Published on Nov 16, 2015
China has been accused of stealing the fifth-generation US F-35 fighter jet design. US defense and strategic affairs experts claim that the design for China’s FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” or J-31 was stolen during a hack into Lockheed Martin’s American defense network. Similarities between the two jets include tracking mirrors, a flat-faceted optical window, and bottom fuselage placement. Experts currently believe, however, that China’s F-35 cannot compete with the American version, and the craft will not reach operational capacity until 2024. Nik Zecevic and Jose Marcelino examine China’s reputation for knock off’s on The Lip News.