Shenyang J-8

     Notes: The story of the J-8 is really the story of the two different aircraft: the first were the J-8 and J-8A, which were a straightforward upgrade of the J-7 (MiG-21), and the J-8B and later variants, which were really new aircraft, as 70% of the J-8 was redesigned to produce a new fighter. Beginning as a variant of the J-7, the J-8 was first designed as an enlarged and upgraded MiG-21 and then was further modified by placing two engines in it.  The initial J-8s took a long time in gestation, both because of the Cultural Revolution and subsequent purges of design bureau personnel and military personnel, as well of the usual headaches when designing a new aircraft.  Though the first flight of the J-8 was in 1969, initial equipping of combat squadrons did not take place until 1980; by then, the J-8 was obsolete. This aircraft had a very long development time and was almost cancelled several times before the designers finally got it right and production was authorized; however, until the introduction of the J-8C/E, the J-8 was considered by most analysts to be a sub-par aircraft for its day and age.

     The two engines of the J-8 and J-8A are Liyang WP-7B turbojets with 9700 pounds thrust dry and 13500 pounds thrust in afterburner each. The J-8 had a one-piece forward hinging canopy, a la the J-7; the J-8A and later variants used a two-piece rearward hinging canopy. The J-8 was equipped with a radar rangefinder in the shock cone of the intake; the J-8A has a short-range SR-4 radar for use at first with the PL-4 radar-homing missile (development of which failed) and later the PL-5 (along with PL-2 heat-seeking missiles). The J-8E is a J-8A with the addition of a HUD and better radar. The centerline hardpoint of the J-8 is “wet,” able to carry a drop tank.  The J-8A and later also have one hardpoint under each wing that is wet.

     The J-8B was modified by moving the air intakes to the sides, and enlarging the nose and upgrading the radar and avionics.  The more powerful WP-13-II turbojets were used to power the J-8B, developing 10195 pounds of thrust dry and 15512 pounds thrust each in afterburner. It entered service in 1988. The resulting aircraft looks more like an Su-15 than a MiG-21. The J-8B Block 2 was an upgrade of the J-8B, conceived as a stopgap when the J-8C did not work out; it had the radar and some of the avionics of the J-8C. It entered service in 1996. The J-8D is a J-8B with the avionics of the J-8B Block 2 and IFR avionics. Other than the IFR avionics and being armed with the PL-9 AAM, the J-8D is the same for game purposes as the J-8B Block 2. The J-8C was the first attempt to update the J-8B, appearing in the early 1990s. It had a comprehensive offensive and defensive avionics upgrade, including the ability to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) but failed due to the Liyang bureau’s inability to perfect the WP-14 Kunlun turbofans to power the J-8C. The WP-14 engines were expected to produce 12000 pounds thrust dry and 17000 pounds thrust each in afterburner. (Prototypes of the J-8C were powered by WP-13-II engines instead.) The J-8F is a further upgraded J-8C with WP-13-II engines; it entered service in 2000. The J-8D was developed into the J-8H, which is optimized for ground attack; it has the ability to use air-to-ground rockets, bombs (both smart and dumb) and antiradiation missiles, as well as air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. The J-8F and H have leading edge slats to increase maneuverability and low-speed handling.

     The J-8’s NATO reporting name is Finback.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The J-8D, F, and H do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline, but the war clouds provided the impetus (and opportunity for international cooperation and espionage) to perfect the WP-14 Kunlun engines and place the J-8C in production.

*The cockpit has a Kevlar liner and has an AV of 7.

Chengdu J-10 Menglong

     Notes: The J-10 Menglong (Vigorous Dragon), NATO reporting name Firebird, is a true MRCA (MultiRole Combat Aircraft) designed primarily for point interception and strike but also capable of performing reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike aircraft escort roles. In addition to the PLAAF, it is exported to Pakistan, and has seen combat service with the Pakistani Air Force. The J-10 was first designed in 1981 in response to a PLAAF request for proposals for a new lightweight fighter. In an unusual procedure for Chinese weapon procurement, Chengdu was allowed to confer directly with the Air Force on the requirements for the new fighter, and this led to a remarkably tiny amount of design creep and reissuing of design requirements. Interest by the Air Force waned in the first few years of development, leading to a design lag, but then the Chinese saw the performance of the F-16 in the 1991 Gulf War and interest quickly picked up again. Nonetheless, the design was complex, and the first prototypes did not fly until 1998. The J-10 did not become operational with the PLAAF until 2006, though first issue to operational units took place in 2003, with pilots becoming operational test pilots.

     There are persistent rumors that the J-10 program benefitted from Israeli cooperation and the IAI Lavi program. The resemblance between the Lavi and J-10 is remarkable, but whether this cooperation took place is still disputed. However, the J-10’s design is very much like that of Chengdu’s earlier J-9 project (see Best Aircraft that Never Were), and this is probably what the design of the J-10 is based on.

     The J-10 has a delta wing with canard foreplanes and a vertical stabilizer on the rear fuselage. Under the fuselage at about the center of the cockpit is the air intake. The wings have leading edge slats to enhance maneuverability and low-speed handling. Under each wing are three hardpoints; two of them are wet. The centerline has a high-capacity hardpoint, but this is normally taken up by a drop tank, as the J-10’s range is nothing to write home about, and is perhaps its weakest point. The fuselage also has a pair of lower-capacity hardpoints on either side of the centerline, and two low-capacity hardpoints under the intake. In the nose is a single 23mm autocannon for air combat or strafing ground targets.

     The initial variant is the J-10A.  It is called the F-10A or FC-20 in its export form. The J-10A is powered by a license-produced version of the Russian AL-31FN turbofan, which has 19764 pounds of thrust dry and 27999 pounds of thrust in afterburner. The J-10AH was a naval variant of the J-10A, though so far, the PLAN has not gone for the J-10. (It will not be covered further here.) The J-10AY is a minor variant, equipped with smoke producers under its wings and fuselage, used for aerobatic displays. (It will not be covered further here.) The J-10S is a two-seat trainer version of the J-10A. The J-10SH is the naval variant of this trainer. (It will not be covered further here.) The J-10B is an upgraded J-10A, with an ECM pod atop the vertical stabilizer and an IRST sensor and a laser rangefinder.  The J-10B is powered by an uprated version of the AL-31FN, the AL-31FN-3, which develops 21270 pounds thrust dry and 30203 pounds thrust in afterburner. (The WS-10A that was supposed to power the J-10B did not produce the hoped-for thrust.) It also has some minor stealth shaping, particularly in the intake, and radar homing weapons and radar searches and lock-ons are done at -2 vs the J-10B. The radar is also upgraded, with the J-10B using an AESA radar. The J-10C is a further upgraded J-10B, with enhanced radar and enhanced maneuverability.  It is capable of using the latest generation of Chinese munitions, and rumors state that the F-10C versions exported to Pakistan can also use US-made Sidewinder AAMs. The J-10C is a 4.5 generation fighter. The J-10C is powered by the Chinese WS-10B turbofan engine, developing 22400 pounds thrust dry and 32000 pounds thrust in afterburner. The J-10D is a possible electronic warfare and attack (Wild Weasel) variant of the J-10C; it has a raised spine running down its back, housing its enhanced EW equipment, a one-piece canopy, further enhancing its stealth profile (an additional -1 vs radar and radar weapons), and a larger wing to help balance the additional weight load.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Only the J-10A is available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.