Overview
The J-10 "Vigorous Dragon" is a single-engine multirole fighter with a canard-delta layout and fly-by-wire controls. It was China's first modern fighter designed largely at home, entering service in 2004.
The latest J-10C adds an AESA radar and long-range PL-15 missiles, and many now use the Chinese WS-10 engine instead of the Russian AL-31FN. Pakistan received export J-10CE fighters in 2022 and used them in air battles with India in May 2025. Specifications are for the J-10C.
Specifications
Dimensions
| Length | 16.90 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 9.75 m |
| Height | 5.43 m |
| Wing area | 33.1 m² |
Weights & fuel
| Empty weight | 8,300 kg |
|---|---|
| Max. take-off weight | 19,277 kg |
Performance
| Max. speed | 2,205 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max. Mach | Mach 1.80 |
| Range | 1,850 km |
| Service ceiling | 18,000 m |
Crew & capacity
| Crew | 1–2 |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints | 11 |
Powerplant
| Engines | 1 |
|---|---|
| Engine model | Saturn AL-31FN or Shenyang WS-10B |
| Thrust (each) | 79.4 kN |
| Thrust with afterburner (each) | 125.0 kN |
Figures are compiled from public sources and may be approximate; they can vary by variant and configuration.
Armament
- 23 mm GSh-23 twin-barrel cannon
- About 6,000 kg on 11 hardpoints, including PL-10 and PL-15 missiles and guided bombs
Photos
Photo 1: Li Pang / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Some text and images come from Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA licences.
