The Shenyang J-31 low observable fighter intended as a far cheaper export competitor to the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter has been renamed FC-31 in a new marketing move by the Chinese government.

The FC-31, an upgraded version of the J-31, made its flight debut in the northeastern city of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, on Dec. 23 but this test was only announced yesterday.

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The jet is made by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). It costs some $70 million each.

The FC-31 looks like a clone of the F-35 and it's long been widely held in the West the reason for this is the theft by Chinese spies of top secret F-35 plans in covert operations spanning over a decade.

Also called the Gyrfalcon or Falcon Hawk, the FC-31 is powered by two Russian-made Klimov RD-93 turbofan jet engines. During its first test flight in 2012, the first FC-31 managed to stay airborne for only 11 minutes.

The second FC-31, a new aircraft, has a number of improvements over the first one.

Chinese aerospace experts said the second FC-31 saw changes to the airframe, wings and vertical rudders. The changes have made the new jet leaner, lighter and more maneuverable.

The FC-31 has a maximum take-off weight of 28 metric tons; a flight radius of 1,250 km and a top speed of Mach 1.8 or 2,200 km/h.

It can carry eight tons of weapons. Six missiles are housed in its internal weapons bay while six more can be slung on hardpoints underneath its wings.

Since 2007, spies working for China have stolen secret data -- especially about stealth technologies -- used in the F-35; the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth strategic bomber.

China's successful cyber intelligence and human intelligence operations that filched data about U.S. stealth aircraft led to the development of the F-35 look alike, the Shenyang J-31 stealth fighter (to be exported as a rival to the F-35).

Stolen data is now being used to manufacture China's first strategic stealth bomber, the Xian H-20, which should become operational by 2025.

TagsShenyang J-31, FC-31 i, Lockheed Martin F-35, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor