China’s J-10C Fighter Jet Impresses Potential Buyers with Outstanding Maneuverability and Cutting-Edge Weaponry

There has been considerable development in the equipment of the People’s Air Force, as seen by the widespread deployment of the J-20 across China and the proliferation of aircraft in various configurations.

On the 16th, Colonel Xie Peng, a spokesperson for the Chinese Air Force, stated that the J-10C fighter jets would be issued to the Chinese Air Force’s August 1st Air Demonstration Team as part of the Air Force’s development strategy for equipment development. Since its inception, the demonstration team has changed their equipment several times.

From May 23rd through the 27th, the August 1st Air Demonstration Team will be at the 16th annual Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. This will be their first time participating internationally with the new plane. According to experts cited by the Global Times, China’s rapid pacification of Air Force equipment is on full display with the inclusion of the J-10C in the August 1st Air Demonstration Team. The August 1st Air Demonstration Team is like the People’s Air Force’s flagship public relations card; it spreads a message of peace and development and demonstrates the force’s superior skills.

The August 1st Air Demonstration Team’s decision to replace the J-10A with the J-10C has garnered significant attention. This Chinese-made fighter plane is a third-generation, supersonic, multi-role fighter jet. According to military expert Zhang Xuefeng, who spoke with reporters from the Global Times, the J-10C represents a major upgrade for the Chinese air force, as it incorporates a clamshell-type air intake and reshapes the nose to maximize its aerodynamic performance. The clamshell air intake offers high total pressure recovery, low weight, excellent stealth performance, and a similar design. The J-10C has vastly improved over the J-10A in terms of combat performance because of the addition of an infrared search and track (IRST) and enhanced avionics systems, such as onboard radar. One could say it’s advanced by leaps and bounds.

On April 16, 2018, the J-10C entered active combat service, bolstering the Air Force’s offensive and defensive combat capabilities and improving its capacity to accomplish mission objectives. Only five years and one month passed between April 16, 2018, and May 16, 2023, when it was announced that the August 1st Air Demonstration Team would receive the J-10C. While the Chinese Air Force has been modernizing its equipment rapidly, the August 1st Air Demonstration Team has only been using the J-10A for performance purposes since 2009. The decision to upgrade to the J-10C signifies a significant leap in their capabilities.

According to Zhang Xuefeng, the August 1st Air Demonstration Team is one of just a handful of teams worldwide to employ a third-generation fighter jet as its demonstration aircraft. China has joined Russia and the United States in using a third-and-a-half generation fighter jet (fourth-and-a-half generation by international criteria) as a demonstration aircraft, with the addition of the J-10C to the team. The rapid development of Air Force hardware is reflected in this as well. When China first started sending third-generation jets out for air shows, elite troops were the only ones with access to the most cutting-edge fighters. There has been considerable development in the equipment of the people’s air force since then, as seen by the J-20’s across-the-board replacement of the old first-and-a-half generation.

The J-10C demonstration aircraft continues the classic livery.

The August 1 Air Demonstration Team’s J-10C aircraft continues to sport the same overall livery as the previous design, with separate blue as the primary color and red, gray, and green, and red patterns providing contrasting colors. This design was inspired by the “sword of victory” spirit of the Chinese Air Force, which aims to dominate the skies and protect national interests.

Visual distinctions exist between the J-10C’s livery and those flown by regular military troops. The larger dorsal fin is one of the most noticeable changes. According to Zhang Xufeng, the enlarged dorsal fin might store additional fuel or smoke agents, improving the aircraft’s aerodynamic stability. These changes greatly enhance the J-10C’s performance.

Chinese Air Force analyst Fu Qianchao told the Global Times that the J-10C surpasses its predecessors in terms of its advanced flight performance, citing the aircraft’s superior aerodynamic capabilities and maneuverability. He believes that the precise control of the J-10C’s flight parameters and its advanced avionics make it a standout performer in aerial combat. Fu suggests that the rapid acceleration and deceleration capabilities of the J-10C contribute to its overall dominance in air combat situations. A plane that can swiftly respond to changes in the battlefield is more likely to maintain the upper hand.

Additionally, the J-10C’s improved information and robust system-level joint combat capabilities can improve coordination between members of the flight formation. As a result, it enhances radar, range, and aerial refueling capabilities, allowing the August 1st Air Demonstration Team to execute maneuvers more seamlessly. According to Fu Qianchao, these advancements mean that the August 1st Air Demonstration Team may one day be able to perform over-the-horizon air combat without stopping at airports for refueling in the middle of long-distance flights.

The equipment switch was finally undertaken to coincide with the upcoming 1st Air Demonstration Team mere weeks away. While the control systems of both the J-10A and J-10C were quite similar, the J-10C had some slight upgrades. Therefore, the crew had to constantly test and master the aircraft’s optimum performance throughout a wide range of speeds and altitudes, fine-tuning the aircraft’s operation parameters and multiude of systems.