J-10A deploying adrogue parachuteThe diverterless air intake of the J-10B
In 1981, PLAAF CommanderZhang Tingfa submitted a proposal toDeng Xiaoping for the development of a third-generation fighter forCN¥ 500 million; it was accepted later that year by theCentral Military Commission (CMC). It was the first Chinese aircraft program to incorporate modern development and acquisition processes.[7] In one departure from the past, the supplier was now responsible directly to the customer; this allowed the PLAAF to communicate its requirements and ensure they were met; previously suppliers were responsible to their managing agency, which could produce products that failed to meet end user requirements.[7] Another difference was the selection of a design through competition, rather than allocating a project to an institute and using whatever design that institute created.[8]
Design proposals were made by the three major aircraft design institutes.Shenyang's proposal was based on its cancelledJ-13 with aF-16-likestrake-wing.Hongdu's proposal wasMiG-23/Su-24-like withvariable-sweep wing.Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute's (CADI) proposal was aSaab 37 Viggen-like design based on its cancelledJ-9.[8] CADI's proposal was selected in February 1984. The following month, CADI and Chengdu Fighter Factory were formally directed to develop and manufacture the aircraft, respectively.[9]Song Wencong (宋文骢) became chief designer.[10]
The engine was selected during the design proposal stage.[7] Candidates were an improvedWoshan WS-6, the WP-15, or a new engine. The new engine, ultimately theShenyang WS-10, was chosen in 1983.[11]
TheState Council and the CMC approved the program in 1986,[9][7] code-naming it "No. 10 Project".[9] Interest waned in the following years which constrained funding and prolonged development. TheGulf War renewed interest and brought adequate resourcing.[12] Unlike earlier programs, the J-10 avoided cripplingrequirement creep.[12]
Technical development was slow and difficult. The J-10 represented a higher level of complexity than earlier generations of Chinese aircraft. About 60% of the aircraft required new technology and parts, instead of - according to Chengdu - the usual 30% for new aircraft; the high proportion reflected both requirements and limited domestic capability.[10] Development and modernization of China's aviation industry occurred alongside the J-10;[10][12] the program was an early Chinese user of digital design, modelling, and testing[13] includingcomputer-aided design (CAD) andcomputational fluid dynamics.[10] The J-10 was the first Chinese aircraft to make major use of CAD for its structural design,[10] allowing the detailed design to be completed in 1994.[13][9] The hydraulics system was tested with physical models because of limited digital modelling capabilities.[10]
The first J-10 was assembled in June 1997.[9] Lei Qiang flew the first flight[10] on 23 March 1998;[3] Lei was chosen for his experience with modern, foreign, third-generation aircraft.[10] PLA training units received the J-10 ahead of schedule starting in 2003.[10] Weapons tests occurred in the fall of that year.[14] The design was finalized in 2004.[9] Rumors of crashes during flight testing were actually mishaps related to the AL-31 engine.[15]
In May 2021, China National Radio released images of the J-10C powered by the WS-10B engine;[17] this was the first time the WS-10 was officially seen on an operational J-10.[18]
Chinese J-10 features a similar configuration to theIAI Lavi.
In 1988 Israel's defense minister denied a report byThe Sunday Times that Israel and China had agreed to develop a fighter derived from theIAI Lavi.[19] In 2006, Russia's SibNIA engineers believed that the J-10 was "more or less a version" of the Lavi, incorporating "a melting pot of foreign technology and acquired design methods... but there are a number of other pieces of other aircraft or technologies that are part of the configuration that they have acquired from different sources."[16] In 2008,Janes claimed that the J-10 benefited from technical information from the Israeli project, citing senior Russian engineers who said they had heard this from Chinese colleagues.[20]
The Chinese assert J-10's features claimed to be from the Lavi are from the manufacturer's own previous aircraft design, for example attributing the J-10's Lavi-like double canard configuration to Chengdu's work on the cancelled J-9[8] of the 1960s and 1970s;[9] this view is supported by Song Wencong,[21] who worked on the J-9 and became the J-10's chief designer,[10] and PLAAF Major General Zhang Weigang.[22]
The early J-10s were initially equipped with the Type 1473pulse-Doppler radar (PD) developed by theCETC 14th Institute; the Type 1473 has been called China's first "successful" or "practical" PD radar.[25]
The J-10B is equipped with anactive electronically scanned array (AESA)[25] orpassive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar.[2] According to Chinese accounts, PESA was never used due to unsatisfactory performance;AVIC 607 Institute and CETC 14th Institute developed a PESA radar that could track multiple targets simultaneously but had shorter range than the PD radar. PESA and AESA development delayed the J-10B.[25] CETC 14th Institute helped to develop the J-10B's AESA radar.[26]
The J-10 is powered by a singleturbofan. The J-10A entered production with the Russian SalyutAL-31FN.[27] The initial version generated a maximum static thrust of 12,500 kgf (123 kN; 28,000 lbf).[28] In December 2013, Salyut reported it was testing an upgraded AL-31FN Series 3 for China with 250 hours more life and 1000 kgf more thrust; the Series 3 would be equipped on the improved J-10B.[29][30] Compared to the original Lyulka-Saturn AL-31F, the AL-31FN was fitted to the J-10 by rotating the gearbox and accessory pack to the underside.[27]
The J-10s intended engine is the Chinese Shenyang WS-10. The WS-10 suffered development difficulties and production of the aircraft went ahead with the Salyut AL-31FN as a substitute.[31] A pre-production J-10C flew with a WS-10 at the 2018China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition; the engine nozzle was modified for stealth andthrust vectoring (TVC).[27] In March 2020, a video from Chinese state media showed a J-10C in PLAAF livery equipped with the WS-10B;[29] WS-10B-powered aircraft were in service by November 2021.[32]
The aircraft's internal armament consists of aGryazev-Shipunov GSh-23twin-barrelcannon, located underneath the port side of the intake. Other weaponry and equipment is mounted externally on 11 hardpoints, to which 5,600 kg (12,300 lb) of either missiles and bombs, drop-tanks containing fuel, or other equipment such as avionics pods can be attached.[citation needed]
The first J-10 was delivered to PLA training units in 2003.[10] Testing concluded in December 2003 and the type was declared operational shortly after.[3]
The J-10C entered combat service in April 2018.[34]
The J-10C has been reported to have consistently prevailed in simulated combat engagements against Su-35 fighters acquired from Russia, with the fighter's reduced radar visibility allowing it to detect and fire on its target first. The fighter's lower radar signature and significantly more advanced sensors and weaponry for both visual and beyond-visual range engagements were cited by experts as leading advantages the aircraft retained. The J-10C gained victories against both the Su-35 and the J-16 in exercises for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021.[35][better source needed]
Negotiations for acquisitions for J-10A were started in 2006 when offered by China,[36][37] but negotiations persisted into 2012 with the offer of the J-10B.[38]
In September 2020, it was reported that Pakistan was interested in the J-10C.[39] In December 2021, Pakistan announced the purchase of 25 J-10CEs, with an option for 11 more.[40][41] On 4 March 2022, the first batch of 6 J-10CEs for thePakistan Air Force (PAF) landed atPAF Base Minhas (Kamra) after a ferry flight from Chengdu, China.[42] They were officially inducted into the PAF'sNo. 15 SquadronCobras based at PAF Base Minhas on 11 March 2022.[5][43][44]
During afour-day official visit to China on 26 March 2025,Chief Adviser of BangladeshMuhammad Yunus discussed the potential purchase of multirole fighter jets. His press wing later confirmed that China responded positively to the proposal. According to government documents reviewed byThe Business Standard in October 2025, Bangladesh is preparing to purchase 20 J-10CE jets by 2027 to modernize theBangladesh Air Force and strengthen national air defence. The deal, valued at approximately $2.20 billion (aroundTk27,060crore), will also cover training, maintenance, and other related expenses. Officials stated that the procurement is likely to be completed under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement during the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 fiscal years, with payments to be made in installments over 10 years, until 2035–2036.[58]
In May 2025, Indonesian officials expressed interest in acquiring the J-10.[59][60] By October 2025, Indonesia was considering acquiring J-10s.[61] In mid-October, Indonesia'sMinistry of Defense was reportedly authorized to raise US$1.6 billion from foreign lenders to buy J-10Bs.[62] Indonesia's interest in the J-10 may include the low cost of the aircraft compared to other options, and diversifying military suppliers to demonstrate strategic neutrality.[61] According to theAssociated Press at least 42 J-10s are planned to be acquired.[63]
RussianTelegram channels reported thatSerbia is considering the purchase of Chinese J-10CE multirole fighters.[64] The J-10CE was exhibited in the form of a model at the Partner exhibition inBelgrade in 2023 and 2024.[65] A high-level delegation of the SerbianMinistry of Defence, mostly made up of high-rankingAir Force and Air Defence officers, paid a four-day visit to China in 2025.[66]
J-10S: Tandem-seated trainer variant of J-10A.[71]
J-10SH: Naval version of J-10S.
J-10B: An upgraded J-10, initially identified as "Super-10".[72] It features a lighter and stealthierdiverterless supersonic inlet, a longer nose radome possibly housing anactive electronically scanned array radar, an electro-optic targeting sensor (IRST, and laser rangefinder,) and a new electronic warning or countermeasures pod atop the vertical stabiliser.[73] The aircraft is powered by theAL-31FN M1;[73] one unit was flown with aWS-10A in July 2011 but that engine was not selected for the initial production batch.[74] The aircraft's first flight occurred no later than December 2008.[75]
J-10B TVC Demonstrator: A prototype fighter based on J-10B that is equipped withWS-10B thrust-vectoring control engine. The fighter hassupermaneuverability, capable of performing theCobra maneuver.[76]
J-10CY:Aerobatics variant of J-10C, replaced J-10AY.[70]
J-10D: Possibleelectronic warfare variant. Has a raised straight spine for equipment or fuel, a one-piece canopy to reduce radar reflection, and a redesigned wing for improved aerodynamics.[82][83][84]
On 12 November 2016, anAugust 1st Aerobatics Team training flight suffered amid-air collision inHebei. A twin-seat J-10 crashed. The pilot, CaptainYu Xu, the first woman certified to fly the J-10, and the co-pilot ejected. Yu was struck by another J-10 and killed.[88]
^abWeening, Alexander; Hardy, James (9 October 2014)."New pictures of J-10B revealed". IHS Jane's 360.Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved6 August 2015.
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