New J-10 shows comprehensive rather than partial improvements

People's Daily Online ^ | November 12, 2013

[sukhoi-30mki]

On November 6th Zhang Jigao, deputy chief designer of the J-10 fighter, spoke about the improved model J-10 publicly for the first time in the AVIC flight test center. Zhang Jigao told People's Daily Online reporters that the overall performance of the J-10 will be comprehensively improved in areas such as aerodynamic layout, mission system, and the approach to maintenance.

In March 2009, pictures of our improved model J-10 fighters appeared for the first time on the Internet, and netizens quickly began to call it the "J-10B".

Over the last five 5 years, several images of the test J-10B have appeared online, attracting widespread attention from netizens, military enthusiasts, and even foreign media.

U.S. military expert Richard Fisher recently pointed out that the J-10B is a so-called "fourth and a half" generation fighter equipped with modern airborne technology and an advanced radar system, which is about to be delivered to the PLA Air Force.

Zhang Jigao disputed the term "fourth and a half" generation. In contrast, he suggested that the current international criteria to classify generations are more applicable.

He pointed out that single combat is rare in modern warfare, and that the majority of cases now involve system combat and network operations, so that the combat capabilities of a fighter depend on many factors. "This does not mean that the optimization of an aircraft's radar, avionics, and missile detection ranges are bound to improvements in operational performance."

Zhang Jigao added that further improvements to the performance of the J10 would focus on the aircraft's aerodynamic layout and mission systems, and the approach to maintenance. "Aircraft development requires constant optimization and improvement," he said, "and our modifications will be comprehensive rather than being confined to a specific area."

[sukhoi-30mki]

[MasterGunner01]

the J-10 looks like a carbon copy of the Israeli Lavi fighter. Here: http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/aircraft/lavi/Lavi.html

[USNBandit]

Different shaped intake, but there are a lot of similarities. The picture shows carriage of the PL-8, an IR seeking air to air missile based upon the Israeli Python 3. Interesting features of the Python 3 are a larger than usual warhead for an IR weapon and a decoupled front and back half that allows the tail to rotate. This has some aerodynamic atvantages although the huge tail fins produce a lot of drag.

[Antihero101607]

Did an F-16 and a Eurofighter have a baby?

[Darksheare]

Bill Clinton approved the sale of f-16 fighting falcon tech and missile tech to China back during one of his terms.
Also, mainframe tech used to simulate nuke explosions to improve warhead design.

[rmlew]

Because the ChiComs weren't working on their own fighter with a canard for 40 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chengdu_J-9
And their allies, the Pakistanis, do not fly F-16s. And the ChiComs didn't purchase former Soviet engineers to bring data from the Mig 1.42

[MasterGunner01]

The IMI-built Lavi was to be Israel's front line fighter of the late 1980’s and into the 21st century. Five were ordered and three were built. Israel ran into budgetary problems and Lavi was canceled in 1987. Then, as I understand it, IMI finished work on a Lavi test bed that the IAF still utilizes. The F-16I is current Israeli front line fighter.

I think the Israelis found that fighter development and manufacture is as much art as it is science. In the mid-1980’s I worked on the Generator Control Unit for the Lavi’s Integrated Drive Generator (part of the electrical system).

The design of the J-10 looks very similar to Lavi. I would not be surprised that the Chinese didn't do some reverse engineering of the distinctive Lavi.