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.
J-10 had always been classified, until recently (Dec 30, 06). The exact specs of the air craft are only known by the Chinese government (and CAC).
All stats currently potray the J-10 as comparable to the F-16 C/D's, where as the Jf-17 is just slightly better than the F-16 A/B's. J-10 is better.
Pakistan has been investing in the Jf-17 for quite a while. I don't think that Pak even knew of the J-10 program when it was in its early development phases. We don't need to invest in it, and besides, the Chinese have been very secretive about it.
Cutting down on the number of advanced F-16's & negotiating for J-10's, means that Pakistan is diversifying the fleet and the suppliers. Example: Instead of buying 100 planes from America, we buy 50 from America, 50 from China.
Most speculationgs & experts say that J-10 is related to the F-16. If so, the J-10 can be integrated to fit in the F-16 infrastructure which already exists in Pakistan.
Recently i met an Indian air force pilot of SU-30MKI and he told me that in exercise cope India 04 they out gunned and out maneuvered the USAF F-16’s C/D versions (block 52 & 60) in all aspects of exercises. also this site though not authority
boasts a lot about this aircraft. what is the true picture, if it is that advanced as being bragged than it is a very potent threat to PAF. even an American site Su-30 also praises this aircraft. Is it a carefully orchestrated Indian propaganda?
The scenarios were four versus 12 or a 1 to 3 ratio against the Americans (though this is standard training):
“Generally the combat scenario was to have four F-15s flying at any time against about 12 Indian aircraft. While the U.S. pilots normally train to four versus 12, that takes into account at least two of the U.S. aircraft having AESA radar and being able to make the first beyond-visual-range shots. For the exercise, both sides restricted long-range shots.”
The F-15Cs did not have their advanced AESA radars (see quote above)
The F-15Cs were not allowed to fire beyond 18-20 nautical miles:
“The U.S. pilots used no active missiles, and the AIM-120 Amraam capability was limited to a 20-naut.-mi. range while keeping the target illuminated when attacking and 18 naut. mi. when defending, as were all the missiles in the exercise.”
The IAF used advanced AA-12 Adder missiles that do not require continued pilot control and allow the attacking pilot to fire and fly away:
If you remove the front fins (or whatever they are called by the aviation peeps), the plane looks exactly like an F-16.
Why aren't Pakistanis investing in SU30-MKIs? It really sucks to be cut off from the suppliers and manufacturers by your enemies! Soviets are not sharing their latest-and-greatest tech with Pakistan and neither are Chinese.
Asking obvious questions. The JF-17 is cheap, multirole, and equal to the F-16. The J-10 is expensive and can form the strike force equal to the latest F-16s and the MKIs. There's also export money.
Some 200+ pictures of the J-10 Fighter (some 3,400 of chinese military), including those recently made available by the Chinese government during the declassification
don't get excited. This is a plane that may never see any 'action' unless Taiwan decides to secede. Even if that happens, US joint strike fighter and other planes will be picking off j10 like nobody's business. Even if Chinese have a war with En-diya (which is highly unlikely), those Su30-MKIs will shoot down those j10s before they take off.
It's nothing but posturing by chinese unkils. If these planes were going into real combat, I'd be the first to sign up for 24/7 cnn and watch world news with a large bucket of popcorn.
Elaborate please!
