Chengdu J-10

J-10 Vigorous Dragon
F-10 Vanguard
A J-10A of the People's Liberation Army Air Force seen at the Zhuhai Airshow
Role Multirole combat aircraft
National origin China
Manufacturer Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group
Design group Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute
First flight 23 March 1998[1]
Introduction 2006[2]
Status In service
Primary user People's Liberation Army Air Force
Produced 2002 – present[3]
Number built ~400[4]
Program cost 500 million RMB allocated in 1982[1] (Project #10)
Unit cost
190 million RMB (27.84 million USD; 2010)[5]
Developed from Chengdu J-9[6]

The Chengdu J-10 (simplified Chinese: 歼-10; traditional Chinese: 殲-10; NATO reporting name : Firebird[7]) is a lightweight multirole fighter aircraft capable of all-weather operation, configured with a delta wing and canard design,[8] with fly-by-wire flight controls, and produced by the People's Republic of China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

Development history

The program was authorized by Deng Xiaoping who allocated ¥ 0.5 billion to develop an indigenous aircraft. Work on Project #10[1] started several years later in January 1988,[9] as a response to the Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-27 then being introduced by the USSR, and F-15, F-16 already in service in the United States. Development was delegated to the 611 Institute, also known as the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute and Song Wencong was nominated as the chief designer, as he had previously been the chief designer of the J-7III. The aircraft was initially designed as a specialized fighter, but later became a multirole aircraft capable of both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions.

In 2006, the Russian Siberian Aeronautical Research Institute (SibNIA) confirmed its participation in the J-10 program; SibNIA claimed to have only observed and instructed as "scientific guides", while its engineers also believed the J-10 was "more or less a version" of the Lavi design, incorporating "a melting pot of foreign technology and acquired design methods".[10]

The J-10 was officially unveiled by the Chinese government in January 2007, when photographs were published by Xinhua News Agency. The aircraft's existence was known long before the announcement, although concrete details remained scarce due to secrecy. Rumors of crashes during flight testing were actually mishaps related to the AL-31 engine.[11]

The prototype "J-10 01" was rolled out in November 1997 and first flown on 23 March 1998[1][12] in a twenty-minute flight.

AVIC plans to market an upgraded J-10 for export, most likely the J-10B, once development is complete. Several countries have shown interest.[13]

In 2015, China Military Online published an analysis advocating Argentina's adoption of the J-10, claiming that while the operational range of current versions could not yet allow it to reach the Falkland Islands, the aircraft, particularly its radar, were superior to the Typhoon and that tanker aircraft could place the islands within range. China has been promoting the J-10 to the Argentine republic and during a February 2015 visit to China by President Kirchner established a joint fighter aircraft working group.[14]

Alleged resemblance to the IAI Lavi

The J-10 externally resembles the IAI Lavi. In 2008, aviation publishing house Jane's alleged that China's development of the Chengdu J-10 had benefited from technical information from the Lavi project, citing senior Russian engineers who said they had heard this from Chinese colleagues.[15] In 2007, the J-10's designer, Song Wencong (宋文骢), denied any connection with the Lavi, pointing to similarities with the Chengdu J-9, which developed in the 1960s.[16] This was echoed by PLAAF major Zhang Weigang in a 2012 interview.[17] There have been no public statements or formal claims along those lines; by 2000, however, advanced technology transfer of any origin had become anathema to the USA,[18] which forced Israel to cancel a sale of Phalcon airborne early warning planes.

Operational history

China

August 1st aerobatics team

The first aircraft were delivered to the 13th Test Regiment on 23 February 2003. The aircraft was declared 'operational' in December of the same year, after 18 years in development.[1][19] The first operational regiment was the 131st Regiment of the 44th Division.

Pakistan

In February 2006, then-President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, toured the J-10 and JF-17 production facilities on a trip to China during which the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was offered the J-10,[20][21] and the purchase of 36 FC-20s, a Pakistan-specific J-10B variant, was approved in April 2006.[21] In November 2009, Pakistan signed a deal with China to buy 36 J-10B fighters in a deal worth around $1.4 billion.[22][23]

In July 2011, Daily Jang reported that China will give a squadron of the advanced J-10B fighter aircraft to Pakistan. According to the report,"the offer was made by senior Chinese military leaders to visiting Pakistan Army's Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Waheed Arshad".[24][25] In March 2012, talks were held between the two countries to discuss the delivery of latest J-10B fighter jets to Pakistan. However, this has been cancelled as of 2016. Pakistan Air Force is focussing on JF-17 Block 3 and in future it is looking to procure the export version of J-31, the FC-31 stealth fighter. 40 jets are to be procured initially.[26]

Design

J-10 was designed and developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute (CADI), a subsidiary of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation.

Airframe

The airframe is constructed from metal alloys and composite materials for high strength and low weight, the airframe's aerodynamic layout adopts a "tail-less canard delta" wing configuration. A large delta wing is mid-mounted towards the rear of the fuselage, while a pair of canards (or foreplanes) are mounted higher up and towards the front of the fuselage, behind and below the cockpit. This configuration provides very high agility, especially at low speeds, and also reduces stall speed, allowing for a lower airspeed during instrument approaches. A large vertical tail is present on top of the fuselage and small ventral fins underneath the fuselage provide further stability.

A rectangular air intake ramp and a Splitter plate (only on J-10A) are located underneath the fuselage, providing the air supply to the engine. Also under the fuselage and wings are 11 hardpoints, used for carrying various types of weaponry and drop-tanks containing extra fuel.

The retractable undercarriage comprises a steerable pair of nose-wheels underneath the air intake and two main gear wheels towards the rear of the fuselage.

PLAAF Chengdu J-10AY

The cockpit is covered by a two-piece bubble canopy providing 360 degrees of visual coverage for the pilot. The canopy lifts upwards to permit cockpit entry and exit. The Controls take the form of a conventional centre stick and a throttle stick located to the left of the pilot. These also incorporate "hands on throttle and stick" (HOTAS) controls. A zero-zero ejection seat is provided for the pilot, permitting safe ejection in an emergency even at zero altitude and zero speed.

Due to the J-10's aerodynamically unstable design, a digital quadruplex-redundant fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system (FCS) aids the pilot in flying the aircraft. The FCS typically monitors pilot control inputs, preventing the pilot from accidentally exiting the flight envelope from applying too much control input during high performance flight situations. This is critical in canard wing aircraft, as they are capable of turning in a much tighter radius than conventional aircraft. The massive control surfaces are capable of moving so far that they can completely destroy the aircraft in flight at high airspeeds if not kept in check by the FCS.

Avionics

The cockpit has three liquid crystal (LCD) Multi-function displays (MFD) along with a Chinese developed holographic head-up display (HUD), all of which are fully compatible with a domestic Chinese advanced helmet mounted sight (HMS), claimed by Chinese to be superior to the HMS on the Sukhoi Su-27 sold to China.[27][28]

Radar

According to Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation officials the J-10 uses a multi-mode fire-control radar designed in China. The radar has a mechanically scanned planar array antenna and is capable of tracking 10 targets. Of the 10 targets tracked, 2 can be engaged simultaneously with semi-active radar homing missiles or 4 can be engaged with active radar homing missiles.[29]

For J-10B, the nose cone is modified to accommodate an active phased array airborne radar (AESA) radar.[30][31] The general designer of AESA for J-10B is Mr. Zhang Kunhui (张昆辉, 1963 -), the head of 607 Research Institute in Neijiang, Sichuan. Mr. Zhang Kunhui became the deputy head of 607th Research Institute in 1997, and four years later in 2001, he became the head of the institute, when the AESA program for J-10B started. The primary contractor of this AESA is the Radar and Electronic Equipment Research Academy of Aviation Industry Corporation of China located in Sichuan, formed in March 2004 by combining the 607th Research Institute and 171st Factory together with Mr. Zhang Kunhui was named as the head of the research academy. According to Chinese governmental media, the AESA for J-10B took 8 years to develop, finally completed in 2008, and Chinese fighter radars hence achieved a quantum leap in that it went from mechanically scanned planar slotted array directly into AESA, skipping the passive phased array PESA radar.[32] Many suspected the radar is a PESA, but during its brief debuts in the 7th China International Defense Electronics Exhibition (CIDEX) in May 2010 and the 6th International Conference on Radar held in Beijing in Sept 2011, Chinese official sources have claimed it is an AESA.[33]

Propulsion

A J-10 powered by an AL-31FN turbofan engine

The J-10A is powered by a single Russian Lyulka-Saturn AL-31FN turbofan engine giving a maximum static thrust of 12,500 kgf (123 kN).[34] The AL-31FN is based on the AL-31F which was designed for a twin engine aircraft such as the Su-27, to fit the smaller J-10 the engine parts have been moved and re-designed to fit the smaller engine bay in the J-10.

The J-10 was intended to be powered by the Chinese WS-10 Taihang turbofan, but development difficulties forced the J-10A to use a Russian engine instead.[35] Future J-10 will likely be equipped with an improved WS-10 type engine designed specifically for it, as the Chinese aeroengine industry matures and political/military pressure to indigenize increases.[36]

In April 2014, China have entered into a contract with NPO Saturn to purchase the upgraded AL-31FN Series 3 that provides 13,700 kgf thrust and a 2,250-hour service life for future deliveries. Prior, the AL-31FN Series 3 had accumulated 750 hours of test operation on the J-10 aircraft in a test programme.[37]

Weaponry and external loads

The aircraft's internal armament consists of a Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 twin-barrel cannon, located underneath the port side of the intake. Other weaponry and equipment is mounted externally on 11 hardpoints, to which 6,000 kg (13,228 lb)[38] of either missiles and bombs, drop-tanks containing fuel, or other equipment such as avionics pods can be attached.

Air-to-air missiles deployed may include short-range air-to-air missiles such as the PL-8 and PL-9, medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missiles such as the PL-11 and PL-12, unguided and precision guided munitions such as laser-guided bombs, anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-9K and anti-radiation missiles such as the PJ-9.

Variants

J-10AY of the August 1st aerobatics team

Operators

 People's Republic of China

Accidents and incidents

On 13 November 2016, the first J-10 female pilot, Captain Yu Xu, was killed in an aerobatics display Hebei province whilst performing with the 1st Aerobatics Team.[50]

Specifications (J-10A)

J-10SY of the August 1st aerobatics team

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wang Jieqing. "J-10 Fighter Test Flight Process Secret Revealed". Southern Weekend.
  2. ↑ "中国自行研制的歼-10战机正式列装我军航空兵" (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. 29 December 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Chengdu J-10 (Jian-10, Fighter aircraft-10 / F-10)". globalsecurity.org.
  4. ↑ "PLANAF J-10 lost in crash". janes.com.
  5. ↑ Hornby, Lucy (2010-04-13). "reuters, China J-10". In.reuters.com. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  6. ↑ "Chinese J-10 'benefited from the Lavi project' – Jane's Defence Systems News". Janes.com. 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  7. ↑ http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/j10.htm
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 2015-10-24.
  9. ↑ John Pike (2002-06-28). "Chinese Aircraft – J-10". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  10. ↑ "SibNIA remains center of Russian innovation". 2007.
  11. ↑ Rupprecht, Andreas, 2013. Dragon's Wings. Birmingham: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd.
  12. ↑ Zhang Baoxin (2007-01-01). "CAC J-10 External Design Did Not Receive Foreign Assistance". Aerospace World magazine.
  13. ↑ Siva Govindasamy, "China's AVIC steps up sales push for FC-1, J-10 fighters", Flight International, Retrieved: 2 October 2009
  14. ↑ Tate, Andrew (25 February 2015). "China's J-10 advocated as Argentine 'Typhoon beater'". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly (Volume 52 issue 8). IHS. p. 5.
  15. ↑ Hewson, Robert. "Chinese J-10 'benefited from the Lavi project'". Jane's, 19 May 2008.
  16. ↑ "Exclusive Interview with J-10 General Designer Song Wencong". 2007.
  17. ↑ "少将驳斥"战机抄袭论"：歼-10源自于歼-9". 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013.
  18. ↑ Adelman, Jonathan. "The Phalcon Sale to China: The Lessons For Israel". Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  19. 1 2 3 "Sinodefence.com: J-10 Multirole Fighter Aircraft". Archived from the original on 29 March 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  20. ↑ "Pakistan will stand by China against US ‘siege’, says Rashid". Daily Times (Pakistan). 23 February 2006. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
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  22. ↑ "Pakistan signs deal for Chinese J-10 fighters". Flight International. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
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  27. ↑ "中国第四代先进战机机头及座舱亮相珠海航展(图)-吊舱,头盔瞄准具,航电系统,凤凰网,凤凰新媒体-黄岩新闻网". Retrieved 4 February 2015.
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  30. ↑ "歼10B有源相控阵雷达曝光 配置与美军一致(组图)". Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  31. ↑ "网曝中国空军歼10B机载雷达照 与美战机类似引热议". Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  32. ↑ "创新超越促发展--记中航工业雷电院长张昆辉" Archived 8 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine. cannews.com.cn 14 January 2013
  33. ↑ "中国歼-10B相控阵雷达首次曝光：达世界先进水平 - 复兴网". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  34. ↑ "AL-31FN" (in Russian). Salyut. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  35. ↑ "Liming WS10A Taihang Engine". globalsecurity.org. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  36. ↑ Richard, Fisher, Jr. (15 October 2011). "China's Maturing Fighter Force". International Strategy and Assessment Center. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  37. ↑ "Al-31FN Series 3" Salut, 24 December 2013.
  38. 1 2 "New generation of fighter jets on horizon". Global Times. 10 Nov 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  39. ↑ "Pakistan approves purchase of Lockheed Martin F-16s and Chengdu J-10 fighters-13 April 2006-Washington DC-Flight International". Flightglobal.com. 2006-04-13. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  40. ↑ Ivanov, Henry (9 January 2006), China working on "Super-10" advanced fighter, Janes Defence World, archived from the original on 2006-01-11
  41. 1 2 Weening, Alexander; Hardy, James (9 October 2014). "New pictures of J-10B revealed". IHS Jane's 360. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
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  46. ↑ Yue, Qiu (18 November 2016). "专家:歼-10C可能已经列装 具备一定隐身性能" (in Chinese). People Daily. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  47. ↑ Lei, Zhao (18 February 2016). "PLA's fighter jets go up for sale". China Daily. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  48. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2014, p.236
  49. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2014, p.235
  50. ↑ Brad Lendon. "Horrific crash kills Yu Xu, 1st woman to fly China's J-10 fighter". CNN. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "J-10 (Jian 10) – Vigorous Dragon Multi-Role Tactical Fighter, China". SPG Media Limited. 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
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