Sorry I am still confused. Is this a J-10B or J-10C?
J-10 Thread IV
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Still, most prototypes use AL-31FN
In other words, most other (AKA every other) J-10 uses Al-31s... not just prototypes but also in service aircraft.
The point of that specific airframe in Deino's post, is likely to serve as a testbed for WS-10 aboard the J-10B/C, so the fact that only prototype is powered by it so far should not come as a surprise.
At present, I'm not sure if J-10C is in mass production yet. More importantly, I don't think the J-10 with the WS-10 we see is a J-10C as it lacks the extra antennae seen on J-10Cs...
But I also don't think it matters that it may be a J-10B airframe testing the WS-10, as the modifications between J-10B and C seem to be minor and based around avionics, therefore testing WS-10 on a J-10B airframe may structurally be no different to testing it on a J-10C, thus the presence of WS-10 on that particular J-10 likely reflects that the Air Force is still interested in getting J-10s (probably of the C variant) powered by WS-10s... but that doesn't mean that we will not necessarily see J-10Cs powered by Al-31s initially as well.
So this is my belief:
At present:
- Confirmed: J-10Bs produced, powered by Al-31s with one large batch complete
- Possible: more J-10Bs powered by Al-31s expected, but unsure
- Confirmed: J-10Cs powered by Al-31s undergoing flight tests, likely preparing for production soon
- Confirmed: one J-10 prototype airframe (likely J-10B, possibly 1035 from a few years back) seen doing flight tests with a WS-10
- J-10B (powered by Al-31) production will be superseded by J-10C in mass production, where an initial batch or more may be powered by Al-31
- J-10Cs in production will eventually be mass produced with WS-10s
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And even worse, still no numbers visible ?!
The photographers are trying their darnest to avoid trouble. Secrecy has been strictly enforced ever since Xi became president.
