Shenyang / Chengdu 6th Gen Demonstrators?

[Desertfox]

Well this just isn't true at all.

Care to elaborate?

 

[Avimimus]

Care to elaborate?

There are multiple reports from both sides in Ukraine that indicate R-37 missiles are regularly being fired on Ukrainian aircraft. Given that pairs of Mig-31 are regularly flying CAP along the border (not just Su-35) it seems a safe bet they're seeing air-to-air use. If we add in the fact that footage has been released from the war showing the actual radar instrumentation of a Mig-31 during an intercept (apparently firing on a Ukrainian Mig-29)... it seems pretty hard to claim that this design has only ever been used as a bomber.

 

[Avimimus]

By the way - I'd be quite curious as to where this impression that the Mig-31 hasn't seen air combat comes from.

 

[stealthflanker]

By the way - I'd be quite curious as to where this impression that the Mig-31 hasn't seen air combat comes from.

Media i guess and to some extent Russian hyping on Kinzhal. That got attention of most people despite actual imageries and videos of MiG-31 doing CAP exist.

Being a pure BVR fighter also dont help as MiG-31 can always be expected to shoot at long range while people like dogfight story

 

[Scott Kenny]

The Raptor is also capable of ground strikes. Would you consider the Raptor multirole then?

Yes.

While the F-35 is primarily strike, to the extent that I'd expect the PLAAF to use the JH prefix.

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I expect that the J-36 is primarily an interceptor that traded dogfight maneuverability for better stealth, with secondary ground-attack mission courtesy of large weapons bays.