China's new stealth fighter in test flight

CHINA: China's second stealth fighter has made its first test flight, the media reported Thursday, in a boost to the country's air capabilities even though the plane is unlikely to be deployed for years.

The J-31, the second stealth plane to be unveiled by China in less than two years, flew for 11 minutes on Wednesday morning, the state-run Global Times reported, citing an eyewitness.

Photos posted online by Chinese military enthusiasts appeared to show the black-painted combat plane in mid-flight. Images of the aircraft were first leaked online in September.

China's first stealth fighter, the J-20, was unveiled in early 2011 but is not expected to enter service until 2018. The country's first aircraft carrier entered service last month, with others capable of carrying aircraft expected to follow.

The J-31 appears to be more mobile than the J-20, with its landing gear suggesting it is designed to be launched from an aircraft carrier, military expert Andrei Chang told AFP.

He said the J-31 appeared similar to the latest "fifth" generation of US-designed stealth fighters, but with a less powerful engine and a lower proportion of sophisticated radar-blocking composite materials.

"In terms of design it appears the J-31 is inferior to the latest US planes," said Chang, head of the Kanwa Information Centre which monitors China's military. "The layout is similar, but the material and quality are inferior." A long testing process means the aircraft is unlikely to be put into action for nearly a decade. "It will take at least seven or eight years before it can be commercially sold," Chang said, adding that the test flight was timed to coincide with the run-up to China's once-in-a-decade leadership transition next month.

AFP