Chengdu J-10

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Chengdu J-10
Type Multirole fighter aircraft
Manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation
Maiden flight 1998-03-24
Introduced Late 2005
Status Active service
Primary user PLA Air Force
Variants Chengdu Super-10

The Chengdu J-10 is a multirole fighter aircraft designed and produced by the People's Republic of China Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Designed to be equally useful in both the fighter and light bomber roles, the J-10 is optimized for all-weather day/night missions.

Contents

[edit] History

The program was conceived in the early 1980s, to counter new fourth generation fighters then being introduced by the USSR (namely, the MiG-29 and Su-27). Initially designed as a specialized counter-air fighter, it was later remade into a multirole aircraft capable of both anti-air combat and ground attack missions. It has been argued that the J-10 is based on the now cancelled Israeli Lavi.[1][2]

Having been designed under much secrecy, many details of the J-10 remain unknown and are subject to much speculation. Professor David L. Shambaugh reported that development for the J-10 was based on a single F-16A/B that was acquired from Pakistan in the early 1990s[3]. The first flight of the J-10 took place sometime in 1996, but the program suffered a major delay due to a fatal accident which occurred in 1997. This incident was thought to be the result of errors in the J-10’s fly-by-wire system. (Note, there is evidence, albeit non-conclusive, that only one prototype was flying; the other was a ground static testbed. Hence, no crash occurred.) A redesigned prototype flew in 1998, resuming flight testing of the aircraft. Service entry into the PLAAF occurred in 2004[2].

The J-10 has been offered only to the Pakistan Air Force for export; on April 2006 the Pakistani government announced that it would procure at least 36 J-10s under the designation "FC-20".

It was reported by Jane's Defence Weekly on 9 January 2006, that a more advanced version of the J-10 is planned, "referred to as the Super-10, with a more powerful engine, thrust-vector control, stronger airframe and passive phased-array radar [4]."

[edit] Design

Chengdu J-10 at static display
Enlarge
Chengdu J-10 at static display

The J-10 is a single-seat, delta winged aircraft powered by a single, Russian-built AL-31FN turbofan (maximum static power output of 12,500 kgf (123 kN, 27,600 lbf)). The airframe possesses a large vertical tail, as well as canards placed near the cockpit. The air intake is rectangular in shape, and is located beneath the fuselage. Construction likely incorporates much use of composite materials, as well as more conventional metals. Performance is generally speculated to be within the class of a late-model F-15, although maneuverability is thought to be superior (possibly within the range of some early fifth generation Western fighters). A bubble canopy provides 360 degrees of visual coverage for the pilot.

It was reported in November 2005 that a first batch of Russian AL-31FN thrust vectoring engines had already been received for use in J-10s. A second batch was supposed to arrive later that year, and the rest would arrive by mid-2006. On 9 January 2006, it was claimed that these new engines were actually termed AL-31FN M1, and would be used in a new advanced version of the J-10 called the "Super-10". Regardless of how they are eventually used, thrust vectoring will undoubtedly boost the J-10's maneuverability.

China has made progress toward development of it own WS-10A 'Taihang' turbofan engine[5]. There are plans to produce future variants of J-10 and J-11 using WS-10A engine[2][6].

[edit] Avionics

A digital, quadruplex fly-by-wire system aids the pilot in flying the aircraft. Information is provided visually to the pilot, in the form of three liquid crystal Multi-Functional Displays within the cockpit. Western-style HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) controls are incorporated in the J-10's design.

The radar type equipping the J-10 is not yet known; possible candidates include the Russian RP-35, the Israeli EL/M-2035, the Italian Grifo 2000 and the Chinese/Pakistani JL-10A. (Note: most likely, the production version is fitted with a 147x series fire control radar from NRIET.) A comprehensive ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) package is likely to be present, including active jammers.

Note: As of 2005, the JL-10A fire control radar has been incorporated into the JH-7A (JH-7, the evaluation batch, uses Type 232H FCR). Some evidence suggests that a derivative of the Type 1421 on later J-8 models has been selected. This could be the KLJ-3 FCR.

[edit] Variants

  • J-10: Single-seat baseline multirole model
  • J-10B: Double-seated version, for training and possibly ground attack

[edit] Other projected variants

[edit] External loads and armament

Concept image of the J-10 in the PC game Battlefield 2
Enlarge
Concept image of the J-10 in the PC game Battlefield 2

The wings provide 11 hardpoints for the attachment of up to 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) of weaponry, fuel tanks, and ECM equipment. Built-in armament consists of a 23 mm cannon, located within the fuselage. External weaponry may include: short-range infrared air-to-air missiles (Chinese PL-8, or the Russian R-73), medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missiles (Chinese PL-11 PL-12, or the Russian R-77), laser-guided and un-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles (Chinese YJ-9K), and anti-radiation missiles (PJ-9).

[edit] Popular fictional use

The J-10 is still a relatively new and unpopular fighter jet, therefore its appearances in works of popular culture are not as abundant as world-favorites F-14 Tomcat, F-16 Fighting Falcon, MiG-21 Fishbed and Su-27 Flanker.

  • The J-10 is featured in the PC game Battlefield 2, associated with the Chinese faction. It is more maneuverable than the other fighter jets in the game and seems to have more accurate missiles. The J-10 is believed to be a balancing issue for the Chinese army. The US and MEC both have major benefits unique to their side, but the Chinese only have the J-10. It's in-game model has the smallest damage areas in the entire game (jets or otherwise): in practice only a missile straight on or from behind will actually hit the jet.

[edit] Estimated specifications

An orthographically projected diagram of the Chengdu J-10.
Enlarge
An orthographically projected diagram of the Chengdu J-10.

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Guns: 1× 32 mm internal cannon
  • Hardpoints: 11, 3 under each wing and 5 under the fuselage
  • Missiles:
    • Air-to-air: PL-8, PL-11, PL-12, R-73, R-77
    • Air-to-surface: PJ-9, YJ-9K, 90mm unguided rocket launcher pods
  • Bombs: laser-guided bombs (LT-2), glide bombs (LS-6) and unguided bombs

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://atimes.com/atimes/China/DL04Ad01.html
  2. ^ a b c d e f http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/fighter/j10.asp
  3. ^ David Shambaugh, “China’s Military: Real or Paper Tiger?”, The Washington Quarterly 19:2, 1996, p. 26
  4. ^ http://www.janes.com/defence/air_forces/news/jdw/jdw060109_2_n.shtml
  5. ^ http://www.avic1.com.cn/chinese/xwzx/detail/20060224_9.htm
  6. ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/fighter/ws10a.asp
  7. ^ Some sources say 6,940 kg (15,300 lb)
  8. ^ Originally measured as 12,500 kgf.

[edit] Resources

  • Combat Aircraft - The International Journal of Military Aviation, Vol. 7, No. 9, November 2006.
  • The only video of J-10

[edit] Related content

 

Comparable aircraft

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PLAAF Aircraft (active)
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H-6 |
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J-7 | J-8 | J-10 | J-11 | Q-5 | Su-27 | Su-30 MKK | JH-7 |
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