Reports: China to Sell J-10 Fighter to Iran, Syria
25-Oct-2007 18:16
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DID's Benelux reader David Vandenberghe tips DID to the original RIA-Novosti report that Iran has signed a contract with China for the delivery of two squadrons (24) of its J-10 fighter planes, which are powered by Russian engines and avionics. Representatives of the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company said China would deliver the jets during the in 2008-2010 time frame. Novosti adds that "Experts, estimating one fighter at $40 million, put the contract's value at $1 billion." Iran's most advanced fighters are currently MiG-29s, many of which once belonged to Saddam Hussein and fled to Iran during the 1991 Desert Storm war, and a handful of F-14 Tomcats that have been ingeniously maintained over the years.
The Chinese J-10 is based on plans sold by the Israelis in the 1980s, after their Lavi fighter program had been canceled. The massacre at Tiananmen Square ended cooperation with western aerospace firms, however, forcing China to install Russian AL-31FN engines. This in turn required many design changes due to the changes to the aircraft's weight distribution, center of gravity, et. al. Russian avionics had to be installed and tested, which have their own set of space requirements and led to further design changes. Then there were the indigenous Chinese efforts, including the Type 1473 pulse-Doppler (PD) fire-control radar. The end result entered service in 2003 after well over a decade in development, and is a rather different aircraft than the Lavi. Nonetheless, it retains the aircraft's canard-delta layout and some of its capabilities, and its aerodynamics suggest an aircraft that is equal or slightly superior to American F-16 C/Ds. This could complicate Israeli strikes on targets related to Iran's nuclear program, though many other variables would also come into play for such scenarios.
Novosti reports that as of mid-2007, the Chinese Air Force had a complement of 89 J-10s, out of 120 intended for its needs. Other sources like Sino Defence place the eventual program size closer to 300. Their Russian AL-31FN engine is an upgraded version of the AL-31F that powers Su-27 Flanker fighters flown by China and many other air forces. In July 2005, China concluded a contract with Moscow's Salyut plant for 100 AL-31FN engines, with an option on another 100 engines. In the summer of 2007, China exercised its option for 100 more engines over the next 2 years. These engines require Russian consent for foreign sales, but China has also been working on an indigenous WS-10A Taihang turbofan, and may look to integrate it into future J-10 versions.
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25-Oct-2007 18:16
Article Link
DID's Benelux reader David Vandenberghe tips DID to the original RIA-Novosti report that Iran has signed a contract with China for the delivery of two squadrons (24) of its J-10 fighter planes, which are powered by Russian engines and avionics. Representatives of the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company said China would deliver the jets during the in 2008-2010 time frame. Novosti adds that "Experts, estimating one fighter at $40 million, put the contract's value at $1 billion." Iran's most advanced fighters are currently MiG-29s, many of which once belonged to Saddam Hussein and fled to Iran during the 1991 Desert Storm war, and a handful of F-14 Tomcats that have been ingeniously maintained over the years.
The Chinese J-10 is based on plans sold by the Israelis in the 1980s, after their Lavi fighter program had been canceled. The massacre at Tiananmen Square ended cooperation with western aerospace firms, however, forcing China to install Russian AL-31FN engines. This in turn required many design changes due to the changes to the aircraft's weight distribution, center of gravity, et. al. Russian avionics had to be installed and tested, which have their own set of space requirements and led to further design changes. Then there were the indigenous Chinese efforts, including the Type 1473 pulse-Doppler (PD) fire-control radar. The end result entered service in 2003 after well over a decade in development, and is a rather different aircraft than the Lavi. Nonetheless, it retains the aircraft's canard-delta layout and some of its capabilities, and its aerodynamics suggest an aircraft that is equal or slightly superior to American F-16 C/Ds. This could complicate Israeli strikes on targets related to Iran's nuclear program, though many other variables would also come into play for such scenarios.
Novosti reports that as of mid-2007, the Chinese Air Force had a complement of 89 J-10s, out of 120 intended for its needs. Other sources like Sino Defence place the eventual program size closer to 300. Their Russian AL-31FN engine is an upgraded version of the AL-31F that powers Su-27 Flanker fighters flown by China and many other air forces. In July 2005, China concluded a contract with Moscow's Salyut plant for 100 AL-31FN engines, with an option on another 100 engines. In the summer of 2007, China exercised its option for 100 more engines over the next 2 years. These engines require Russian consent for foreign sales, but China has also been working on an indigenous WS-10A Taihang turbofan, and may look to integrate it into future J-10 versions.
More on link
