Getting acquainted with the endless military-technical expanses of the Chinese Internet (including forums, blog platforms, etc.), as well as watching YouTube video content for searches related to J-10A / B multirole fighters, you can repeatedly stumble upon unique acrobatic maneuvers of scaled models of these machines. Due to the presence of the simplest thrust vector deflection system, represented by an unregulated rotary cylindrical nozzle, as well as a huge thrust-to-weight ratio in comparison with full-size serial samples of the J-10A, these machines are able to demonstrate aerobatics with super-maneuverability elements directly at the surface, having the highest angular turn rate, maximum overload, and also overclocking parameters. Meanwhile, the program for the integration of the OVT system on the J-10A / B did not stop with only aircraft models.
Thus, according to TASS information with reference to the Chinese resource "Sina", an improved modification of the WS-10X "Taihan" turbojet bypass afterburner engine with a thrust vector control system (UHT / OVT) was successfully tested in the last week of December. A light tactical fighter of the 4 ++ generation J-10B was taken as a flying laboratory. It is on this modification of the "Swift Dragon" that the Chinese Air Force command makes a big bet today when considering the construction of highly effective anti-aircraft zones "A2 / AD" over the near sections of the South China and East China Seas, since its large-scale production is much less expensive than a series of inconspicuous J -20 or J-31, while the technological parameters are significantly higher than that of the earlier version of the J-10A (detailed comparative review below).
As for the Su-30MK2 / MKK, their Chinese Air Force is obviously planning to use it as an operational air anti-ship component of the PLA, designed to deliver massive strikes against aircraft carrier and naval strike groups of the US Navy, India, Japan and, probably, Australia. Also, equipped with far from the newest Cassegrain N001VE radars, Su-30MK2 fighters can be used to escort aircraft for long-range radar detection and control of the KJ-2000: the shortcomings of on-board radars will be compensated for by receiving information about the tactical situation from the RLDN aircraft via a coded radio channel.
It is known that an anonymous source in the Air Force told Sina about the use of the information obtained during the WS-10X tests for further use at the time of integration of these engines on the promising 5th generation J-20 Black Eagle multipurpose fighters; but already here a certain discrepancy can be traced. The fact is that the J-20 airframe designed according to the "canard" balancing scheme does not have decent maneuverability. Even despite the fact that the specific wing loading at normal takeoff weight of the J-20 is 13% less than that of the F-22A (due to almost the same wing area and a slightly lower normal takeoff weight), the center section of the Chinese aircraft is noticeably displaced towards the tail section, which causes a noticeable deterioration in maneuverability at medium and low subsonic speeds.
An attempt to enter a high-speed unsteady turn will simply end in the breakdown of "vortex bundles" from the front horizontal tail from the sag at the wing root, which will happen due to the structurally distant position of the PGO. As for the usual exit of the car at high angles of attack, the front horizontal tail will allow you to implement a similar maneuver. Based on the above, we can make the following conclusion: equipping the J-20 "Black Eagle" with a power plant based on two WS-10X turbojet engines with a deflected vector is possible and even will allow implementing some elements of super-maneuverability in an unsteady turn; however, the feasibility of such a service pack for the J-20 is extremely low. In close air combat, this vehicle, even with the presence of an OVT, will not be able to "snatch" victory from such vehicles as the Raptor or the Japanese 5th generation ATD-X "Shinshin" fighter, whose aerodynamic focus is shifted forward.
The promising J-20 fighter is not intended for "dog dumps" and other high-intensity air superiority operations that require long turns with high angular velocity. Its main tactical "horse" is "decapitating" strikes on strategically important island strongholds of the enemy, anti-ship operations against the enemy's AUG, as well as other missions involving overcoming enemy air defense / missile defense at medium and low altitudes with simultaneous anti-radar attacks (defeat of multifunctional radar equipment Enemy air defense, as well as early warning radar). The J-20 is also capable of excelling in operations to intercept strategic anti-submarine aircraft P-8A Poseidon, carrier-based aircraft RLDN E-3D of the US Navy and electronic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135V / W "Rivet Joint", patrolling over the open spaces Asia Pacific region. To perform this range of tasks, the need to use engines with a deflected thrust vector is completely eliminated.
We will return to the consideration of the possibility of equipping the J-10B transitional fighters with engines with WS-10X "Taihan" OBT engines. It is not difficult to guess that a number of constructive solutions (concerning thrust vector control) used on the Taihan were borrowed from the Russian AL-41F1S afterburner turbojet engines, which came under the very outlined gaze of the Shenyang Liming Aircraft Engine Company specialists at the end of December. 2016 year. Given the unique skills of Chinese design bureaus and research institutes under the wing of defense companies in copying foreign technologies, one year could be enough to develop and fine-tune a fully functional Chinese version of the AL-41F1S.
The use of a power plant based on an OVT engine in the J-10B is much more preferable than on the heavy J-20 with a forward horizontal tail. Based on the example of the maneuverability demonstrated by the early J-10A during performances at dozens of aerospace salons, it can be determined that in close air combat these fighters are quite capable of “competing” with almost any Western European and state aircraft of the “4 + / ++” generations. which are not equipped with OVT engines. In terms of the angular velocity of steady and unsteady turns, the Swift Dragon is ahead of the F-35B, the Swedish JAS-39C / E, and possibly the F-16C Block 52+. This is due to the use of a tailless aerodynamic configuration with a closely spaced forward horizontal tail, single-fin vertical tail and a triangular mid-wing. At the same time, due to the close location of the PGO to the wing planes and its excess relative to the wing, all the disadvantages characteristic of the J-20 are absent. The vehicle is capable of maneuvering for a long time with an angular rate of turn of more than 20 deg / s, as is done by the Su-35S, MiG-29SMT, MiG-35, F-15C / E, as well as Rafali and Typhoons, which initially became possible thanks to the installation of Russian turbojet engines AL-31F.
The latter provide the first variant of the "Swift Dragon" with a thrust-to-weight ratio of 0, 93 - 1, 0 kgf / kg at a normal take-off weight (more than half of the fuel in the internal fuel system and the configuration of the air-to-air suspension). The afterburner thrust midship reaches 2572 kgf / sq. m, which is significantly higher than that of "Raphael" (2325 kgf / sq. m). This indicates the J-10A's superior acceleration performance compared to other machines. Similar weight and dimensions are also valid for the upgraded J-10B. The installation of the new Taihan engine with OBT on the updated "tactician" will make it possible in the future to increase the thrust-to-weight ratio to 1.0 - 1.1 kgf / kg with a normal take-off weight, since the thrust is planned to be increased to 14000 - 15000 kgf. After the upgrade, the J-10B, even without the use of OVT, will be able to withstand on equal terms any American carrier-based fighter (F / A-18E / F, F-35B / C) in close combat. The all-round nozzle control will provide the Swift Dragon with close dominance over both the Raptors and the ATD-X. The only worthy rivals will remain the Indian Su-30MKI.
Specialists "Chengdu" also "in store" for the pilots of the American carrier-based fighter aircraft and another "pleasant" surprise regarding the capabilities of long-range air combat. The basis here is a promising airborne radar with an active phased array KLJ-7A, capable of detecting a Super Hornet target at a distance of 150-160 km and "capture" at a distance of 130 - 135 km. Given the skill of Chinese engineers in the development of modern airborne radar "equipment", as well as the information field of tactical aircraft cockpits, we can say with confidence that this radar has all the modes that are present in our Irbis-E radar and American AN / APG -79/81 (from tracking moving ground targets GMTI to synthetic aperture SAR).
All this advanced electronic filling will be supported by the use of PL-15 ultra-long-range guided air-to-air missiles equipped with integral ramjet rocket engines with a large ratio of the gas generator flow rate control depth. These URVB are distinguished by maintaining high flight speeds (more than 2 - 2, 5M) even at the limits of the radius of action due to the long period of burnout of the gas generator, due to which the PL-15 will be able to destroy the most "nimble" target at a distance of 170 - 200 km. This is the alignment, not counting the potential deck J-15S and promising J-31, awaits the Americans in the Asia-Pacific region in the foreseeable future.
