The Jianjiji-10 Fighter Aircraft 10 (J-10) "Vigorous Dragon" project began in the mid-1980s. The goal of the program appears to be the development of an indigenous Chinese multi-role fighter equivalent to the Mirage 2000 operated by Taiwan. The J-10 is reportedly similar to the American F-16 and a cancelled Israeli fighter based on the F-16 called the Lavi. Although Israel denies transferring any unauthorized technology, it is known Israeli companies supplied assistance in J-10 development. Pakistan also reportedly provided one of its F-16s to China for study, and several Russian engineers who worked on the J-10 indicated a Lavi prototype was located in Chengdu's facilities.
The resulting design, very similar to the Lavi externally, features a delta wing with canards mounted just aft of the co*ckpit. The J-10 is powered by a single Russian AL-31F turbofan, but there is speculation this engine may only be used on prototypes and early production models until China is able to substitute a domestically-developed WS-10A turbofan. Early artist impressions indicated an F-16 style engine inlet, but the prototype emerged with a rectangular inlet reminiscent of the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Like the engine, many J-10 avionics are also of Russian origin. The radar for full-rate production models is still something of a mystery, but the most likely candidate is a Chinese pulse Doppler planar array copied from Russian and Israeli technology. The co*ckpit features a layout of LCD displays, HUD, and helmet-mounted sight typical of contemporary fighters.
The J-10 is envisioned as a multi-role fighter replacing the obsolescent Q-5 and J-7 and armed with much improved weapons. In the air interceptor role, the J-10 will likely be armed with the PL-8 infrared-homing short-range missile (a copy of the Israeli Python 3) and the radar-homing medium-range PL-11 or PL-12. A variety of precision-guided bombs and air-to-ground missiles are also expected to be fielded for surface attack and anti-ship missions.
Much of the J-10's history has been clouded in mystery. Official authorization for the project appears to have been given in 1986 or 1988 with a mock-up completed by late 1993. However, this initial design was predicted to have poor performance, and evolving requirements for a multi-role fighter instead of an air-superiority aircraft forced redesign and development delays. Some reports suggest prototype 1001 first flew in mid-1996 and the second prototype 1002 suffered a fatal accident in 1997. The Chinese government refutes these claims and announced first flight came on 23 March 1998. Detractors doubt this explanation believing this to be the resumption of flight testing after the accident, but China maintains no incidents have occurred during testing.
Some 140 flight tests had been completed by late 2000 with nine prototypes, static test airframes, and pre-production aircraft built by mid-2002. The first two-seat J-10S appeared in 2003, the same year that single-seat J-10A models were delivered for operational evaluation. Service entry was achieved by 2005.
Rumors emerged in 2006 of a new improved model called the J-10B that incorporates advanced features. Among these are a redesigned diverterless engine inlet similar to that used by the X-32, an electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) including an infrared search and track (IRST) camera and laser rangefinder mounted forward of the canopy, and an enlarged vertical tail housing electronic warfare or electronics countermeasures equipment. It is anticipated the J-10B will become the future production standard.
Although it is believed some 300 J-10s are on order for the Chinese Air Force and Navy, the decision to license-build the Russian Su-27 (aka the J-11) suggests a possible lack of confidence in the ultimate success of the J-10 design. Some reports indicate China is developing a new model called the J-10C as a fighter bomber and abandoning the air superiority role given disappointment in the J-10's performance compared to the Su-27.
Approximately 120 J-10 fighters were built by 2008. An F-10 export variant is in development, and Pakistan has ordered 36 under the designation FC-20. Iran has also shown interest and reportedly made a deal for 24 F-10 fighters in 2007, but China has denied the rumor. A navalized version, possibly confused with the J-10B, for use on a future Chinese aircraft carrier has also been suggested but no details are known.
Data below subject to change as more information becomes available
Last modified 11 March 2011
(J-10S) 26 December 2003
(J-10B) December 2008
(FC-20) $41 million [2008$]
outboard elevons: unknown
leading-edge slats: unknown
1 x 27,560 lb (122.6 kN) with afterburner
(at altitude)
(at sea level)
(J-10A) Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology KLJ-10 multi-mode mechanically scanned planar array pulse Doppler system based on the Russian Phazotron Zhuk and Zhemchug as well as the Israeli Elta EL/M-2035
(FC-20) Italian FIAR Grifo 2000/16
(J-10B) phased array radar?
Pakistan, Pakistan Fiza'ya (Pakistani Air Force)
- Müller, Claudio. Aircraft of the World. NY: Muddle Puddle Books, 2004, p. 140-141, Chengdu Aircraft F-10.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London: Brassey's, 1999, p. 10-11, Chengdu J-10.
