Air Armaments
J-31: China-made stealth fighter No. 31001 made its maiden flight in October 2012, making headlines around the world. With “31” in its serial number, it became known as the J-31. It was exhibited at this year’s show with all of its details and functions confidential. The J-31 appears to have a more conservative design than the J-20, possibly being adapted to stricter stealth requirements.
Y-20: The Y-20 is still mostly confidential, but its flight display was open to view. The Y-20 has a relatively short and thick body to carry large weapons. Its complicated undercarriage is made for harsh conditions. The high wing and T-shaped empennage follow international trends in pneumatic design. Its load capacity is reportedly 65 tonnes, more than the IL-76 but slightly less than the C-17.
