As a radical upgrade of China's J-10A / B light multirole fighters, the more promising tactical fighter-interceptor J-10C is being developed under strict secrecy. It owes its appearance to the Israeli concern IAI, which in 1987 handed over to CAC all the technological documentation for its experimental multipurpose light fighter Lavi, which is a more advanced version of the F-16C. The successful circumstances of the conflict between IAI and General Dynamics for a place in the arms market in the Middle East and the whole of Western Asia helped the Celestial Empire to create a unique J-10C of its kind. Possessing the low radar signature and functionality of the 4 ++ generation fighters, this fighter today significantly outperforms its most advanced ancestor, the F-16C Block 60, and has overtaken another structural relative, the Japanese F-2A / B multirole fighter. Only the Rafale and EF-2000 Typhoon fighters with the new Captor-E radar will partially be able to compete with it, but it is predictable that the price of the Chinese aircraft will be about 30-40% lower, and therefore the superiority is already obvious. If CAC develops an export version of the J-10C, Lockheed Martin, Dassault and Eurofighter GmbH could lose multibillion-dollar contracts with their main Asian customers
Delving into the details of the development of sketches, layouts and digital models of promising Chinese supersonic strategic missile carriers YH-X, unique ultra-low-noise attack MAPL Type 096 with an internal jet propulsion unit and various versions of the 5th generation heavy tactical fighter J-20, we began to turn less often to actively developing the modernization program of the J-10A / B light multipurpose fighters of the Chinese Air Force, which, following the integration of new powerful airborne radars with AFAR into the FCS, are already beginning to acquire the configuration of the next generation fighters. All innovative solutions are embodied today in a fundamentally new modification of the "Swift Dragon" - J-10C. The appearance of the airframe of the new machine, as well as the "filling" are so close to the 5th generation that Chinese bloggers have already rushed to compare its likely combat potential with the American F-22A "Raptor", but whether such comparisons are justified by anything, we have to find out in our review.
To begin with, it's worth remembering the pedigree of the most advanced serial Chinese LFI. The development of a single-engine fighter, which had been planned since 1984 to replace the morally and technically obsolete J-6, J-7 and Q-5, gained full steam in 1987, when the Israeli concern IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries) handed over all the technical documentation on the experimental tactical fighter "Lavi" of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry (Group) Corporation (CAC), which brought to its logical conclusion the program of the Israelis to fine-tune a converted version of the multi-role F-16A / C. In 1986, IAI had to curtail work on the Lavi project, since a new modernized airframe and the installation of a more powerful power plant would leave the American Falcon far behind in comparison with the brainchild of an Israeli corporation: the competitiveness and prestige of General Dynamics technologies suffered., and serious pressure began from the United States. The IAI handed over the documentation to the Celestial Empire in an atmosphere of complete secrecy, as there were fears of a deterioration in relations with Washington. And already in 1993, CAC manufactured the first purge model of the future J-10A, which was very much like the Lavi airframe with the only difference that the Chinese airframe did not have a sweep along the trailing edge of the wing, and the PGO was moved further from the center of mass aircraft (closer to the bow), there is also a large area of the rear vertical stabilizer and a square shape of the air intake (the "Lavi" has an oval air intake, like the F-16A family). The forward horizontal tail contributes to better maneuverability at critical angles of attack, and also increases the angular rate of turn in close air combat. Even the wing area and the empty mass of the J-10A and Lavi are the same (33, 05 sq. M and 9900 kg, respectively). All parameters are very close.
Note that the Americans were not in vain afraid of entering the arena of the "Young Lion" (in Hebrew. "Lavi"), since the advanced fighter could not only seize the initiative from the F-16C in terms of maneuverability, but also outstripped the American "Falcon" in combat radius with PTB, which is 2130 km (the Israeli F-16I "Sufa" - 1500 km, and the F-16C - just over 1000 km). This could have a negative impact on the contracts concluded between General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) and the defense ministries of the Arabian Peninsula, which would prefer a longer-range Israeli machine; and contracts with Hel Haavir on the F-16A / B / C / D / E could be lost. And today they mean service in the Israeli Air Force for more than 300 of the above modifications of the American fighter, assistance in servicing them from Lockheed, and hence the direct dependence of Hel Haavir on the American defense industry. The situation for Israel is also complicated by the signing and commencement of the contract for the purchase of 33 American stealth fighters of the 5th generation F-15I.
Before the curtailment of the Lavi tactical fighter program, the IAI's leadership made huge bets on a new multipurpose aircraft that could easily replace all the A-4 Skyhawk and Kfir C.2 / 7 in the Israeli Air Force. The projected "tactician" was supposed to perform the functions of a strike fighter, as well as a fighter for direct support of troops while maintaining the ability to conduct air combat with a modern enemy. For this "Lavi" was equipped with a multifunctional pulse-Doppler airborne radar EL / M-2032 with SHAR. The range of its operation for targets with an RCS of 3 m2 (a target of the "fighter" type) is 90 km, for a target of the "bridge" type - about 85 km, a surface ship with a displacement of about 10-15 thousand tons "EM / cruiser" - about 300 km; modes of terrain mapping and detection of small-sized ground targets have been introduced, in terms of energy parameters this radar is not inferior to the American AN / APG-68 and in long-range air combat would make Lavi not a worse fighter than the F-16C, but a new radar with AFAR EL / The M-2052 (1,500 APMs and a range of 250 km) could bring the Israeli product to the level of the best Western machines. During the existence of the program, 5 prototypes of an experimental fighter were built. With a very compact size, the combat load of the aircraft reached 7260 kg, and the installation of a more powerful Pratt & Whitney F-100-PW-229 engine would allow reaching a supersonic cruising speed of 1, 3M and a practical ceiling of about 20,000 m. All prototypes received a very modern, by the standards of military aviation of the mid-80s, electronics: the ACE-4 onboard computer with a clock frequency of 600 kHz and a 128 KB storage device controlled 17 more microprocessors of other fighter subsystems, and communication and tactical information transfer were carried out thanks to the bus data transfer protocol MIL-STD-1553B. The data bus of this standard dates back to the 80s. could carry out network-centric linking of 31 subscribers, each of which had the opportunity to use one main channel "Channel A", backup channel "Channel B", or simultaneously 2 channels. The most important feature of the MIL-STD-1553B tactical information exchange bus interface is the ability to build a tactical network of a hierarchical type, but with the ability to change the channel controller, which can be each of the 31 subscribers, because each unit has both a transmitting and a receiving device. As with any LAN, MIL-STD-1553B subscribers have their own 5-bit digital addresses. Data transmission in 2 channels is protected by the Manchester-2 code, and the types of radio signals of these channels are represented by informational “SYNC D” (D, - DATA), command / response “SYNC C” (C, COMMAND). The information channel can work constantly, but the command-response channel only depending on the tactical situation, on the basis of which the channel controller and terminal devices are selected. This protocol has found application in avionics of Apache attack helicopters, P-3C Orion anti-submarine patrol helicopters, F-15C modifications and other types of military equipment.
Like "Lavi", the serial Chinese J-10A from the very first flight, which took place on June 28, 2002, belongs to the "4+" generation thanks to the installed "Pearl" radar, which operates both for air and sea / ground targets. With an average price of $ 25 million, the Chinese LFI has the highest flight performance achieved with the installation of the Russian turbojet engine AL-31F from NPO Saturn. A thrust of 12,500 kgf maintains the thrust-to-weight ratio at a normal take-off weight in the range of 0.95-1.0, which raises maneuverability to the level of Rafale and Typhoon; high angular rate of turn along the roll and pitch is provided both on "verticals" and "horizontals". The maximum and afterburner thrust per midship is 1600 and 2575 kgf / sq. 18E / F "Super Hornet".
The high coefficient of aerodynamic quality of the airframe (10, 3 units) is even higher than that of the Rafal and F-15C / E / SE and is on the same level as the MiG-29S / SMT and MiG-35. Here the point is in the airframe's bearing surface and the type of wing arrangement: the low delta wing forms almost 100% of the airframe's bearing surface, where the slightly convex part of the airframe also has bearing qualities (the most accurate example of such a design is the French Mirage-2000C / -5 / -9 ", possessing a unique" agility "in the BVB, which was confirmed in the battles of the Greek" Mirages "with Turkish" Falcons "over the Aegean Sea). The effective scattering surface of J-10A is 2, 8 square meters, after the use of radio-absorbing materials in the construction, this number can be reduced to 1 square meter. m.
Ventral aerodynamic fins-stabilizers maintain stable flight at high angles of attack. The J-10B is a car of a completely different "sort", you can safely add "two pluses" to the "four". The fighter received a new Chinese WS-10A engine (with a thrust of about 14,200 kgf), but although its resource is less than that of the "Saturn" AL-31F, the 14% thrust increase dramatically increases all the above qualities of the J-10A version fighter. The AFAR radar allows you to engage in long-range aerial combat with vehicles such as deck-mounted Super Hornets, Japanese F-2A / B and South Korean F-15K, perform terrain mapping and detection of sea / ground targets in the synthetic aperture mode, and also effectively intercept precision weapons. The variable geometry air intake, called the vortex fang, can further reduce the J-10B's RCS, but the most important changes have taken place in the J-10C project, which is the main character of our review.
The photo shows the maintenance of a prototype of the multipurpose Chinese LFI J-10B. You can see the oval canvas of a promising AFAR radar, which is being installed for the first time on a nationally developed Chinese Air Force tactical fighter. Despite the general similarity in design with the previous version of the J-10A and the Israeli Lavi multirole fighter, the J-10B fundamentally differs from the latter in almost all known parameters. This is the first Chinese fighter of the 4 ++ generation, for which the Chengdu Corporation decided to minimize the radar signature while maintaining the flight performance, which was achieved thanks to the new design of the adjustable vortex-forming canine air intake. The new WS-10A engine allowed this intermediate vehicle to catch up with the well-known Western and even Russian fighters in terms of thrust-to-weight ratio, "steady" maneuverability and climb rate. A decision was made to start the installation of optical-location sighting systems for conducting BVB and covert access to the enemy with the radar off
Back in January 2013, an entertaining publication about the development of generations of the J-10A / B line appeared on the baomoi.com resource. It contained 4 computer images of a promising multi-role fighter with a predatory "shark" appearance, unlike any of the existing fighters of the 4 ++ and 5 generation. The images show that the airframe of the new machine should be assembled according to the "canard" type with the type of wing arrangement "midwing", you can see the usual all-moving PGO, one vertical stabilizer and two ventral ridges. The influx at the wing root is characterized by a smooth aerodynamic transition, directly in front of which the trailing edges of the VGO are located. The very front horizontal tail is installed almost close to the wing to create a single bearing plane of the airframe without losses and flow disruptions. The radar nose radome is narrowed as much as possible, which indicates the possible installation of an AFAR with a certain angle of inclination of the canvas relative to the longitudinal axis of the fighter (from 25 to 35 degrees) to maximize the reduction of the radar signature. If we proceed from the fact that the J-10C was created to carry out tasks of gaining air superiority, then the AFAR is tilted with a canvas in order to reduce the visibility for the radar of enemy fighters and AWACS aircraft.
Here the question may arise: what is the field of view of this onboard radar in the upper hemisphere (according to already approaching enemy fighters and interceptor missiles)? After all, near targets located overhead with such a position of the mirror of the radar may not be detected. Here, an optoelectronic sighting system of national Chinese design, similar to our OLS-35, which is installed in front of the cockpit canopy, plays a huge role. Chinese experts claim that the detection range of this OPLK is 40 km to the front hemisphere and 100 km to the rear hemisphere (according to the infrared "glow" of the engines). Also, a visible range TV channel with a high-resolution matrix capable of detecting and capturing silhouette of the target. In this case, the idea of tilting the AFAR canvas is very reasonable. At one time, it was successfully implemented in a multi-mode airborne radar with PFAR AN / APQ-164 of the American strategic bomber-missile carrier B-1B "Lancer".
The canvas of the passive phased antenna array (PESA) of the AN / APQ-164 onboard radar of the B-1B strategic missile carrier is tilted 30 degrees downward relative to the aircraft roll: this makes it possible to obtain a clearer radar image of the terrain and objects on it during the application of the synthetic aperture mode, and also to reduce the ESR during irradiation from the air. The vertically oriented elliptical mirror PFAR well reduces the radar signature of the vehicle when irradiated by ground-based radar air defense systems located at angles +/- 50 - 80 degrees relative to the course direction of the B-1B. AN / APQ-164, created on the basis of the same AN / APG-68, is represented by 1526 transmitting and receiving modules operating in the X-band of centimeter waves; the mirror can be mechanically rotated by angles of +/- 90 degrees, which creates a sector of view in azimuth of 240 degrees: mapping and detection of ground targets can be carried out even in the rear hemisphere
Now about the "shark" appearance of the J-10C. Here, with the same goal of reducing radar signature, the developers from CAC chose to return from a large rectangular air intake to a smaller oval one. But its edges and the front part of the air channel do not protrude 20 cm from the lower part of the cockpit, as is done in the J-10A, but mate with it, which ultimately reduces the fighter's midsection and radar visibility. The adjustable air intake allows the most efficient use of the full power of the WS-10A "Taihang" engine and its modifications both at subsonic and high supersonic speeds. To reduce the visibility of the J-10C has a "smoothed" triangular section of the nose of the fuselage, a large percentage of composite materials among the non-force elements of the airframe structure, as well as the absence of antennas protruding from the airframe, electronic warfare and other sensors, including pressure sensors. Everything is hidden in miniature holes on the fighter's glider. The overall dimensions are only slightly higher than the Mirages -2000-9, which with the new TRDDF contributes to highly effective close combat with energy maneuvering, as well as a high rate of climb (up to 290 m / s) and speeds up to 2300 km / h. Against the background of the fuselage, only the non-retractable rod of the air refueling system stands out.
The J-10C multipurpose fighter can be freely assigned to the “4 ++” generation, and after the installation of conformal weapon bays, one more “+” can be added, since partly the vehicle is already in the 5th generation. This is also indicated by the very compact underwing pylons of the suspension of missile and bomb weapons. But will the J-10C effectively counter modern Western transitional and 5th generation fighters?
J-10C IN FAR AND NEXT AIRCRAFT AGAINST ADVANCED AIRCRAFT COMPLEXES
Chinese bloggers admirably argue that the score of the air confrontation between the J-10C and the F-22A could be 1: 3 in favor of the American fighter (for the J-10A, this ratio was negligible 1:50). At the same time, no weighty arguments are given, which forces us to consider the essence of the issue in more detail. Given the inclined AFAR cloth and the small cross-sectional area of the nose cone, a promising Chinese radar will be able to detect a target with an RCS of 0.07 (Raptor) at a distance of no more than 100 km, Raptor will detect a J-10C (RCS of about 1 m2) at a distance of 200-220 km, and from a distance of 150-180 km it will already be able to release a pair of AIM-120D AMRAAM on it (even in conditions of REP). If the launch is carried out in the "LPI" mode or by target designation, then the J-10C will be able to detect the attack only when the ARGSN AIM-120D is captured. The Chinese pilots will have no time to scan the airspace: they will be forced to make an anti-missile maneuver. During this time, the range between the J-10C and the F-22A can either decrease to less than 100 km, or remain the same if the American pilot chooses the tactic of exhausting the enemy, relying on the more powerful AN / APG-77 airborne radar, and will keep his the car is more than 120 km from the J-10C. If the fighters move towards a rendezvous, the situation will begin to change dramatically towards the J-10C: at a distance of 90-100 km, the Chinese pilot will be able to use the PL-12C or PL-21 long-range air combat missiles. The first is equipped with ARGSN and has a range of 70 km, the maximum overload is 38 units. allows you to intercept any targets with an overload of up to 12 units. A very important fact is the ARGSN installation based on the Russian 9B1348, installed on R-77 missiles (RVV-AE), its efficiency and noise immunity remains at a very high level. The second is a long-range air-to-air missile with ARGSN. The PL-21 is the Chinese version of the MBDA "Meteor" missile, and therefore is equipped with a ramjet engine that accelerates it to a speed of 4.5M with a maximum range of 150 km.
At medium ranges, there is about a 50% chance that the Raptor will be destroyed by the above missiles, but in the "dump for dogs" fortune again goes to the F-22A. The Raptor is equipped with 2 Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines with a total thrust of 31752 kgf and a pitch vector of thrust. This provides a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1, 2, limiting angles of attack up to 60 degrees, as well as the ability to perform some super-maneuverability elements, one of which is the Pugacheva Cobra. In close combat, this makes it easy to "twist" even the hyper-fast "Rafale", which was confirmed by the video of the training battle, posted on "Youtube". The J-10C, which is not equipped with an OVT, is no exception. The only thing that the Chinese pilot can do is use a helmet-mounted target designation system synchronized with the OPLK, as well as with the IKGSN of the PL-9C short-range missile. This missile has a great chance of intercepting the Raptor in the BVB, since its G-limit can reach 40 units. But the Raptors will also soon receive a helmet-mounted target designation system called HMD (“Helmet-mounted display”), which will issue target designation to the IKGSN no less advanced AIM-9X missile, so the superiority of the F-22A is obvious. So the Chinese predicted score is almost true, but as the comparison shows, it could change even more in favor of the Raptor, depending on the auxiliary radar aerial reconnaissance that the US Air Force will have. Another thing is the US Navy carrier-based aircraft, other 4th generation fighters, as well as the F-35A / B / C. Here J-10C will be able to show all its best qualities.
As you know, the carrier-based F / A-18E / F, which is the main air component of the American AUG, is considered by the PLA command as the main tactical non-nuclear threat posed by the United States. Against the Tomahawks, the air defense of the PRC will easily find an answer in the form of dozens of S-300PMU-1, S-400 and HQ-9 divisions, but against the 400-500 manned Super Hornets, similar opposition is needed, since these machines are multipurpose, and just one squadron can be divided into 3 flights performing completely different functions (from closing the airspace above the theater of operations to suppressing enemy air defenses or destroying the runways of air bases). J-10A for countering the American F / A-18E / F over the South China and East China seas is already completely unsuitable.
Their onboard radar "Zhemchug" is equipped with a slotted antenna array (SHAR), which detects the "Super Hornet" at a distance of about 60 km (EPR = 1.5 m2), but an American fighter will detect a J-10A at a distance of 170 km and will immediately be able to fire missiles AIM-120D. Now let's say the J-10A was able to approach the F / A-18E / F by 55 km; here the capacity of radar systems of opposing aircraft begins to play a role. “Zhemchug” has 20 channels for “target tracing” and only 4 channels for “capture” (shelling), AN / APG-79 has 28 and 8 channels, respectively, plus several times better noise immunity. Whatever one may say here, Chinese pilots find themselves in a very dangerous situation, which only the new J-10C can really fix.
These aircraft will be able to specifically change the balance of power in the region. The range of 1000 km will ensure the implementation of any air operations within the first line of the "three circuits" concept developed by the PLA. It is here that air defense from US carrier-based fighters, as well as the Air Force of Taiwan and Japan, is needed. The J-10C can also be contrasted with the future deck-mounted F-35B / C: the speed, acceleration and maneuverability of the new Swift Dragons are much higher than those of any American carrier in service: safety on close approaches will be guaranteed.
Work on the promising J-10C project is not accidental. The Chinese Air Force needs to fill the low-tech niche of 250 J-10A with modernized fighters, as well as 5th generation J-31 fighters as soon as possible, and their number should exceed 250 aircraft, because all Sushki and their Chinese counterparts J- 11B and J-15S will perform more specific functions.
The tight location of suspended fuel tanks, containers with optical-electronic sighting systems, as well as missile weapons to the surface of the airframe was achieved by the small length of the pylons, due to which the radar-visibility of the aircraft decreases at various angles of irradiation of the enemy's radar
In particular, after replacing the N001VEP radar with more advanced stations with PFAR and AFAR, Sushki, together with the J-20, will most likely be formed into specialized mixed air regiments, whose tasks will include air defense from the American F-22A and even more subtle promising Japanese fighters ATD-X "Shinshin". So, to detect the latter, the Chinese Air Force may need the most powerful IRBIS-E radar, the reason for which was the information about the EPR of the new Japanese aircraft, which is about 0.04 m2; for the J-10C, these aircraft will become virtually unattainable. The J-20 will provide anti-ship defense against the American AUG on the middle approaches, as well as drive away reconnaissance aircraft of the US Air Force such as J-STARS and E-3C, as well as long-range anti-submarine aircraft of the new generation P-8A, from the future identification zone of China's air defense. Poseidon ". Due to the large range with PTB (about 2000 km without refueling), J-11B, J-15S, J-20 and Su-35S will be involved in escorting heavy military transport aircraft Y-20, developed by the stealthy strategic bombers YH-X. AWACS aircraft KJ-2000, as well as new anti-submarine patrol aircraft Y-8GX6.
In the face of increasing American pressure on China, as well as attempts to knock out from under the feet of the Celestial Empire the geostrategic basis of influence in the APR by means of militarizing the region, Beijing is forced to develop more and more sophisticated strategies to counter these threats, the most important link of which will be the correct target distribution of the Sushki available in the Air Force. and promising J-10C.
