J-10 vs J-11B

I am looking at the specs for both the J-10 and the flanker, and their top speed, range, payload seem roughly similar.

The only difference I can see is the # of engines.

Does anybody know why these 2 separate fighter programs are being pursued when their capabilities and roles seem so similar?

1. The J-11B has more hardpoints and total payload weight.

2. The J-11B has greater fuel range (possibly)

3. The J-11B has a greater radar range.

4. The J-10 is cheaper.

All these point to a high-low mix being pursued as a strategy by the PLAAF.

Plus,

5. China needs to subsidize both companies somehow.

J-10 is a light fighter , it's used to defend the airspace
J-11B is a heave fighter , it is used to fight against the F-16s of Taiwan.

Yang Yang said:

J-10 is a light fighter , it's used to defend the airspace
J-11B is a heave fighter , it is used to fight against the F-16s of Taiwan.

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huh? J-10 can't be used against F-16s in Taiwan? That's the first time I've heard of something like that.

You got the basic problem that even if they wanted to, they can't produce as many J-11s as J-10s.

Perhaps he means J-11B would be used to penetrate enemy airspace and gain superiority while J-10s would go in and maintain it.

That makes no sense, as J-10 holds less fuel and therefore would have a shorter loiter time than the J-11B. Also, reserving specific tasks for specific aircrafts is stupid, especially when both fighters are multirole. Both aircraft would be used in any attack, because China does not have that many of either.

I would say it is more of a hi-lo approach, as seen with the USAF and their combo of F-15's on the high end, and F-16's on the low end.

dollarman said:

That makes no sense, as J-10 holds less fuel and therefore would have a shorter loiter time than the J-11B. Also, reserving specific tasks for specific aircrafts is stupid, especially when both fighters are multirole. Both aircraft would be used in any attack, because China does not have that many of either.

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The J-11B does consume more fuel, with having two engines and double the weight. But as we have discussed in another thread, drag does not go up proportionally with size and weight, so we can expect the J-11B's drag profile to be way less than 2x of the J-10's and each engine would be pushing much less drag than the J-10's single engine.

The J-10 is clearly meant to take the F-16s one on one. Personally I think the J-10 can handle anything the J-11B can do. The J-11B has greater payload and hard points so it can pack more "punch" per mission, but the J-10 will have a higher sortie rate (produce more missions) due to being simpler and easier to maintain.

PLAAF is settled on a high lo mix doctrine. Just remember one of the reasons for such a doctrine is to avoid putting all your eggs in a single basket if it turns out, by the experience of war, your doctrines proved to be wrong.

Ah, I see. They are pursuing a high-low mix like american F-16/F-15.

So J-11B is superior to J-10 in terms of range and payload... I didn't know that.

Thanks a lot!

crobato said:

3. The J-11B has a greater radar range.

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I thought they both have the same radar?

The radars for both are technological and same company siblings. This makes them roughly equivalent in technological level. But the one on the J-11B is larger, giving it an inherent advantage in detection.