China’s new J-10B fighter jet is latest military move in arms race

An upgraded version of China’s J-10 fighter jet stole the limelight at the country’s biggest air show this week.

China new J-10 fighter jet

The J-10 variant has manoeuvrability and combat capability that, until now, were the preserve of the United States and Russia.

At Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, southern Guangdong province, the J-10B TVC performed a series of flying drills including a J-turn (rapid change of direction), the Cobra (raising the nose to vertical) and falling leaf moves, all of which were made possible by the WS-10 Taihang engine, which is equipped with a thrust-vectoring nozzle control system.

The new engine proves that China can build first-class, thrust-vectoring engines to power its advanced fighters, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force lieutenant colonel told the Chinese government-controlled Global Times, adding that such technology could give Chinese pilots an edge in combat.

Source: By NZ Herald – 9 November 2018

Photo: Thrust vectoring fighter aircraft J-10B of People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) performs in the sky during its first rehearsal before the Airshow China 2018. (Photo by Getty Images)

Chia-Yang Chen (CHINA/TAIWAN XAIRFORCES Editor)
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