outofshdw

This month's edition of "Combat Aircraft" features what has to be the first, detailed article to discuss the projected size and expected capabilities of China's Chengdu J-10 fighter:
http://www.ianallanpublishing.com/ca...ducts_id=51326

Drawing on photographic evidence, leaked information, and engineering analysis, the new article makes a convincing argument that the J-10 is more than just another pretty face.

To summarize some some of the major arguments:

• Like any multirole fighter-bomber, the J-10 was developed with a bias towards fulfilling certain roles. Based on the overall dimensions of the airplane, and its projected dry weight, fuel capacity, and payload capacity, the J-10 appears to have been biased in favor of the air-to-ground role rather than the air-to-air role.
  
  
• As such, the J-10 is most easily compared to the Block 50/52+ versions of the F-16, rather than to some of the Eurocanard fighters such as the Typhoon or Rafale.
  
  
• By virtue of its relatively low wing loading (and canard configuration), the J-10 can be expected to have exceptional instantaneous turn capabilities. Its thrust loading, however, is relatively modest, meaning that most Western fighters would have an advantage in terms of acceleration.
  
  What strikes me about this comparison, is that it is reminiscent of the old MiG-15 / Sabre match-up, or of the advantage that the MiG-21 had over most Western fighters of its day. The J-10 appears to be similarly poised to deliver a painful surprise to any inexperienced pilot who attempts to engage it in a turning manuever, but is vulnerable in other areas of its envelope.
  
  
• In the air-to-ground role, the capabilities of the J-10 are expected to be truly impressive. It is projected to possess both a payload capacity, and range that put to shame many similarly sized, or even larger airplanes:
  
  "When measured as a multirole, attack platform rather than as a purely air-to-air fighter, the potential for the J-10 to alter the strategic equation in the Far East should become readily evident. In terms of its maximum payload capability, the J-10 is projected to have a maximum weapons load in excess of 9,500-kg (19,850-lb), when outfitted with bombs and missiles for a short-range attack mission. This compares to a maximum payload of 4,000-kg (8,820-lb) for the similarly sized MiG-29S, or 8,000-kg (17,640-lb) for the much larger Su-30."

Statistics for the J-10 were quoted as follows:

Length ........................ 16.5 m
Height ......................... 6.0 m
Wing Span ..................... 11.3 m
Gross Wing Area ............... 45.5 sq m
Empty Weight .................. 9730 kg
Max Internal Fuel ............. 4470 kg
Max Take-Off Weight .......... 24650 kg
Max Thrust ................... 125.5 kN

For the J-10 to have merited an investigative article of this detail is truly a coming-of-age for the Chinese aviation industry.

highsea

Lol.

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tphuang

I'd say most of that is pretty off. J-10 cannot possibly be heavier than J-8II like this article is implying. Anyone who has seen the picture of two fighters can tell you that.

JCT

Not sure if this has been posted yet or if its an old video, but a clip of the J-10 has been recently uploaded to LiveLeak:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=374dbc294c

Looks like a squadron of aircraft are shown and there is one 4-ship formation.

gunnut

I find that hard to believe.

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joey2

indeed a beautiful bird!
the pics looks awesome.