J-10 fighter

[Cobra412]

Has some similiarities to the X-31.

[1K3]

The Lavi...

lol that's what our F-16 XL should've look like 30 years ago!

[Charon]

Nah, that's just what the jealous China-haters tend to claim

It is a Chinese designed fighter, with international technology from several manufacturers - like practically any fighter design of these days.

I may have overstated when I said it was "a Lavi" since it is not a 100 percent copy (it is bigger and was redesigned when mission roles were shifted). But, I think you are understating the degree of core influence the Lavi data and that reverse engineered F-16 supplied by the Pakistan provided. What percentage of the underlying technology was generated in house? About the same as the Chinese PL-9 missile? It’s not identical to the Python 3 either, different control surfaces even…but it's still an AIM-9L+ capability missile.

The J-10 certainly seems to be a significant technological departure from preceding "indigenous" aircraft like the J-8, which showcase 1970 Soviet era technology. From SU-15 era to F-16 era, I’m sure with only the slightest influence from Lavi research and a reverse engineered F-16. Then there is the contemporary J-11, which is just a licensed-produced SU-27, showing no real indigenous effort.

Of course, the real victims of the J-10 may be Dassault and Saab and the Eurofighter consortium (F-16/18 exports too) since the J-10 is seen as being a major export item. Pakistan has shown an interest in replacing its F-16As with the J-10. Enough of the capability -- half the price!

It would be a lot easier to dismiss if we actually had an armada of our next generation super planes. But we don't, and won't have for quite some time. And if a conflict occurs we won't be fighting in a controlled and advantageous environment like we had with Gulf War 1 or 2, where we were on the offensive from secured bases fairly close to the action against a military at least a generation behind (technologically) where China is heading. The don't have to be able to beat us in some "Red Dawn" scenario, they just have to be capable enough to control the region for a limited period of time.

Charon

[mora]

"The J-10 is based on the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)’s Lavi fighter. After the Lavi programme was cancelled in 1987, its design was taken over by CAC, and IAI carried on with the development of avionic equipment."

http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/fighter/j10.asp

[1K3]

J-10 vs Lavi (visuals)

J-10






Lavi (Cancelled)

[SunTracker]

Right now the USAF has over 25 unmanned aerial vehicle designs being worked on.  Don't think we have to worry about this Chinese delta-winged F-16 knockoff.

[1K3]

geeez guys, you guys always under estimate the Chinese. don't you all know that within 20 years (if "trends" continue) China will have the biggest economy, biggest expendable armed forces, and a bigger threat to the West if we keep pissing them off...

[Flyboy]

OMG, how do you dare comparing this atrocity to the lavi.

the lavi is one the most gorgeous looking planes EVA!!




and it was  operational toady if you damn yanks werent so affreid of alittle competition.

[Mime]

2 missles??  WEAKSAUCE!

[F4UDOA]

Charon,

Have you ever seen what Egypt and the Saudi's are flying?

[Charon]

Charon,

Have you ever seen what Egypt and the Saudi's are flying?

Egypt and Israel seem to get along pretty well, have since the Camp David Accords, and we still balk on sending them F-15s and JDAMS because it's politically unpopular. If they were still seen as a notable (real) threat to Israel they wouldn't have the F-16s either. The Saudi's are less friendly but far too tied to pumping the world's oil to consider doing much about it (unless the radicals take over). Neither country is close to a Syria, and of course there are no Syrian F-15s or F-16s.

Now, we do a lot of business with China, but that didn't stop China from playing blink with our recon aircraft (remember that collision incident before 9/11 came along to make it an afterthought?). Nor does it stop them from outright threatening war with Taiwan, which we have in the past committed to protect. China is considered a potential war threat, is used to promote our latest weapons systems, and has been building a military force specifically to counter our force projection capabilities. Kind of a cold war with benefits, that may got hot a lot easier than the MAD cold war with the Soviets.

Charon

[Pongo]

I would think the SU30s would be a way bigger issue.

[345]

Originally posted by 33Vortex
On that first picture there are 2 trays on wheels below the aircraft along the centerline, are those to catch leaking hydraulic fluid or maybe oil?

Well, our fighters have them too. take a tour on a carrier with it's airwing onboard. All the planes in the hanger bay have them under them at leak points to try and keep the deck from getting too slippery.  Even with the non-skid, JP5 and hydraulic fluid are slippery.

[1K3]

Originally posted by Pongo
I would think the SU30s would be a way bigger issue.

Nah, The Russians are OK with that. Kinda like us Americans and French giving F-15s and Mirages to Israelis (with indegenuous upgrades)

[Charon]

I would think the SU30s would be a way bigger issue.

They are likely, along with the Kilos.  But 1,000 J-10s is nothing to sneeze at. Any aerospace manufacturer has to have exports to keep costs down for domestic sales and support the industry. I understand that. I just hate to see my tax dollars at work improving the capabilities of a potential hot threat. Of course, our military aid to Israel is largely corporate welfare for US arms manufacturers, and there have been US corporations that have directly helped the China increase its capabilities during the same time frame. That pisses me off too.

And, another cold war would be just what the Dr. ordered to push all those cold war systems and star wars stuff that are slipping by the wayside in the new threat environment. An urban war on terror is low tech and people intensive -- where's the BIG industrial money in that? We stopped the sale of the AWACS technology, but maybe some increase in Chinese capabilities is not seen as all that bad a thing

Charon