J-10Cs Shines At World Defense Show
China’s air force and military delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Second World military Show on February 4 in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force showcased their skills during the World Defense Show in Riyadh on February 5. This was the team’s tenth overseas flight, and the event was aimed at demonstrating China’s “Honor Guard in the Blue Sky”. Senior Colonel Xie Peng, a spokesperson of the PLA Air Force, was present at the event.
According to analysts, the flight performances at the event will serve two purposes. Firstly, it will promote China’s image and foster cordial military cooperation with the host nation and other participating nations. Secondly, it will showcase the capabilities of Chinese aviation equipment to potential clients in the Middle East.
Chinese experts have frequently stated that the aircraft is a very good option for any country looking for a potent, dependable, and reasonably priced fourth-generation fighter jet. The J-10C is not only one of the primary combat aircraft of the PLA Air Force but it has also been exported to Pakistan and received positive feedback.
What else was on display from China
This is the first time the PLA Air Force has supported aerial refueling during the changeover phase of operations abroad with a Y-20 aerial tanker. This eliminates the requirement for the Bayi Aerobatic Team to make intermediate stops at foreign airports en route to Saudi Arabia.
Aerial refueling technology is an indispensable key part of modern air forces. It greatly extends the aircraft’s loiter time and enhances the endurance of fighter jets. During this overseas mission, the Bayi Aerobatic Team used aerial refueling, eliminating the need for the aircraft to land at an airport, thus reducing reliance on ground airports.The team’s long-distance transition, accompanied by the domestically-produced Y-20 aerial tanker, signifies the maturity of China’s key aerial refueling technology and reflects the achievements of the PLA’s strategic transformation and construction of the Air Force in recent years.
The Y-20 Aircraft
The Y-20 is an aircraft that is equipped with three refueling pods. Two of these pods are located on its outer wings while the third one is on the rear fuselage. According to military expert Song Xinzhi, the aircraft has a fuel capacity of over 100 tonnes, with half of that being available for refueling other planes. This capability allows the Y-20 to refuel multiple fighter jets at once, thereby increasing their range and the time they can fly.
For the PLA Air Force, the Y-20 tanker is essential because it can significantly increase the flying range of combat aircraft by aerial refueling. It became a part of the elite military aircraft line known as the PLA’s “20-series,” which also includes the J-20 and Y-20.
In the past, the PLAAF published videos of the Y-20 refueling China’s J-15 carrier-based aircraft. The refueling aircraft also made an appearance alongside the J-16 and the J-20 at China’s own Changchun Air Show in August last year.
What is the J-10 aircraft?
The J-10 made its maiden flight in 1998 and entered service with the PLAAF in 2004. It is configured with a delta wing and canard design that sets the aircraft apart from Russia’s MiG-29 or the United States Air Force’s F-16, while it is more reminiscent of the French Mirage series of combat fighters.
However, unlike the Mirage, the J-10 features two canards right behind the cockpit – and this provides for greater maneuverability.
The Vigorous Dragon is well armed, with 11 external hardpoints that include five on the fuselage with one on the centerline, as well as a pair of hardpoints on each side of the fuselage and three on each wing.
Though the Vigorous Dragon was seen as a great leap forward for China’s military aviation capabilities, Beijing lacked the technology to build domestically-designed advanced jet fighter engines.
Instead, the unique air intakes on the J-10 lead to a Russian-built engine, the AL-31. That particular engine was originally designed for the Russian-built Su-27 (NATO reporting name: Flanker) for use in a pair – yet the J-10 actually operates the Russian engine as a single unit.
The J-10C, the newest variant, is reported to be fitted with a more powerful WS-10B engine and PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
Lack of buyers?
There was a time when China’s delegation to air shows such as the one in Dubai would have been looking to purchase fighter aircraft – but the times have changed, and the August 1st Aerobatics Team(Ba Yi Aerobatics Team) was part of Beijing’s efforts to show the world that it is now looking to become a military hardware supplier.
The presence of the high-flying team was clearly meant to drum up interest for the Vigorous Dragon, notably in the Middle East. It was only in May that the aerobatics unit made the switch from the J-10A to the upgraded model.
