China has officially unveiled a sophisticated stealth fighter jet in a move believed to enhance its military status in the region.
The J-31 stealth aircraft was unveiled at the annual China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in the southern city of Zhuhai, in south China’s Guangdong Province, on Tuesday.
Officials conducted a demonstrative flight of the twin-engine fighter jet, which is developed by the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), at the exhibit, with at least two more demonstrations scheduled for later.
Following the demonstration, the representatives of the country’s top aircraft maker displayed a mock-up version of the jet.
Industry experts and state media reports say China hopes to strengthen its standing as an arms producer with the release of the J-31. The fighter jet is expected to compete with the US-made F-35 stealth aircraft.
The Chinese aircraft presents an attractive option to countries that are cut off from US arms exports, the Communist Party’s People’s Daily reported in August 2013.
The J-31 jet is the second domestically-produced stealth fighter by China.
The development comes as world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, are attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Beijing.
Obama is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.
This Chinese aircraft’s over all design is so specifically identical to the loosing design between the two US Defense contractors’ last competitive stealth fighter submissions, the probability this design was NOT given to the Chinese by the US is less than 1 chance in 10^100. The military industrial complex creates its own adversaries at the highest level of our SSG.