But a regular AL-31FN powered one
J-10 Thread IV
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
But a regular AL-31FN powered one
That's why I asked earlier if the WS-10 powered J-10C has entered production, or still remaining in the prototype stage.
Could be an older one that went back to the factory for refurbishment.
Probably from the same batch.
They should definitely be 500 kg class bombs as they appear to be 3 m long. 250 kg ones are generally closer to 2 m long than 3 m, and 1000 kg bombs are usually visibly fatter while still longer at some 3.3 m.
Why even train with this configuration, though? How often will the situation allow carefree low level flights? Which would be the only way unguided bombs could even remotely get half-decent precision. That includes the (likely) possibility there's some sort of computer controlled autopilot bombing mode available, where various data like wind, altitude, speed of plane, angle of plane, GPS derived position over target and exact to the millisecond release would all be done by computer. (something similar to what Russians use with their SVP-24 system.
Edit: of course, I jest to a degree. Unguided bombs are still valuable enough, and one should train to use them. Especially when your planes aren't stealthy, going in low and delivering those bombs from low altitudes is a viable, though dangerous, tactic.
That beind said; it's a bit bewildering that PLAAF is basically entering the year 2020 and to date they have not shown any sort of a guided bomb save for laser guided ones for J10/J16/JH17. And even those LGBs don't seem to be terribly widespread.
Are there any close up photos of those newer LGBs, so one can possibly look for GPS receiver on them?
If the low penetration mission is something PLAAF is seriously considering, then they might want to invest into a bomb similar to the french AASM or any other kind of a rocket powered bomb. Of course, even an unpowered bomb lobbed at mach 0.9 will have some sort of stand off range, but without terminal guidance that won't be helpful delivery profile.
Why even train with this configuration, though? How often will the situation allow carefree low level flights? Which would be the only way unguided bombs could even remotely get half-decent precision. That includes the (likely) possibility there's some sort of computer controlled autopilot bombing mode available, where various data like wind, altitude, speed of plane, angle of plane, GPS derived position over target and exact to the millisecond release would all be done by computer. (something similar to what Russians use with their SVP-24 system.
Edit: of course, I jest to a degree. Unguided bombs are still valuable enough, and one should train to use them. Especially when your planes aren't stealthy, going in low and delivering those bombs from low altitudes is a viable, though dangerous, tactic.
That beind said; it's a bit bewildering that PLAAF is basically entering the year 2020 and to date they have not shown any sort of a guided bomb save for laser guided ones for J10/J16/JH17. And even those LGBs don't seem to be terribly widespread.
Are there any close up photos of those newer LGBs, so one can possibly look for GPS receiver on them?
If the low penetration mission is something PLAAF is seriously considering, then they might want to invest into a bomb similar to the french AASM or any other kind of a rocket powered bomb. Of course, even an unpowered bomb lobbed at mach 0.9 will have some sort of stand off range, but without terminal guidance that won't be helpful delivery profile.
Last edited:
Let's see if we can see a batch of WS-10 equipped J-10Cs in full commission by Chinese New Year 2020.
