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China's newest stealth fighter takes test flight

By Zhang Fang: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, November 1, 2012

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China successfully tested its second stealth fighter on Oct.31, meaning it has become the second country next to the U.S. to develop two 5th generation stealth fighters, according to Chinese newspaper Global Times.

The J-31 fighter. [huanqiu.com]

The J-31 fighter, named Falcon Eagle in Chinese, took its first flight at 10:32 am Beijing local time, Wednesday, along with two J-11BS fighter jets from the runway of Shenyang Aircraft Corp, the producer and researcher of the fighter in Liaoning Province.

The fighter is an upgraded version of a J-20, China's first stealth-fighter tested in early 2011.

The J-20 and J-31 will complement each other during future operations, according to an aviation expert cited by Global Times.

The fighter is expected to serve on China's aircraft carrier. Xiong Wei, a Chinese military expert, was quoted by the newspaper saying that China's aircraft carrier needs an advanced carrier-based aircraft designed specifically for sea-based operations.

He said the J-31 has the potential of operating on aircraft carriers, judging from its enhanced double-wheel nose landing gear and two big tail wings, which fit the requirements of being a carrier-based aircraft.

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