TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
F16 absolutely, Grippen no doubt, FA50 Sure but Mig29 in export has a huge iron weight on it compared to J10. Two engines. That single engine is smaller lighter and more critically for export cheaper to build and maintain. It demands less on engine wear.
F16 is number 2 of fighter built with over 4600 and still building. Second only to the almost 12000 Mig21 fighters.
The Russian 4th gens are a failure compared to F16 in terms of ordered units and national users. The biggest issue for them being the cost. National Air forces of even a moderate size who previously operated hundreds of Mig21 could barely field a dozen Flanker or Fulcrum. Well equally sized force could field dozens. And there are still orders coming in.
Yet as the FC 1 proved it's not an absolute need. Infact offering with the ability to use common engines can be a selling point for end users. F15 and F16 both have done well on the export market and they share engine types. Flanker users could by export J10 and share parts reducing costs and maintaining capabilities. So using the Russian engine can be a good thing.
Designing a new engine for J10 would be nice. But that commonality between the new J10 and SU27 is a potential selling point. Farther more a new J10 engine at least in theory could be a retrofit for Flanker.
J10 has a lot to offer as we see it today both the older and J10 B configuration.
