J-10 Thread IV

[plawolf]

I think that 201 and 1051 are two different planes. These new planes wee see here are from the "201 line". The "1051 line" would come later either batch 3 or even 4.

As for the AL-31FN series 3 engines. Don't CAC still have over 100 of those engines in stock ? They have already paid for them so they might as well use them. What else are they going to do with them ? I think my excitement of J-10B mass produced with WS-10B was premature.

They will probably want to keep a large of them as spares for the existing J10 fleet.

Engines needs to be overhauled and repaired periodically, when that happens, its common practice to plug in a spare engine so the plane can continue to be used.

In addition, AL31s have a fairly short lifespan, so all existing J10s will probably need a replacement engine or three before they themselves retire.

Depending on how hard it would be to re-engine existing J10s for WS10A, we may well see more AL31 orders yet to replace the originals as they are worn out.

 

[Deino]

By the way does anyone know the exact quantity of this last AL-31FN Series 3 purchase ??

 

[JayBird]

By the way does anyone know the exact quantity of this last AL-31FN Series 3 purchase ??

This was Adam.Y's post I translated back in Sept-30-2015 in this thread. I think it's still accurate with the current J-10B/C and engine questions.

According to Adam.Y J-10B is the ones with 1XX numbers, there are currently around 50 plus J-10B built. Mean while J-10C is the one with 2XX numbers and in steadily production at current time. J-10B and J-10C are basically the same from the outside except there is an extra knife like antenna on the middle part(upper fueslage) of J-10C. But J-10C use newer radar and avionics with stronger comprehensive combat capability compared to J-10B.

No.1035 J-10B is being used as testbed for the new variant of WS-10X (Taihang) to collect performance and parameters information. It's courrent flight status is stable/steady.

No. 1051 might be re-painted as No. 201 is the J-10C original prototype used to test the new avionic system. Because J-10B and J-10C aerodynamics are basically the same, and with the already purchased 260 AL-31FN engines/spares the last few years. The current J-10B and first batch of J-10C will still be using AL-31FN engines. And subsequent batches of J-10C will then using the domestic Taihang heart.

J-10 Thread IV

 

[Deino]

Hmm ... but this does not specifies exactly how many of them are series 3 ?!

 

[JayBird]

Hmm ... but this does not specifies exactly how many of them are series 3 ?!

According to Russian media:
2003: 54 AL-31FN delivered.
2007: 100 AL-31FN delivered.
2009: 122 delivered.
2011-June: contract signed 123 AL-31FN would be delivered before 2013.
I think the last contract of 123 AL-31FN probably is the series 3 version for J-10B/C.

据俄罗斯《纽带》网2011年7月4日报道，俄罗斯国防产品出口公司已于6月初与中国签署了在2013年前向中方提供123台AL-31FN型航空发动机的合同，总价值超过5亿美元。据俄航空工业企业的一位消息人士透露，首批13台发动机将会在今年年底前交货。

俄媒称，俄中双方此次签署的合同将由莫斯科“礼炮”发动机制造厂负责执行。该企业此前已分批向中国提供过276台AL-31FN发动机：根据2003年的合同交付54台，根据2007年的合同交付100台，根据2009年的合同交付了122台。

俄媒称，俄罗斯战略与技术分析中心专家瓦西里·卡申指出，AL-31FN由用于装备苏-27/30双发重型战斗机的AL-31发动机发展而成，是俄方专门针对中国空军最新型的歼-10单发战斗机研制的。他表示，歼-10是中国自行研制的第一种第四代战斗机，堪称中国航空工业的骄傲。中国还为歼-10和仿制的苏-27(歼-11B)研制了类似AL-31的WS-10型发动机。不过，由于WS-10的可靠性不高，将其安装到单发的歼-10上存在危险。到目前为止，中国出口的所有战机均安装了由俄罗斯或西方国家生产的发动机，而这显然是按照用户的要求进行的配置。

 

[Hyperwarp]

China can always cooperate with Russia to sell the J-10A with AL-31F engines just like JF-17 for Pakistan. It's not like China is selling J-11 to the Iranian.


IRIAF Commander Brigadier-General Hassan Shah-Safi : Hey, nice J-10 painting behind us General Ma.

China's Air Force Commander General Ma Xiaotian: You like it Hassan ? Maybe 2-3 dozen to go on discount?

Israelis would be royally pissed if there is a J-10 sale to Iran.

 

[Deino]

But it would be very funny !

 

[kroko]

Confirmed: one J-10 prototype airframe (likely J-10B, possibly 1035 from a few years back) seen doing flight tests with a WS-10

I wonder if there were prior j-10 test planes equiped with ws-10 before. Regardless, it is a step forward for ws-10, even if its a second try.

 

[Domino]

This was Adam.Y's post I translated back in Sept-30-2015 in this thread. I think it's still accurate with the current J-10B/C and engine questions.

According to Adam.Y J-10B is the ones with 1XX numbers, there are currently around 50 plus J-10B built. Mean while J-10C is the one with 2XX numbers and in steadily production at current time. J-10B and J-10C are basically the same from the outside except there is an extra knife like antenna on the middle part(upper fueslage) of J-10C. But J-10C use newer radar and avionics with stronger comprehensive combat capability compared to J-10B.

No.1035 J-10B is being used as testbed for the new variant of WS-10X (Taihang) to collect performance and parameters information. It's courrent flight status is stable/steady.

No. 1051 might be re-painted as No. 201 is the J-10C original prototype used to test the new avionic system. Because J-10B and J-10C aerodynamics are basically the same, and with the already purchased 260 AL-31FN engines/spares the last few years. The current J-10B and first batch of J-10C will still be using AL-31FN engines. And subsequent batches of J-10C will then using the domestic Taihang heart.

J-10 Thread IV

It would be interesting to see if J-10 B's are upgrade-able to C standards since there are no structural changes involved

 

[Deino]

The J-10A and AS were now also refitted with this new tail-antenna found on the J-10C ... seems to be VLOC antennas on top of the vertical tailfin. (via Huitong).