Israeli Lavi. Since some observers still assume
the J-10 to be a phoenix-like resurrection of
the Lavi, this may have led to the Western
codename ‘Firebird’, mentioned for the fi rst
time in 2014. Regardless of these discussions,
the J-10 has become the most modern multi-
purpose fi ghter in the PLAAF inventory. It is
also the most successful
recent product of
China’s aviation
industries after many
frustrating years of failed
projects.
As far as is known,
development of the J-10
was initiated in 1983 to
create a modern multi-role
fi ghter to compete with other
contemporary fourth-generation
types and to replace the J-7
series. A maiden fl ight was
achieved on March 23, 1998and a fi rst front-line unit was formed in June- A little more than 11 years later, the
fi nal J-10A rolled off the production line in
Chengdu in early 2014, after seven production
blocks. Today, the J-10A and naval J-10AH
and their equivalent twin-seaters, the J-10AS
and J-10SH, are now fl ying with nine PLAAF
front-line units and one of the PLANAF,
as well as an operational trials unit. In
addition, since late 2009 the PLAAF’s Aerial
Demonstration Team Ba Yi (August 1st) has
operated the modifi ed J-10AY and J-10SY
versions.
At fi rst, the J-10 was fi elded with limited
air-to-air-armament. In recent years its
weapons options have been steadily
expanded. For example, a new twin-
rail launcher has been developed to
carry four rather than two PL-12
missiles. LS-500J precision-
guided munitions have also
been seen more regularly.
However, and although it has been spotted
on trials aircraft, it seems a self-targeting
capability using the K/JDC-01 forward-
looking infra-red/laser targeting pod is still
not operational. Otherwise, the latest update
on the J-10A has seen some aircraft upgraded
with a new dorsal UHF/VHF antenna.
Following the fi nal J-10A deliveries, there
was much anticipation among observers for
the new serial model, the J-10B. This radically
modifi ed version was unveiled for the fi rst
time in March 2009, when the un-painted
prototype ‘01’ was spotted at the Chengdu
factory airfi eld, revealing a new fi xed diverter-
less supersonic inlet (DSI), a fl atter radome,
an infra-red search and track/laser rangefi nder
dome, and a wide-angle holographic head-up
display similar to that fi tted to the J-11B, as
well as other minor refi nements. Even more
eagerly awaited was a fi fth prototype powered
by the indigenous WS-10B engine, fl own in
July 2011. However, series production was56 May 2015 http://www.combataircraft.net52-61 Chinese Fighters C.indd 56 20/03/2015 11:17