Chengdu J-10
Chengdu Aircraft Corporation · China · first flew 1998 · fighter
China's first indigenous fourth-generation multirole fighter, a tailless canard-delta built around a single afterburning turbofan.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, delta |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Canard foreplanes set high and forward of a large tailless delta wing
- Underslung belly intake giving a nose-high stance (DSI bump on B/C variants)
- Single tall swept fin with a pair of canted ventral fins under the tail
Look for the small movable canards ahead of the delta wing and the rectangular belly intake. The single fin and twin ventral strakes confirm the type.
Specifications
- The Chengdu J-10 has a length of 16.9 m (55 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 2200 km/h (1367 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from a 1980s PLAAF requirement, the J-10 first flew in 1998 and entered service around 2005-06. Early aircraft used the Russian AL-31FN engine before production shifted to the Chinese WS-10.
Variants
The single-seat J-10A and twin-seat J-10S were followed by the J-10B with a diverterless supersonic inlet and IRST, and the current 4.5-generation J-10C with AESA radar and PL-15 missiles. Over 600 serve with the PLAAF.
Where you'll see it
Operated in large numbers by China, with export J-10CE jets delivered to Pakistan from 2022. Not seen in UK skies.
Related aircraft
- Chengdu J-20
- Chengdu JJ-7
- Panavia Tornado GR4
- Shenyang J-11
- EMB-314 Super Tucano
- Embraer A-29 Super Tucano
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