Improving the air defense system of the People's Republic of China against the background of strategic rivalry with the United States (part 5)

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By the beginning of the 1980-s, it became clear that the light single-engine fighter with the J-7 delta wing could not compete with the American and Soviet 4 generation fighters. The Chinese versions of the MiG-21 hopelessly lagged behind the F-16 and MiG-29 in terms of maneuverability, thrust-carrying capacity, radar and armament characteristics. Although the development and mass production of the J-7 in the PRC continued until the 2013 year, the development of a new lightweight fighter in China began about 30 years ago.

Originally it was supposed to create a plane "based on our own strength." However, it soon became clear that the Chinese specialists were able to solve such a difficult task at an acceptable time only in cooperation with foreign colleagues, who had the necessary know-how and technology at their disposal. Shortly before this decision was made, in 1987, in Israel, under pressure from the United States, the development of the IAI Lavi generation light fighter 4 (Hebrew: Leo) was discontinued. The design of this aircraft began in the second half of 1982, and the first flight of the prototype took place in December, 1986. The work went at a high rate, the start of deliveries of the first serial copies was scheduled for 1990 year. However, the Americans, fearing that “Lavi” will compete with “The Fighting Falcon”, have blocked financial support for this program. As a result, many developments on the Israeli light fighter were used to create the Chinese J-10. Apparently, the American leadership was aware of the Chinese-Israeli contract and did not interfere with it, which became a kind of compensation for Israel’s refusal to launch a fighter of its own design into mass production.



The design of the new Chinese aircraft was based on the basic layout decisions of the Israeli fighter, but the J-10 cannot be considered a complete copy of the Lavi. Although the Sino-Israeli cooperation at the first stage was carried out in an atmosphere of deep secrecy, the Israelis did not dare to transfer the American Pratt & Whitney PW1120 TRDDF to the PRC. In the early 90s, Russian developers joined the program, and the AL-31F turbojet engine was proposed as a power plant, installed on export Su-27SK. The J-10 also tested the N010E "Zhuk" radar. However, at least one prototype was equipped with the Israeli Elta EL / M ELM-2021 radar.

Improving the air defense system of the People's Republic of China against the background of strategic rivalry with the United States (part 5)

J-10 prototype


The first information about the new Chinese fighter appeared in the open press in the autumn of 1994, when, with reference to the US intelligence agencies, it was reported that the space reconnaissance aircraft fixed the plane at the Chendu aircraft factory, resembling Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon or Dassault Rafale fighters.


Satellite image of Google Earth: J-10 fighter aircraft at the factory airfield in Chendu


The first flight of the J-10 prototype took place on 23 March March 1998. Official photos of the fighter were presented in 2007 year. Before that, photos taken by Chinese spotters were published on the Internet, after which some of them were put behind bars. It was on the basis of these illegal photographs that it became clear that the J-10 was made according to the aerodynamic "weft" scheme with a triangular mid-wing, swept, closely spaced to the wing, and with one-killer vertical plumage. The air intake is located under the fuselage. Later in the Chinese media information was published that in the construction of the airframe, made on the basis of aluminum alloys, a high proportion of composite materials. The J-10A serial fighter is statically unstable, which should provide a high level of maneuverability. This required the use of a four-way redundant control system and modern computer technology.


J-10A Series Fighter


In Chinese sources, it is said that the J-10A fighter is equipped with a Type 1473 radar of its own design. This station is able on a headwind to detect aircraft MiG-21 at a distance of 100 km. The developer claims that the Type 1473 radar, with a digital weapons control system, can simultaneously accompany up to 10 air targets and fire at medium-range missiles two of them. That is, the characteristics of the station Type 1473 are slightly higher than the Soviet radar BRLS H001E, which was installed on the Su-27SK fighter. The J-10A avionics also includes: GPS / INS navigation equipment with a digital flight parameters calculator, HUD and radar exposure warning system ARW9101. The internal stock of aviation kerosene is 4950 l. On the inner wing and central ventral pylon, additional fuel tanks may be suspended. To increase the range and duration of the flight, J-10A airplanes from 2006 are equipped with an in-flight fuel intake system.



The J-10A fighter is armed with a built-in 23-mm gun Type 23 (Chinese copy of the GSH-23). To combat the air enemy, close combat can be used with PL-8 (licensed Israeli Python 3) or Russian Р-73. For missile duels or interception of enemy medium-range bombers, SD was originally designed with radar seeker PL-11 (licensed Italian SD Aspide Mk.1). The maximum launch range of the PL-11 is 55 km. In total, the J-10A has 11 external suspension assemblies on which the payload can be placed with a mass of 7250 kg. It is reported that, in order to increase combat capabilities, modern high-maneuverable PL-10 melee missiles have been introduced into the armaments, which allegedly surpass the Russian P-73 in China. Increased fire capabilities at longer range should be PL-12 SD with active radar seeker.



According to advertising data presented at aerospace showrooms, the J-10А fighter with a maximum take-off weight of 19 277 kg, equipped with the AL-31FD TRDF, has a combat radius of up to 800 km. Maximum flight speed at high altitude 2340 km / h. Cruising - 970 km / h. It is reported that without the inclusion of afterburner aircraft can fly at speeds of 1110 km / h. Ceiling - 18000 m. Thrust-to-weight with curb weight 18000 kg - 0,7.


Combat combat double fighter J-10АS


Simultaneously with the adoption of the J-10A into service, in Chendu, the serial construction of the J-10AS two-seat military training began. This model is equipped with a full set of airborne equipment and weapons, but has a shorter range.



In 2008, the tests of the improved J-10В were launched, and in the second half of 2013, photographs of the serial aircraft with the hull number “101”, taken at the Chendu airfield, appeared on the Chinese Internet. In 2013, it was officially announced that the serial production of J-10В fighters was launched. By the end of 2015, the X-NUMX of the J-50В aircraft was already built.


Fighter J-10В


The main difference of the J-10В fighter from the J-10А is the use of a new radar with AFAR in the airborne regiment. Due to the absence of a heavy antenna rotation mechanism, it is possible to reduce the radar mass and make the aircraft lighter. J-10В also received a highly efficient optoelectronic station for detecting targets by their thermal radiation.



A turbojet engine with an afterburner AL-10FN of Russian production is used as a power plant on the serial J-31В. However, information was leaked to the media that the 2011 to 2015 had a year testing the fighter with the WS-10A engine, and the modification with the Chinese engine is now ready for mass production.

In June 2017, photos of the J-10С fighter with UR PL-10 melee and the latest long-range PL-15 were published on the Chinese Internet. Taking into account the fact that according to the American data, the range of the launch of the PL-15 missiles can reach 150 km, the J-10С fighter should have a radar with very high energy indices.


J-10С fighter


Also in the design of the airframe J-10С a number of technical solutions are implemented, aimed at reducing the radar visibility, mainly due to changes in the design of the air intake and the wide use of composite materials.
In May 2017, the Chinese corporation AVIC officially announced the creation of the world's first LKF601E radar with air-cooled AFAR. Presumably, this radar is intended for installation on J-10C fighters.


Radar LKF601E


According to information sounded at the Zhuhai aerospace show, the LKF601E radar is capable of tracking fighter-type targets at 15 km to 170. The station operates at a frequency of 3 GHz. Power - 4 kW. Weight - about 145 kg.

The first combat regiment of the PLA Air Force, re-armed from J-7 to J-10 in 2004, was the 131-iap stationed at Luliang air base in the vicinity of Kunming city, Yunnan province in the south of the PRC.


Satellite photography of Google East: J-10 fighter jets at Luliang air base in the vicinity of Kunming

Currently, J-10 fighters play a prominent role in providing China's air defense. So, 131-iap on J-10А together with 125-iap on J-7G and 6-iap on Su-30МКК and J-11В provide cover for the PRC border with Vietnam. At the moment, on the permanent basis at the Luliang airbase are also based airplanes ARLO KJ-500, which suggests that the PLA Air Force has established successful interaction of airborne radar posts and command and control points with new light fighters.



In general, J-10A is a solid middling in the class of light fighters. But even now, the aircraft of the first series, with the engine from our Su-27, surpass the American F-16 and European Eurofighter EF-2000 in a number of parameters.



Already in the first training air battles with Su-27SK and their Chinese clones J-11, it turned out that due to their high maneuverability in the horizontal plane, J-10A are difficult opponents. It is expected that after finishing the WS-10 aircraft engine with thrust vector control, it will be installed on the J-10 family of fighter jets. A prototype fighter with a UHT, known as the J-10B TVC, was demonstrated at the aerospace showrooms.



Row aviation experts believe that it was precisely in connection with the successful creation of its own J-10 aircraft that China refused to purchase light MiG-29 fighters in Russia. Currently, the J-10A / B have seriously pushed the outdated J-7 light fighters and J-8 interceptors in the PLA Air Force. In total, more than 350 J-10 aircraft of all modifications have been built at the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. The volume of annual production can reach 40 copies.

In addition to improving the generation of 4 fighters in the People's Republic of China, combat aircraft are being created that can bring the PLA Air Force to a new level. More than 10 years ago, there was information about the work on the creation of a heavy Chinese fighter with the extensive use of low-radar signature technology capable of flying at supersonic cruising speed. The prototype of the X-NUMX fighter of the J-5 generation was created at the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation in Chengdu, where the assembly of the light-weight J-20 fighter was already established.


Satellite image of Google Earth: 5 fighter generation J-20 at the factory airfield in Chendu


The first flight of a prototype of the J-20 took place on 11 on January 2011 of the year. Externally, the J-20 strongly resembles an experienced Russian MiG 1.44 fighter, while at the same time, its individual parts resemble American F-22 and F-35 aircraft. For testing, 8 prototypes were built, differing in the composition of avionics and engines.

In February, the 2014 of the year took to the air the plane with the tail number “2011”, the design of which had serious differences from the previous flight prototypes. The air intakes, which received a smaller cross section, underwent a change, another form of the rear edges of the wing and tail has become. In order to reduce radar visibility, the configuration of the internal armament and landing gear flaps, as well as the geometry of the tail beams and the ventral ridges located on them, have changed. In addition to this, a power arc appeared under the glazing of the lantern. On the plane installed retractable inside the fuel rod.


Pre-production copy of the J-20 with the board number "2011"


It is reported that this instance with a full set of weapons and avionics has become the reference model for the party of fighters intended for military tests. In October, 2017, the Chinese media reported that the aircraft was ready for mass production and operation in the army. A pre-production batch aimed at troop tests amounted to 20 airplanes. Western sources, citing Chinese representatives, say that the J-20A modification was officially adopted by the PLA Air Force.

According to information published in open sources, the J-20 fighter has a maximum take-off weight of about 37000 kg. Empty weight - 13900 kg. Length - 20,4 m, wingspan - 13,5 m. Flight range - more than 5000 km. On the first prototypes and airplanes, intended for military tests, the Russian-made AL-31F engines were installed. In the Chinese Internet, they write that on an aircraft with a tail number "2016" Chinese TRDDFs are used with variable thrust vectoring. Most likely we are talking about WS-10G engines, but in the long run serial J-20А should get WS-15 TRDDF with overload after 190 kN. The maximum flight speed is about 2,2 M.

The J-20 fighter is equipped with a very advanced Chinese-made avionics. In the past, Western experts wrote that the radar with AFAR Type 1475 (KLJ-5) would be installed on the plane. But recently it turned out that this radar was designed for the J-11D fighter, and on the J-20 they plan to install a more powerful radar station. In the nose of the aircraft is an optoelectronic station, another six additional sensors are placed on the glider. Communication equipment with high-speed lines for the exchange of digital information allows you to interact with ground command posts, AWACS planes, other fighters and control unmanned aerial vehicles. The aircraft has a “glass cabin” with multi-color liquid-crystal touch displays. Aiming and tactical information can be displayed using a holographic projector.



Armament fighter J-20 is placed on the outer nodes of the suspension and in the internal compartments, closed flaps. For conducting melee designed UR PL-10. Long-range missile duels are supposed to be conducted using SD PL-12 and PL-15. Especially for the Chinese generation 5 fighter, the long-range PL-21 rocket was created. The PL-21 SD tests began in the 2012 year. According to American data, this rocket weighs about 300 kg and has a maximum launch range of up to 200 km.

According to American experts, since the formal adoption of the J-20, the 3-4 of the year must pass into service, after which the Chinese generation 5 fighter will begin to enter the combat regiments. It is unlikely that the serial fighter J-20A will be able to surpass the American F-22A and the Russian Su-57 in flight and combat characteristics. Nevertheless, the J-20A with a combat radius of about 2000 km, equipped with a powerful radar with AFAR, armed with long-range missiles with an active radar guidance system and capable of making long flights at supersonic cruising speed, will significantly increase the capabilities of the PRC air defense. According to American experts, over the next decade, the People's Republic of China can build up to X-NUMX fighter j-xnumxa. Thus, the PLA Air Force will be able to numerically compensate for the superiority of the American and Russian 300 generation fighters in flight data. As is known, the production of the Lockheed Martin F-20A Raptor was completed in the 5 year, and the 22 production aircraft were built in total. As for the Russian Su-2011, it has not yet been put into service, and it is unlikely that its production will exceed 187 units by 57 year.

Another 5 generation fighter developed in China is the J-31. In the West, this aircraft tend to be regarded as a functional analogue of the American Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The aircraft, created at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, made the first flight of 31 on October 2012 of the year.


J-31 prototype


At the Zhuhai-2014 aerospace show, preliminary flight data J-31 was announced. On an aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 28000 kg, two TRDDFs of Russian production RD-93 with a forcing load of 85 kN are used as a power plant. These engines were originally developed for the MiG-29 fighter and are used in China on the Chinese export fighter JF-17. In the future, the Russian RD-93 should be replaced by the Chinese WS-13, with the afterburner 90 kN. The design maximum flight speed of 2200 km, combat radius without refueling in the air 1200 km.

On the J-31 installed radar with AFAR Type 1478. Against the background of the earth, at a distance of 90 km, this station is able to detect a target with an 3 EPR EPR and simultaneously accompany 10 targets. 120 radar weight kg. Also in the avionics should include a standard set of optoelectronic sensors and modern avionics. It is not known whether the J-31 has internal weapons bays, but even if they are available, their volume is not large. With the suspension of bombs and rockets on the outer pylons, measures to reduce radar visibility will be largely depreciated.

Although the J-31 creation program is funded from the state budget, it appears that it is not among the priorities and its development is not high by Chinese standards. At present, only two flight instances have been built. In the future, the place of the fighter J-31 in the PLA Air Force is not defined. This aircraft will not be able to surpass the larger J-20А, and according to its flight data, and at a much higher cost in aerial combat will not have superiority over the serial Chinese J-11В / D and Russian Su-30МКК and Su-30МК2.

To be continued ...

Based on:
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1400/RR1416/RAND_RR1416.pdf
http://geimint.blogspot.com/2007/10/chinas-j-10-imagery-analysis.html
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/yanliang.htm
http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/2015-11-25/0848844774.html
http://airwar.ru/enc/fighter/lavi.html
http://www.dogswar.ru/voennaia-aviaciia/samolety/4612-mnogocelevoi-istrebi.html
http://bastion-karpenko.ru/j-10/
https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2015/10/25/
https://defense-update.com/20181106_j10b_tvc_testbed.html
http://chinesemilitaryreview.blogspot.com/2011/11/china-replaces-al-31fn-with-ws-10a.html
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24 comments
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  1. +5
    9 February 2019 09: 23
    The MiG-29 is a more progressive fighter (especially at the time of creation), but if we were to follow the MiG along the J-10, we would now have a single-engine Su35C fighter ... and fewer production problems.
    1. +1
      11 February 2019 02: 34
      When our designers were asked why the lightweight MiG-29 fighter was not made single-engine like the F-16 in order to reduce the cost, they answered if they could provide the reliability that the Americans achieved on one engine, then of course they would have done it with pleasure (by the way, for fans of the phrase "unparalleled" and blah blah blah) By the way, here is an excerpt about the American-Pratt & Whitney F100 - a family of American aircraft by-pass turbojet engines with an afterburner. Installed on F-15, F-16. More than 7200 engines were produced, the total flight time of which since 1974 amounted to more than 24 million flight hours, that is, on average more than 3000 hours per engine. The only engine in the US Air Force with a service life of up to 6000 thermal cycles (TAC) of engine start (cycle - start-work-stop-cool). Development and experimental design work was carried out as part of a joint Air Force and NASA program.
      1. +1
        11 February 2019 09: 43
        In addition, there was no Al-41 TRD type and, apparently, they wanted to get an advantage over F-16 in maneuverability ... But even now, in plans for a light fighter, they say about 2x motor fighters.
        1. +1
          11 February 2019 11: 09
          Quote: Zaurbek
          In addition, there was no Al-41 TRD type and, apparently, they wanted to get an advantage over F-16 in maneuverability ... But even now, in plans for a light fighter, they say about 2x motor fighters.

          It all depends on the mass of the aircraft. In Chinese, the J-10 uses one RD-93 from the MiG-29. And they do not seem to complain. In the middle of the 90-x, under the pretext of improving flight safety, they quickly got rid of fairly fresh fighter-bombers Su-17М3 and MiG-27К / М. As a result, an acute shortage of shock machines formed in our Air Force, and the NAR units had to be hooked onto the Su-27.
          1. +2
            11 February 2019 12: 13
            Quote: Bongo
            In Chinese, the J-10 uses one RD-93 from the MiG-29. And they don’t seem to complain.

            This is directly contrary to the article. Well, the RD-93 is still not from the MiG-29.

            Quote: Bongo
            As a result, an acute shortage of strike vehicles formed in our Air Force, and NAR units had to be hooked onto the Su-27.

            It is unlikely that such tasks were set, without modifications of the machines, it is impossible to use such ASPs, there were no corresponding exercises in the PCU of the Air Defense Agency.
            1. +2
              11 February 2019 12: 27
              Quote: Lozovik
              This is directly contrary to the article. Well, the RD-93 is still not from the MiG-29.

              You're right. I am sorry, on J-10A of course AL-31FN.
              Quote: Lozovik
              It is unlikely that such tasks were set, without modifications of the machines, it is impossible to use such ASPs, there were no corresponding exercises in the PCU of the Air Defense Agency.

              In the 23-iap such tasks were worked out. However, this is a strictly forced practice and for the application of NAR C-8 it was necessary to replace the units in the weapons control system.
          2. +1
            11 February 2019 16: 39
            AL-31 ..from Su27. You confuse with the Sino-Pakistani FT-17 ... there RD-93 ...
      2. 0
        11 February 2019 12: 41
        By the time the TTT was developed for the future MiG-29, extensive experience had been accumulated in the operation and combat use of single-engine front-line fighters; the choice of a twin-engine scheme was not compelled.

        As for the F-16, of all the lost planes, more than a third crashed due to engine failure.
        1. +1
          11 February 2019 13: 19
          Well, it’s so clear that 2 is more reliable than one (f-15 on the same engine, only two of them) what are the losses?
  2. +7
    9 February 2019 10: 26
    It seems to me alone that the Russian military aircraft industry is "marking time", while the Chinese is moving forward with "leaps and bounds"?
    1. +10
      9 February 2019 10: 38
      Quote: Snail N9
      It seems to me alone that the Russian military aircraft industry is "marking time", while the Chinese is moving forward with "leaps and bounds"?

      Not one ... however, our whole country is marking time. The higher power is not capable of anything more. No.
      1. +4
        9 February 2019 10: 54
        Hello Olga!
        Quote: zyablik.olga
        we have the whole country marking time

        But in the field of ballet we are ahead of the rest. wink
        True, Russian football is not very happy ...
    2. +3
      9 February 2019 10: 47
      Quote: Snail N9
      It seems to me alone that the Russian military aircraft industry is "marking time"

      hi Thunder does not burst - a man does not cross ...
    3. +1
      9 February 2019 12: 05
      MiG-29 has been flying for years 30 .... and this is a direct analogue. Here with 35 we brake ....
      1. +6
        9 February 2019 12: 38
        Quote: Zaurbek
        MiG-29 has been flying for years 30 .... and this is a direct analogue. Here with 35 we brake ....

        MiG-29 in the VKS RF remains very little. Enough new MiG-29CMT we have 44 units. Of these, 28 aircraft from the party that returned Algeria, that is, they could not be.
        1. +4
          9 February 2019 12: 52
          The MiG CB itself is in a spin .... I meant the plane itself. In fact, the MiG35, which is now being launched, is only catching up with the extreme versions of J-10 ... but the engines are old and they will not be updated with the code.
          1. +6
            9 February 2019 12: 55
            Quote: Zaurbek
            The MiG CB itself is in a spin .... I meant the plane itself. In fact, the MiG35, which is now being launched, is only catching up with the extreme versions of J-10 ... but the engines are old and they will not be updated with the code.

            The composition of the avionics and weapons J-10C and MiG-35 difficult to compare. The question is how reliable are the data on radar and armament declared by the Chinese and our representatives. request
            1. +2
              9 February 2019 17: 06
              I think pr BREO + and - equal machines ... if AFAR will be installed on the MiG-35. In terms of maneuverability and thrust, the MiG is ahead (it seems to me)
  3. +1
    9 February 2019 11: 38
    everything is ready for the war with Russia, and Putin gave technologies like Stalin’s nuclear weapon
  4. +5
    9 February 2019 12: 12
    On J 31 there is an internal weapons compartment (but the volume is really small ..) ..

  5. +5
    9 February 2019 13: 31
    The author, as always, 5 + Soon we will read how China is increasingly increasing its gap in technology!
    1. +4
      10 February 2019 00: 13
      Quote: reveny
      The author, as always, 5 + Soon we will read how China is increasingly increasing its gap in technology!

      Our media are very reluctant to talk about the achievements of China in high-tech areas, and the growth of Chinese military power is usually silent. Even on a military review, many believe that the Chinese army is still equipped with the 60-70-generation equipment and weapons.
  6. +3
    9 February 2019 16: 48
    Sergey, thank you, so far there is an opinion, With the world on a thread, a bare rope. I mean the latest OCD using foreign developments. I don’t think that the technological lag in the production of high-quality and heat-resistant materials will continue for a long time and China will quickly reduce the lag.
  7. +2
    11 February 2019 01: 14
    How nice to read a good article on Sunday evening! smile
    Thank you!
    hi

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