I'm sure it would, just not as much as regular fuel tanks. Either way, it's probably not a good idea to fight with external fuel tanks still attached.
J-10 Thread III (Closed to posting)
- Thread starter crobato
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I'm sure it would, just not as much as regular fuel tanks. Either way, it's probably not a good idea to fight with external fuel tanks still attached.
It is a great range enhancement feature. J-10Bs will probably need them to become true multi-role fighters.
franco-russe
Senior Member
Deployments of detachments of J-10 and J-11 to the deployment airfields in Tibet is a routine occurrence, as the link makes clear.
As also touched upon in the linked article, prepared sites for S-300P SAM’s are located near Gonggar, at 29 17 42 N 090 51 07 E, as well as near Xigaze, at 29 20 43 N 089 16 00 E.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
I think the J10 has way more range than what most people might assume. The main reason anyone thinks the J10 is short legged is because it is usually photographed with multiple fuel tanks. But that alone does not make it short legged.
Having conformal tanks will free up hard points, but it comes at the cost of additional weight and drag penalties becoming effectively built-in, so you loose the option of jettisoning those tanks, and will have to settle for less performance in a dogfight.
Now, conformal tanks is hardly cutting edge stuff, and the choice of whether to include them will depend on what kind of mission and adversaries the PLAAF sees the J10 facing.
With the slow pace of PGM integration, the likely adversies the PLA might face as well as their physical distance from the Chinese mainland and the PLAAF's own arsenal, I just don't see the PLAAF needing their J10s to do a great deal of strike.
In the most likely war scenarios, the PLAAF would be facing off against top tier enemies and may well be facing several countries at once, all with top end kit, and will likely be fighting a mainly defensive war. There is little point beating around the bush. Against America and/or Japan, the priority would be anti-shipping and air superiority. There are just no targets within range for medium fighters like the J10 to strike at unless the Americans and Japanese mount an invasion of the Chinese mainland, which just isn't going to happen.
For Taiwan, the J10's combat range of 1000km+ is more than enough without needing conformal tanks.
The only scenario where conformal tanks might make a meaningful difference would be Korea, but that's a pretty remote possibility. If a second Korean War breaks out, China would probably be more likey to be fighting alongside the South Koreans rather than against them, and as with Taiwan, the J10's range is more than sufficient for missions against NK, but with the PLA's large dedicated JH7 and Su30 strike forces, there my not even be a need for the J10s to drop bombs at all.
franco-russe
Senior Member
That is one scenario I have never contemplated. You mean, PLA fighting alongside the US (and South Korea) against China's ally North Korea?
thunderchief
Senior Member
Possible scenario : NK government does something stupid , so SK & US invade NK and Kim's regime starts to crumble . China invades north of NK to create buffer between its border and US forces .
kwaigonegin
Colonel
That scenerio is very likely assuming NK did what you say they did however I hate to think it because it can potentially lead to very very bad things for everyone involved and those who aren't. If China mounts a full blown invasion of NK with US/SK troops already in there, we better hope the 'red' phone is working and that politicians are very very calm, smart and cool when they talk to each other.
thunderchief
Senior Member
Things are different now then in 50's . China will act with the pretext of "stabilization" and preventing that NK nuclear weapons fall in wrong hands . If the Kim's regime starts to crumble I don't think NK troops would offer much resistance to PLA , neither would SK or US want to engage them .
More worrying scenario is that Kim's regime doesn't collapse and instead starts slowly retreating north . In that case China would be compelled to support them in case that SK & US troops move to much north . In such scenario J-10 would have enough range to defend NK airspace , but it would have to carry additional fuel tanks if PLAAF intends to strike targets in SK . so , it would depend on what kind of strategy China pursues .
SinoSoldier
Colonel
¦^��: Re: New J-10 Thread III
The Chinese Su-30MKK/MK2 are not compatible with Chinese weapons, and they are limited in numbers. So unless China rushes the J-16 into service, or perhaps a couple of land based J-15S, their hitting capability will be seriously impeded.
It is important for the J-10 to be able to fire all kinds of weaponry in the vast Chinese arsenal to maintain the ability to add flexibility for the Chinese commanders. We are past the age of specialized aircraft.
The Chinese Su-30MKK/MK2 are not compatible with Chinese weapons, and they are limited in numbers. So unless China rushes the J-16 into service, or perhaps a couple of land based J-15S, their hitting capability will be seriously impeded.
It is important for the J-10 to be able to fire all kinds of weaponry in the vast Chinese arsenal to maintain the ability to add flexibility for the Chinese commanders. We are past the age of specialized aircraft.
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