China's 'new' fighter declassified.

[corsair67]

I wonder if they were inspired by the Eurofighter at all???

At least the Chinese put the canards in the right place i.e. not obsuring the pilot's view!




J-10 Fighter Officially Declassified
(29 December 2006)

The Chinese state-run media made the first official disclosure of the new-generation indigenous Jian-10 (J-10) fighter aircraft on 29 December 2006, stating that the aircraft had already entered operational service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The reports were the first official recognition of this top-secret project which first began in the late 1980s. The declassification of the J-10 fighter may also suggest that the aircraft would soon become available for export market.

The official government press agency Xinhua News Agency reported on 29 December that the Chinese air force is now equipped with the new-generation J-10 fighter. The report, which cited sources within the PLAAF, indicated that “(PLAAF’s) overall battle effectiveness has been noticeably enhanced after being equipped with the aircraft and through intensive drills and training”.

Xinhua also reported that the J-10 fighter is capable of launching precision strike weapons and conducting long-distance offensive operations. According to the report, the PLAAF unit equipped with the J-10 fighter had already reached the initial operational capability (IOC).

China Central Television (CCTV) also broadcasted TV footages of the J-10 fighter on 29 December, including the aircraft launching air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, and receiving aerial refuelling from a H-6 tanker.

The J-10 fighter project had remained highly classified since it commenced in the late 1980s. For nearly a decade, photos of this top-secret project have regularly appeared on Internet forums around the world. However, the project was not allowed to be publicised until recently, mainly due to security concerns. It was widely speculated that the much-anticipated J-10 would be revealed in the 2006 Zhuhai Air Show held in November, but the debut was cancelled in the last minute for unknown reason.

Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) is reportedly keen to market the J-10 fighter worldwide as a cheaper next-generation fighter. Many third-world countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa may find it an ideal alternative to the expensive high-performance fighters made by US, Europe, and Russia. Pakistan is reportedly in negotiation with China to purchase up to fifty J-10 fighters.

[Dave Homewood]

Looks just like a Eurofighter Typhoon to me... but then most modern jets all look the same

[stu]

I often wondered what the offspring of an F-16 and Typhoon would look like ..........

[flyjoe180]

Yes, it looks rather like a mixture of Grppen, Typhoon and F16 doesnt it. Be interesting to see how it compares with contemporary Western designs (on paper).

[Kereru]

A Typhoon from China indeed?

They do have a joint venture with Pakistan dating back to 2003 too?
www.airliners.net/open.file/0432162/L/

[corsair67]

The more modern (late 1980s -) Chinese aircraft have traditionally been let down somewhat by their avionics, but this may not be the case so much nowadays.

I also would be interested to know what the quality of their pilots is like, especially after the aerial collision incident between that Chinese fighter and the USN EP-3C a few years back?

[kiwi]

My first thought is where will it carry all the weaponry of an advanced fighter?

[corsair67]

In one of those lovely red, white and blue striped poly bags that the Chinese produce millions of. They'll hang one off each canard! ;D

[corsair67]

Well, Taiwan doesn't seem too concerned about it.

From the Taipei Times.


Experts pooh-pooh China's J-10
By Jimmy Chuang
STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007.


Local air defense specialists yesterday dismissed reports that China's J-10 jet fighters -- the latest major aircraft to be deployed by the Chinese air force -- poses a threat to Taiwan.

"Based on our analysis of the aircraft's background and [our knowledge] of the training of Taiwanese and Chinese pilots," the J-10 is not a threat to Taiwan, said Pan Kong-hsiao, director of the National Defense University's air force department.

Pan was approached yesterday for comments regarding the Chinese air force's admission early this year that the J-10 jet fighter had joined its fleet. A number of military magazines and arms experts have said that the J-10 could become a threat to Taiwan.

Pan said that should a J-10 aircraft attack Taiwan, it would first have to contend with local air defense missiles, followed by Taiwan's F-16 fighters. The J-10 would not have enough fuel to disengage, return to its base and refill, Pan said.

High maintenance

Pan added that maintenance for the J-10 aircraft would be troublesome for the Chinese air force.

"The aircraft is the result of a combination of technology from four countries -- Israel, the US, Russia and China. In comparison, Taiwanese jet fighters are a lot easier to maintain since we are using only pure US or French aircraft, as well as self-developed fighters," Pan said.

However, Pan said he would not deny that the J-10's state-of-the-art radar and weapon systems could be a threat to Taiwan.

"The Chinese air force is evolving," Pan said. "They have been shifting focus from quantity to quality. They are now paying more attention to the quality of their weapons."

An air force commander, however, said he was confident that Taiwanese pilots would be able to handle their Chinese opponents.

Having quality aircraft is one thing, but they can't do much without quality pilots, said Major General Shen Yi-ming, commander of the air force's 499th Division.

Quality pilots

"Performance wise, the J-10 is just about the same as our Mirage 2000-5s and F-16s. But the quality of Chinese pilots falls well below ours,'" Shen said.

The air force general added that Chinese pilots rely on commands from their supervisors on the ground during battle. Tai-wanese pilots, conversely, are trained to make quick decisions in the air whenever they encounter any form of danger during war.

"It is the key to winning in the air, and winners take all," Shen said.

[phil82]

...not to mention Chinese rockets exploding in space...

....they must be crackers!



I'll get my coat.....

[Marcus]

Hi all

I was just wondering about the load carrying ability of the J-10. All the photos depict different aircraft at I assume different times yet all have three large droptanks on the major load carrying hardpoints. Where and what sort of weaponary will the aircraft use? With all the droptanks visiable is it safe to assume that the aircraft will have a limited range especially when carrying a full combat load?

Marcus