Pakistan Begins Sending Pilots to China to Fly the 5th Gen FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” Fighter Jet
Pakistani media reports that the Pakistan Air Force has already sent a group of its pilots to undergo training on flying the Chinese-made fifth-generation fighter jet, the FC-31, which is the country's second fifth-generation fighter after the J-20 "Mighty Dragon."
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Earlier this year, the Pakistan Air Force hinted at its acquisition of the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the FC-31 “Gyrfalcon,” developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.
Pakistan’s Air Force Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu reportedly stated at an event early last year that the FC-31 would soon enter service in the country’s air force.
“Negotiations have already taken place to enable the acquisition of the FC-31, which will soon become part of the Pakistan Air Force,” he said at the event.
Now, Pakistani media reports indicate that the Pakistan Air Force has sent a team of pilots to undergo training to fly the Chinese-made 5th generation fighter jet, the FC-31.
The FC-31 is China’s second domestically developed 5th generation fighter jet, following the J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” which has not been exported and is used exclusively by the Chinese Air Force.
The acquisition of the 5th generatiion stealth fighter jet, FC-31 would further increase the presence of Chinese-made fighter jets in the Pakistan Air Force’s inventory, following the earlier acquisition of J-10C fighter jets developed by China and the JF-17, which was jointly developed by Islamabad and Beijing.
Reports from Pakistani media that the country’s air force has begun sending pilots to China to fly the FC-31 fighter jet indicate that the South Asian nation is indeed moving toward acquiring fifth-generation fighter jets.
This development has raised concerns among Pakistan’s neighboring “traditional adversary,” India, which still relies on 4.5-generation fighter jets like the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale.
Not only will India face a China that has already deployed fifth-generation fighter jets the J-20, but it may also soon face Pakistan operating fifth-generation fighter jets.
According to analysts, the acquisition of the fifth-generation stealth fighter FC-31 is intended to replace Pakistan’s aging fleet of American-made F-16s and French-made Mirage 5 fighter jets.
If Pakistan’s acquisition of the FC-31 fighter jets comes to fruition, analysts suggest that it could shift the balance of air power in the region, potentially complicating matters for India’s defense strategy.
The FC-31 fighter jet will enhance Pakistan’s tactical flexibility, allowing it to penetrate deeper into enemy airspace.
The Chinese government is keen to promote the FC-31 for export markets and has established a special office to attract potential foreign customers for the F-31 fighter jet.
Beijing has not allowed the export of the J-20 Mighty Dragon, similar to how the United States has restricted the sale of the F-22 Raptor.
Like the U.S., Beijing is concerned that the advanced technology of the J-20 could fall into enemy hands if it permits the sale of the fifth-generation fighter jet known as the “Mighty Dragon.”
The FC-31 is a single-seat, twin-engine, medium-sized fifth-generation fighter jet with robust stealth capabilities and competitive costs.
China is reportedly preparing the FC-31 for carrier-based operations, similar to the F-35B and the latest F-35C developed by Lockheed Martin.
Although its technical specifications are not fully known, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of the FC-31 fighter jet has increased from 25,000 kg to 28,000 kg and is equipped with WS-19 engines with a thrust power of 12 tons.
The jet features two internal bays, each capable of carrying two medium-range air-to-air missiles. Additionally, it has hardpoints that can be equipped with various bombs and missiles. — DSA
