China: Newest Stealth Fighter Reveals Military and Industrial Ambitions

The first test flight of China’s second stealth fighter jet, the J-31 “Falcon Eagle,” on October 31 was meant to trumpet Beijing’s ambitious plans to develop a military that can join the ranks of Western powers. The new jet is also a sign of China’s intention to challenge the United States for dominance in Asia, but significant technological and manufacturing issues probably mean that the J-31 is at least a decade away from deployment and will significantly underperform U.S. stealth jets.

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