Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon

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A Chengdu J-10A Vigorous Dragon of the PLAAF at the Zhuhai Air Show.

The Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon (Jian-10; export designation F-10 Vanguard; NATO reporting name Firebird) is a multirole fighter aircraft designed and produced by the People's Republic of China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Known in the West as the "Vigorous Dragon", the J-10 is a multirole combat aircraft capable of all-weather operation. So far, only the PAF has signed a contract making it the only export contract for the J-10.

Variants[edit | edit source]

  • J-10A: Single seat variant. The export designation is F-10A or FC-20.
  • J-10AH: Naval version of J-10A.
  • J-10AY: Acrobatics 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 stabilizer. The aircraft is powered by the AL-31FN M1; one unit was flown with a WS-10A in July 2011 but that engine was not selected for the initial production batch. 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 Cobra maneuver.
  • J-10C: An upgraded version of J-10B, it is equipped with an indigenous Active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire-control radar and is equipped with imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, WS-10B engine and new dual pulse rocket motor PL-15 air-to-air missile (AAM).
  • J-10CE: Export version of J-10C.
  • J-10CY: Acrobatics variant of J-10C, replaced J-10AY.
  • J-10D: Electronic warfare variant with straight, protruding spine in the central airframe, containing electronic countermeasure and warfare systems.

Users[edit | edit source]

See Also[edit | edit source]