The Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (J-20) and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (J-31) are subsidiaries of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). These two companies have been working on the designs of the super jets.
However, it is speculated that the J-20 will have a long-range strike system capable of reaching anywhere in the Western Pacific region, and include a stealth design; the first of its kind in the PRC, reports National Interest.
It is predicted that in a conflict, the J-20 would likely be positioned in air-to-air combat with the mission of limiting the enemy’s radar coverage and strike range.
While the J-20 is expected to have superior air combat maneuvering (ACM) abilities, the J-31 will be “the perfect fighter for the PLA to perform anti-access area-denial (A2AD) strategies in the Western Pacific,” Ryan Henseler wrote for National Interest.
While the J-20 is slightly faster, with a maximum speed of Mach 2.5 compared to Mach 2 for the J-31, both jets have a combat radius of approximately 2,000km (1242 miles).
Some reports suggest that the US officials believe that the J-31 will match or exceed the proficiencies of US fourth generation fighters such as the F-15 Strike Eagle and F/A-18 Super Hornet, and could possibly even compete with the F-22 or F-35.
In late 2014, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) President Lin Zhouming made a prediction saying, “When [the J-31] takes to the sky, it could definitely take down the F-35. It's a certainty.”
