- Yes
- No
Development History of the J-10A
Spoiler
1. Origins and Early Design (1986–1994)
In 1986, AVIC’s Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute (also known as the 611 Institute) quietly kicked off “Project 10,” its first serious bid to field a home‑grown, fourth‑generation fighter. The goal was clear: replace China’s aging J‑7 and J‑8 interceptors and stand toe‑to‑toe with aircraft like the F‑16. Under chief designer Song Wencong, the new aircraft embraced a delta‑canard layout, a fly‑by‑wire system developed entirely in China, and a modern integrated avionics suite—features chosen to deliver both exceptional maneuverability and potent beyond‑visual‑range firepower. An early design partnership with Israel’s IAI, informed by work on the Lavi, fell apart under U.S. pressure, forcing China to go it alone.
2. From Mock‑up to Flight Tests (1994–2004)
By 1997, the first prototype—serial number 1001—emerged from the hangar. On March 23, 1998, test pilot Lei Qiang gently lifted it off the runway for its maiden flight. Over the next six years, a small fleet of six prototypes racked up more than 1,400 sorties, ironing out bugs in the fly‑by‑wire controls (notably a stubborn pitch oscillation) and integrating the Russian AL‑31FN engine. Along the way, engineers reshaped the air intake—from a fixed rectangle to a variable‑geometry ramp that foreshadowed later diverterless designs—and beefed up the fuselage structure.
3. Entering Service (2004–2006)
In late 2004, production J‑10s quietly began arriving at the PLAAF’s Flight Test & Training Base in Cangzhou. Two years later, in 2006, China formally announced that the J‑10 had achieved initial operational capability. Each new aircraft carried an AL‑31FN turbofan (rated at roughly 12.5 tonnes of thrust), a glass‑cockpit suite with one HUD and three multifunction displays, and could field PL‑12 beyond‑visual‑range missiles alongside PL‑8 short‑range IR‑guided weapons. By 2014, roughly 250 examples had rolled off the production line, cementing the J‑10 as the backbone of China’s tactical fighter force.
4. Lasting Significance
The J‑10 stands as China’s first fully indigenous fourth‑generation combat jet, a milestone reached despite tight Western technology embargoes. Its successful development jump‑started progress in fly‑by‑wire systems, composite materials, and avionics integration—and laid the groundwork for follow‑on variants (J‑10B and C) as well as the stealthy J‑20.
Sources referenced include China Aviation Industry Press’s “40 Years of Progress,” AVIC Media’s biography of Song Wencong, a January 2010 feature in Combat Aircraft Monthly, and declassified PLAAF flight‑test archives.
J-10A Mid-Life Upgrade Developments
While most mid-life upgrades for the J-10A fighter were completed by 2022, official reports from the military, state media, and a documentary released by the 607 Institute of Radar Technology indicate that several remaining batches received further enhancements in 2023. These later upgrades included the installation of the WS-10B “Taihang” turbofan engine, which provides a maximum thrust of up to 14 tons, significantly improving performance.
In addition, these upgraded aircraft were fitted with and tested the JKL-24 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Although specific details about this radar remain classified, its appearance and development timeline suggest it may be either a technology demonstrator or a cost-effective variant of the KLJ-7A AESA radar, which is used on the J-10C and JF-17 Block 3.
Weapons Compatibility
The later variants of the J-10A, having received upgraded avionics systems and integrated tri-service data links, are now capable of deploying most modern weaponry, as outlined below:
Spoiler
- YJ-91 anti-radiation / anti-ship missile
- KD-88 air-to-surface multi-purpose missile
- CM-704KG modular air-to-surface missile
- CM-502KG lightweight modular precision missile
- PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile
- PL-10 thrust-vectoring infrared-guided short-range air-to-air missile
Propulsion System
⚠️The following content involves academic and engineering deductive reasoning, as verifiable data on this specific aero-engine remains scarce.
Spoiler
Disclaimer:
The Chinese government and the PLA have never officially disclosed detailed specifications of the WS‑10A/B “Taihang” series engines. This analysis is based on fragmented publicly available information and data published in academic sources. All technical inferences remain unverified by primary sources. Any individual or organization claiming to possess detailed specifications of the engine should not be deemed credible and should be viewed with caution. The following reasoning is for reference only.
1. Thrust
- AL‑31FN: 122.5 kN (12,500 kgf) at military power (Saturn AL‑31FN Product Manual, 1997)
- WS‑10A: Reportedly around 122.5 kN, as displayed on the Zhuhai Airshow placard in 2018
- WS‑10B: Often described as a “14‑ton‑class” engine, implying roughly 140 kN of thrust (CCTV‑7 Military Report, 2021)
2. Fuel Efficiency
Analysts project the WS‑10 family may achieve a 5–10 % improvement in specific fuel consumption compared to the AL‑31FN. This projection stems from a high‑pressure compressor pressure ratio exceeding 25:1 (Journal of Propulsion Technology, 2022) and thermodynamic cycle modeling—but no official test figures have been released.
3. Advanced Materials
- Single‑Crystal Turbine Blades: China Aero Material Institute’s DD6 alloy blades are rated for temperatures up to 1,150 °C (Acta Aeronautica, 2015).
- Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC): Listed for potential use in nozzle parts in MIIT’s New Material Catalog (2021), though actual integration into the WS‑10 remains unconfirmed.
4. Thrust‑to‑Weight Ratio
Open‑source assessments put the WS‑10B at roughly 8.0 :1, compared with about 7.1 :1 for the AL‑31FN (Jane’s Defence Weekly, 2020). Exact dry weights have never been disclosed by Beijing.
Exterior Changes
Spoiler
- Vertical Stabilizer Tip: Equipped with a navigation antenna identical to those on the J-10B/C and JF-17 Thunder.
- VHF/UHF Antenna: Replaced with the same model used on the JF-17 Thunder to improve stable communication in adverse weather.
- Cockpit Upgrades: Minor enhancements such as improved countermeasure dispenser systems, influenced by design experience and feedback from the JF-17 program.
2005 (early variants)
Visual Differences
2016 (later variants).
As a mid-life upgraded variant, the aircraft did not undergo structural modifications aside from improvements in avionics and engine performance. Therefore, its airframe-related specifications remain consistent with those of the early J-10A model as represented in the game.
Image of the AESA Radar Installation
Weapon Loadout Display
Compound Pylon Display
The late-stage variants of the J-10A have undergone significant upgrades—comparable to the transformation from the MiG-21bis to the MiG-21-93. I believe it would be entirely appropriate to include them in the game, positioned just before the J-10C in the lineup.
If you have any objections, I sincerely welcome your feedback! For any translation errors that may have caused confusion, I deeply apologize—language remains an inherent barrier to mutual understanding🌐!
Reference
- China Aviation Industry Yearbook (2015): Confirmed J-10A production ended in 2014, with resources redirected to “3.5-generation upgrades.”
- PLA Daily (2017): Highlighted “a upgraded third-generation fighter achieving multi-target BVR engagement,” referencing J-10A MLU capabilities.
- Jane’s Defence Weekly (2020): Assessed the upgraded J-10A as “comparable to F-16 Block 50/52 in combat effectiveness.”
- China Aviation News (2022):
“The mass deployment of WS-10B marks China’s leap from ‘supply security’ to ‘performance leadership’ in aeroengines.” - U.S. Defense News (2023):
“WS-10B’s reliability still lags behind the F110, but its thrust and fuel efficiency rival Western 4th-gen engines.” - China’s National Defense in the New Era (2019). White Paper by the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China.
Notes the strategic role of “beyond-visual-range precision strike capability,” referring to the operational role of the KD-88 missile. - Zhuhai Airshow Brochure (2022).
Provides technical specifications and export strategy details for the CM-704KG and CM-502KG modular air-to-surface missiles. - Jane’s Defence Weekly.
Features comparative analysis of the YJ-91 and the Russian Kh-31, highlighting key technical differences and their respective combat potential.
《军武零距离》 20210807 北疆神鹰_CCTV节目官网-CCTV-7_央视网(cctv.com)
军迷热议：航空工业曝光歼-10A换装新雷达，为朝鲜“量身定制”？_腾讯新闻
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https://www.aecc.cn/aecc/zycp/jyhkdl/2025011314355333438/index.html
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中国飞机全书 第三卷 Encyclopaedia of Chinese Aircraft(Vol.3) | 魏钢 WEI GANG,陈应明 CHEN YING MING,张维 ZHANG WEI | download on Z-Library
C-704 - Wikipedia
YJ-91 - Wikipedia
KD-88 - Wikipedia
CM-501G - Wikipedia
