft, but it eventually scrapped the project.
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Shenyang, however, continued to improve the aircraft and found a future operator in the Chinese Navy in the J-35 naval variant, capable of taking off and landing on the new Fujian aircraft carrier.
The FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” has taken advantage of the technical improvements developed for the J-35 and has been presented at the stands of AVIC, which controls Shenyang, at air shows around the world.
In January, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Sidhu, commander of the Pakistan Air Force, announced plans to acquire the FC-31, an aircraft that will put the country one step ahead of India, with which there has been a tense atmosphere for several years.
Partnership between China and Pakistan
The choice of the Chinese 5th generation fighter is not surprising since Pakistan has been a traditional partner of China. The two countries produce the JF-17 Thunder fighter in a partnership between the PAC and Chengdu.
In addition, the Pakistani Air Force was the first customer of the J-10 fighter, also from Chengdu, an aircraft with superior performance to the JF-17.
The adoption of the FC-31, however, seems premature since the aircraft is still undergoing development and is not ready for series production.
The number of fighter jets that Pakistan intends to acquire if a deal is confirmed is still unknown.
