Chengdu J-10

In 1981, PLAAF Commander Zhang Tingfa submitted a proposal to Deng Xiaoping for the development of a third-generation fighter for ; it was accepted later that year by the Central Military Commission (CMC). It was the first Chinese aircraft program to incorporate modern development and acquisition processes. In one departure from the past, the supplier was now responsible directly to the customer; this allowed the PLAAF to communicate its requirements and ensure they were met; previously suppliers were responsible to their managing agency, which could produce products that failed to meet end user requirements. Design proposals were made by the three major aircraft design institutes. Shenyang's proposal was based on its cancelled J-13 with a F-16-like strake-wing. Hongdu's proposal was MiG-23/Su-24-like with variable-sweep wing. Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute's (CADI) proposal was a Saab 37 Viggen-like design based on its cancelled J-9. The State Council and the CMC approved the program in 1986, Unlike earlier programs, the J-10 avoided crippling requirement creep. The J-10 became operational in 2006. It was officially unveiled by the Chinese government in January 2007, when photographs were published by Xinhua News Agency. In May 2021, China National Radio released images of the J-10C powered by the WS-10B engine; this was the first time the WS-10 was officially seen on an operational J-10. Disputed origins . In 1988 Israel's defense minister denied a report by The Sunday Times that Israel and China had agreed to develop a fighter derived from the IAI Lavi. In 2006, Russia's SibNIA engineers believed that the J-10 was "more or less a version" of the Lavi, incorporating "a melting pot of foreign technology and acquired design methods... but there are a number of other pieces of other aircraft or technologies that are part of the configuration that they have acquired from different sources." The Chinese assert J-10's features claimed to be from the Lavi are from the manufacturer's own previous aircraft design, for example attributing the J-10's Lavi-like double canard configuration to Chengdu's work on the cancelled J-9 who worked on the J-9 and became the J-10's chief designer, and PLAAF Major General Zhang Weigang. == Design ==

The J-10 was designed and developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute (CADI), a subsidiary of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. Avionics The cockpit has three liquid crystal (LCD) multi-function displays (MFD) and a Chinese developed holographic head-up display (HUD). These are compatible with a Chinese helmet mounted sight (HMS); the Chinese consider the HMS of the imported Sukhoi Su-27 to be worse. Radar The early J-10s were initially equipped with the Type 1473 pulse-Doppler radar (PD) developed by the CETC 14th Institute; the Type 1473 has been called China's first "successful" or "practical" PD radar. The J-10B is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) or passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar. According to Chinese accounts, PESA was never used due to unsatisfactory performance; AVIC 607 Institute and CETC 14th Institute developed a PESA radar that could track multiple targets simultaneously but had shorter range than the PD radar. PESA and AESA development delayed the J-10B. CETC 14th Institute helped to develop the J-10B's AESA radar. Propulsion The J-10 is powered by a single turbofan. The J-10A entered production with the Russian Salyut AL-31FN. The initial version generated a maximum static thrust of . In December 2013, Salyut reported it was testing an upgraded AL-31FN Series 3 for China with 250 hours more life and 1000 kgf more thrust; the Series 3 would be equipped on the improved J-10B. Compared to the original Lyulka-Saturn AL-31F, the AL-31FN was fitted to the J-10 by rotating the gearbox and accessory pack to the underside. Weaponry and external loads The aircraft's internal armament consists of a Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 twin-barrel cannon, located underneath the port side of the intake. Other weaponry and equipment is mounted externally on 11 hardpoints, to which of either missiles and bombs, drop-tanks containing fuel, or other equipment such as avionics pods can be attached. Ordnance carried may include short-range air-to-air missiles such as the PL-8 and PL-10 (on J-10C), medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missiles such as the PL-12 and PL-15 (on J-10C), unguided and precision guided munitions such as laser-guided bombs, air-to-surface missiles such as KD-88, anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-91A, and anti-radiation missiles such as the YJ-91. == Operational history ==

China The first J-10 was delivered to PLA training units in 2003. Testing concluded in December 2003 and the type was declared operational shortly after. The J-10C has been reported to have consistently prevailed in simulated combat engagements against Su-35 fighters acquired from Russia, with the fighter's reduced radar visibility allowing it to detect and fire on its target first. The fighter's lower radar signature and significantly more advanced sensors and weaponry for both visual and beyond-visual range engagements were cited by experts as leading advantages the aircraft retained. The J-10C gained victories against both the Su-35 and the J-16 in exercises for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021. Pakistan Negotiations for acquisitions for J-10A were started in 2006 when offered by China, but negotiations persisted into 2012 with the offer of the J-10B. In September 2020, it was reported that Pakistan was interested in the J-10C. In December 2021, Pakistan announced the purchase of 25 J-10CEs, with an option for 11 more. On 4 March 2022, the first batch of 6 J-10CEs for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) landed at PAF Base Minhas (Kamra) after a ferry flight from Chengdu, China. They were officially inducted into the PAF's No. 15 Squadron Cobras based at PAF Base Minhas on 11 March 2022. PAF J-10CEs deployed against the Indian Air Force (IAF) during the May 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, and claimed to have shot down five IAF aircraft, including three Dassault Rafales. Chinese state media reported the J-10CE shooting down multiple aircraft in January 2026. According to French deputy Marc Chavent, several sources - including American analysts and NATO intelligence data - credited the J-10C with destroying a Rafale. The PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile may have been used. On May 7, analysts attributed an increase in Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's stock price to reports of the successful combat deployment of the J-10. This was the first use of the J-10 in combat. Potential operators Bangladesh During a four-day official visit to China on 26 March 2025, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus discussed the potential purchase of multirole fighter jets. His press wing later confirmed that China responded positively to the proposal. According to government documents reviewed by The Business Standard in October 2025, Bangladesh is preparing to purchase 20 J-10CE jets by 2027 to modernize the Bangladesh Air Force and strengthen national air defence. The deal, valued at approximately $2.20 billion (around Tk27,060 crore), will also cover training, maintenance, and other related expenses. Officials stated that the procurement is likely to be completed under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement during the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 fiscal years, with payments to be made in installments over 10 years, until 2035–2036. Indonesia In May 2025, Indonesian officials expressed interest in acquiring the J-10. By October 2025, Indonesia was considering acquiring J-10s. In mid-October, Indonesia's Ministry of Defense was reportedly authorized to raise US$1.6 billion from foreign lenders to buy J-10Bs. Indonesia's interest in the J-10 may include the low cost of the aircraft compared to other options, and diversifying military suppliers to demonstrate strategic neutrality. Serbia Russian Telegram channels reported that Serbia is considering the purchase of Chinese J-10CE multirole fighters. The J-10CE was exhibited in the form of a model at the Partner exhibition in Belgrade in 2023 and 2024. A high-level delegation of the Serbian Ministry of Defence, mostly made up of high-ranking Air Force and Air Defence officers, paid a four-day visit to China in 2025. Venezuela In August 2025, Venezuela has reportedly sought to acquire up to 20 J-10Cs. == Variants ==

aircraft in the background. • J-10A: Single seat variant. The export designation is F-10A or FC-20. • J-10AH: Naval version of J-10A. • J-10AY: Aerobatics variant of J-10A. • J-10S: Tandem-seated trainer variant of J-10A. • J-10SH: Naval version of J-10S. • J-10B: An upgraded J-10, initially identified as "Super-10". It features a lighter and stealthier diverterless supersonic inlet, a longer nose radome possibly housing an active electronically scanned array radar, an electro-optic targeting sensor (IRST, and laser rangefinder,) and a new electronic warning or countermeasures pod atop the vertical stabiliser. The aircraft is powered by the AL-31FN M1; The aircraft's first flight occurred no later than December 2008. • J-10B TVC Demonstrator: A prototype fighter based on J-10B that is equipped with WS-10B thrust-vectoring control engine. The fighter has supermaneuverability, capable of performing the Cobra maneuver. • J-10C: An upgraded version of J-10B, it is equipped with an indigenous AESA fire-control radar and is equipped with imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, WS-10B engine and PL-15 air-to-air missiles. The J-10C made its first flight in December 2013. Serial production began in 2015. Justin Bronk describes the J-10C as a 4.5 generation jet fighter. • J-10CE: Export version of J-10C. • J-10CY: Aerobatics variant of J-10C, replaced J-10AY. == Operators ==

; • People's Liberation Army Air Force: 236 J-10A, 55 J-10B, 220 J-10C, 77 J-10S () ; • Pakistan Air Force: 20 J-10CE (plus 16 on order) () == Accidents and incidents ==

On 12 November 2016, an August 1st Aerobatics Team training flight suffered a mid-air collision in Hebei. A twin-seat J-10 crashed. The pilot, Captain Yu Xu, the first woman certified to fly the J-10, and the co-pilot ejected. Yu was struck by another J-10 and killed. In October 2020, the People's Liberation Army Daily reported that a J-10 crashed after a bird strike disabled its engine. The pilot ejected and survived. == Specifications (J-10C) ==