Flight of the ‘Gryfalcon’

Prasun K. Sengupta

An industrial consortium led by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corp (SAC) has been formally entrusted with the task of developing and series-producing the definitive new-generation aircraft carrier-based medium-weight multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) for the People’s Liberation Army’s Navy (PLAN).

Shenyang FC-31 Gryfalcon MMRCA

Nicknamed the ‘Gryfalcon’, this MMRCA will be a navalised derivative of the FC-31 stealthy technology demonstrator (TD) that was unveiled at China’s Zhuhai Airshow in November 2014. A land-based MMRCA variant is being developed for its launch customer - the Pakistan Air Force — which presently does not possess any twin-engined deep-strike interdictor platforms (its entire fleet of combat aircraft presently comprises single-engined aircraft) and therefore remains deeply interested in procuring about 80 such MMRCAs.

The SAC-led industrial consortium includes its No.112 Factory, the 601 Research Institute (Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute), 603 Aircraft Design Institute (later named the First Aircra