Better Than the F-35: China Elite J-31 Stealth Fighter Jet to Perform at Airshow

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) will bring the Y-20 cargo aircraft and J-31 stealth fighter to the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong province once again for the airshow set to take place in November.

Both planes made their public debut at the 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Zhuhai airshow, in 2014. The much-touted J-31 stealth multirole aircraft, developed by Shenyang Aircraft corporation, did perform a demonstration flight at the biennale, but aside from that was kept away from western media.

However, the fighter is believed to have high potential as an export aircraft and is being marketed as a competitor to the F-35 by AVIC officials. AVIC's plan is to have a J-31 production model first flight in three years from now.

Shenyang J 31

Chinese built 5th Generation Stealth Aircraft. pic.twitter.com/VFhzWIAZHH

— ارمغان ®™ (@Armghaan13) July 27, 2016

​The Xian-built Y-20 heavy military transport plane, the largest aircraft developed by China is said to be primarily designed for use by The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), rather than export.

The new-generation airlifter, with the maximal takeoff weight of 220 tons and the loading capacity of over 66 tons, is known within the Chinese aviation industry as Chubby Girl for its wide fuselage.

China's Y-20 transport aircraft enters service https://t.co/WC2PN2zTml pic.twitter.com/Jh8lJsPkYw

— WebonChina (@WebonChina) July 11, 2016

​This year both aircrafts are set to be displayed again at the exhibition in Zhuhai among advanced indigenous Chinese weaponry, according to China's state-run news agency Xinhua.

The Zhuhai Airshow has been held in even years since 1996. It is the largest aerospace and defense display in Asia and leaves other region's similar events far behind in size and variety in both the commercial and military markets.