4th-Gen Air War: Chinese J-10 vs. US F-15

by Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

The Chinese J-10 4th-generation fighter aircraft flies with a massive arsenal mounted from more than 11 hardpoints or pylons under the fuselage and wings.

Weapons include laser-guided missiles, satellite-guided and glide bombs, as well as a wide range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.

How good would it be in combat against the U.S. Air Force?

Meet the J-10 Fighter

The aircraft, in existence since 2005, forms a key foundation for the People Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), can also hit extensive ranges of 1,400 miles and take off with a full load of extra fuel tanks and up to 42,000 pounds of ordnance.

The PLA Air Force operates more than 540 J-10s, according to a citation from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a number that presents a clear ability to “mass” in-air formations against an adversary.

While a 4th-generation aircraft, the J-10 Chengdu was engineered with a series of modern technologies, perhaps with a mind to overmatch 1980s-era U.S. Air Force F-15s and F-16s. Some of the systems built into the J-10 were listed in an interesting write-up from SinoDefence in 2010.

The essay describes the J-10 as operating a multi-mode fire control radar and a mechanically-scanned planar array antenna capable of tracking up to 10 targets. The essay says up to two targets can be engaged simultaneously with “semi-active radar homing” missiles or four can be engaged with “active radar homing” missiles.