China’s J-10 Fighter Could Be Dangerous in a Taiwan War

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Key Points: China’s Chengdu J-10 “Vigorous Dragon” is a 4.5th-generation multirole fighter, serving as the backbone of the PLAAF and attracting export interest from nations like Bangladesh and Iran.

-Equipped with an AESA radar and advanced weaponry, including air-to-air, anti-ship, and air-to-surface missiles, the J-10C offers versatility and modern battlefield capabilities.

-It boasts 11 hardpoints, digital fly-by-wire controls, and a radar cross-section-reducing design.

-With a top speed of Mach 1.8 and thrust vector control, it rivals Taiwan’s F-16V, suggesting a potential showdown in the Taiwan Strait could come down to pilot skill. Its rising popularity signals China’s growing airpower influence.

J-10 Vigorous Dragon Putting Pep in the Step of Chinese Air Force

China is obsessed with vigor. That’s why it is apropos that the following fighter is full of vigor. I’m referring to the Chengdu J-10 ‘Vigorous’ Dragon. 

This fighter is a delta-wing warbird with forward canards. It is a 4.5th-generation airplane and is the backbone of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

Popular on the Export Market

The Chinese defense industry can’t build enough of these fighters. Countries like Iran and Bangladesh are interested. 

This month, Bangladesh indicated that it may buy 16 J-10C fighters from China. Bangladesh loves the airplane’s multirole diversity and intercept ability.

 The J-10 has a modern AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar. This is standard for advanced fighters such as the Eurofighter Typhoon. The PLAAF flies around 240 J-10s in different variants.

At the Zhuhai Air Show, an Iranian Air Force honcho was poking around the exhibit, hawking J-10Cs. Iranian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi was likely falling in love with the Vigorous Dragon. 

This jet could help Iran better protect its homeland against marauding fighters from Israel and better go up against the stealth F-35I Adir that the Israelis hold in high esteem.

Iran believes it could purchase the J-10C for around $40 million each and that it would then have similar capabilities as the F-16.

The Iranians think the J-10C is even better than the Fighting Falcon.

History of the J-10 Fighter 

The J-10 is a homegrown product of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry – a subsidiary of the China Aviation Industry Corporation. The PLAAF sought the J-10 to replace the J-7 and Q-5. 

The J-10 is not a new airplane. It was planned as far back as the late 1980s, and by 1994, Western intelligence agencies had it on their radar. 

The first test flight was in 1998.  

The J-10 debuted in 2005 and was officially announced as part of the PLAAF in 2007.

Upgraded Variants Came onto the Scene

The J-10B variant was introduced in 2016. The J-10B “features aerial refueling capability, thrust vector control technology and has longer nose radome for accommodating an AESA radar system,” according to Airforce-Technology.com.

 The J-10C was upgraded with some new flight attributes in 2018.

The J-10 has a delta tailless shape. The size and body of the airplane is similar to the Israeli Lavi fighter.

Loaded with an Array of Modern Munitions 

The Vigorous Dragon has 11 external hardpoints for a diverse number of weapons. Air-to-air missiles include the Chinese-made Python PL-8 and the Russian-made Vympel R-73 or R-77. That’s not all. 

The J-10 can also carry anti-ship missiles. Plus, air-to-surface missiles and anti-radar projectiles are on board. 

Don’t forget the laser-guided bombs that it can drop.

“The aircraft can be fitted with a forward-looking infrared and laser target designator pod, which supports deployment of laser and satellite navigation guided weapons,” Airforce-Technology.com said.

The J-10 is pilot-friendly with digital fly-by-wire controls. There is a heads-up display and LCD displays. 

The radar and fire control system can track 10 targets at once.

The Vigorous Dragon has a Russian-made AL-31 turbojet engine with afterburner that pushes out a top speed of MACH 1.8.

What Does a Battle with Taiwan Look Like?

The J-10C matches up favorably with the F-16V that Taiwan flies. These two fighters would likely duel over the Taiwan Strait should China ever attempt an amphibious attack against the island. 

However, pilots from these air forces have yet to gain prior combat experience and since the two airplanes are so evenly matched, it comes down to the aviator’s skill in a dogfight.

The J-10C could sneak into the battlespace since it has a lowered radar cross-section with some stealth coatings, but the Taiwanese F-16Vs would be scrambled quickly to meet them.

The J-10 is a quality airplane that can be compared to the F-16. It has been modernized over the last decade and looks to be an excellent dogfighter. There are low levels of stealth attributes. 

The engine is proven, and the speed is impressive. The situational awareness from the sensor system is also noteworthy. Plus, it is popular in the export market. 

Predicting what would happen if the J-10C went up against F-16V Taiwanese fighters is difficult. Both can bring the noise and maneuver well. 

This would be an intriguing head-to-head matchup we could see in the future. Well, at least I hope not. 

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood 

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.