Guest
J-20 fighter video collection, Recent video and photos have emerged, providing the clearest indication yet of a land-based variant of China’s J-35 stealth fighter. These photos seem to show key differences from the carrier-based J-35, which had been the recent focus of development. This could tie into official Pakistani plans to acquire a version of the aircraft. This brings the program full circle. Initially, the first two J-35 prototypes were land-based fighters, but work seemed to diminish amid a lack of official interest before the design was refocused for carrier operations. Now, it appears a land-based version is being pursued again, alongside the J-35. A recently surfaced photo offers the best view yet of a mysterious prototype of what appears to be a new land-based version of the fighter, tentatively referred to as the J-31. The photo likely depicts the prototype that is known to have made its first flight around September 26, 2023. Earlier photos of this aircraft appeared shortly after its maiden flight, leading to speculation that it could be a land-based variant, which now seems more likely. Key indicators that this is not another prototype for the carrier-based J-35 include a smaller overall wing surface area. Unlike the J-35, where the horizontal tail surfaces intersect with the wing, the apparent J-31 has a clear gap between the surfaces. Additionally, the wing area of the J-31 resembles the F-35 series, where the carrier-based F-35C has a larger wing area compared to the land-based F-35A, which aids in better low-speed handling and slower approach speeds critical for carrier operations. China Air Force: Chinese space exploration: Photo and video: Wiki common, Yangshipin site, Yangshijunshi weibo
