Shenyang J-31 (F60) image - Aircraft Lovers Group

Eh, you wouldn't really know how well it'll really match up to U.S fighter planes until it goes to wargames or actual combat with the USAF. Believing everything the PRC throws out is like believing that the F-22 is without it's own share of problems.

Strange, F22 is not any excelent fighter. It has advantage in invisibility, which is not 100%. Apart from that, I would say it's pretty average in air-to-air combat.

How can an aircraft that is superior to the F-15 in every way be considered an average air superiority fighter, especially when you look at the results of exercises like Northern Edge? Excellent low speed and high speed manoeuvrability, AESA radar, and stealth would be enough to whip any non-stealth aircraft already.

If you were talking about air-to-ground capability, it'd make more sense, but with the Raptor constantly being upgraded, it's a mute point. People need to remember that the Raptor has yet to reach maturity and judging it now is jumping the gun.

F22 max speed is below average, mauverability above average. Because of internal bomb(missile bay it has can carry less "cargo" than other fighters.

I would bet that it's radar reflections are much greater than F117 - just look at cockpit.

If it want to remain stealthed, pilot has to cut all communications and set radar to passive mode - at least. Also he must be careful about showing it's thrusts on enemy's IR scanners. I just want you know that it's not like "haha, I am invisible, I can do anything now".

Never implied that. Stealth isn't invisibility; merely that it makes the Raptor harder to find and track at longer ranges, which gives massive tactical and strategic advantages. And the Raptor doesn't need to cut communications or go passive due to Low Probability of Intercept radar and a stealthy data-link between Raptors. If necessary, only one Raptor would need to turn on it's radar, for his flight to benefit.

It can supercruise at mach 1.7, and this is without afterburners, is all it needs in terms of speed. Max speed does not equal better plane. High thrust to weight ratio, and awesome nose pointing ability at low speeds (up to 60 degrees AoA).. the thing can perform J-turns as well as the pretty but useless airshow tricks that the Su-37 can do. It's internal payload is 6 AMRAAMS and 2 Sidewinders (equal with the Eagle at 8 missiles) and since it's carried internally, there's less range penalty.

I wonder what you're comparing the Raptor to, though. Either you're using Emperial TIE fighters as a benchmark for excellence or there's another fighter out there that exceeds the Raptor's capabilities.

"it outmatches every U.S. fighter except the F-22 (Said by pentagon)"
"except the F-22 (Said by pentagon)"
"(Said by pentagon)"
Seems legit.

I don't see how a couple of prototypes can be considered the Chinese catching up, considering they are decades behind the United States. By the time this or the J-20 reaches system maturity, we'd be seeing 6th gen systems from the US.

2018? I doubt that too. Considering China's problems producing high performance engines of her own for the J-20, it'll probably take longer than that.