Beijing Displays its Military Might with J-31 Stealth Fighter

TODAY

12 November 2014

BEIJING — China unveiled a sophisticated new stealth fighter jet at an air show yesterday, a display of muscle during United States President Barack Obama’s visit to Beijing.

China hopes the much-anticipated J-31 stealth aircraft, developed by the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), the country’s top aircraft maker, will compete with US-made hardware in export markets.

The twin-engine fighter jet was unveiled at the Airshow China in the southern city of Zhuhai, a biennial event at which China shows off its military technology. As Beijing tries to climb into the high-end arms market, it has been eager to display fighters, missiles and drones it hopes will demonstrate how it can compete on the global stage.

…“It appears to be a fifth-generation fighter and so far, of course, only the US has been able to produce those,” said Dr Richard Bitzinger, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, of the J-31. “So, in a sense, it’s kind of impressive on a superficial level.”

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Last updated on 12/11/2014