The successful first flight of the J-10 modified test aircraft No. 01 has a wide-ranging impact. Not only the United States, but almost all countries including the Middle East and Europe have expressed concern about this incident.
After all, in this era, there are more countries that can manufacture third-generation aircraft than they can count on both hands. Once the J-10 modification completes subsequent engineering verification, China will enter the "World's Third-Generation Aircraft Club."
As for the impact of China’s joining...
Things like national security, confrontation between the East and the West, geopolitics, etc. are actually all imaginary.
At this stage, apart from the United States, there is only one issue that everyone is most concerned about:
Do you want to sell it?
Logically speaking, China has just produced its first standard third-generation aircraft, so it is impossible to sell it directly.
But the problem is that the Chinese people's consistent style is to downgrade the existing technology and then create a foreign trade version, and then sell it to other countries at a "low price".
If the J-10 can be put into service in the short term, a matching foreign trade version should also appear soon.
When the time comes, a low-cost, good combat capability, and completely "adequate" fighter jet will enter the market under the banner of a third-generation aircraft. The Rafale, Mirage, and Sabre... on our side will not be good. Sold.
But the question is, how likely is it to happen?
If we go back a few months, I am afraid that most Western countries would sneer at this, but it is different now. Their third-generation aircraft are really flying, and they still use their own engines.
what does that mean?
Being able to build a third-generation aircraft proves that China has accumulated a certain amount of technology in the aviation field and can independently design and manufacture fighter jets.
So according to this logic, this "imaginary aircraft" should not be in the plan, but will soon enter the delivery stage...
Thinking of this, the sense of crisis among military industrial enterprises in various countries suddenly aroused.
As a result, various countries sent representatives one after another to consult with China side by side. However, Poly Technology, which is responsible for the export of aircraft, was very tight-lipped. No matter how hard these veterans in the market tried their best, they gave only one answer:
There are currently no plans to export third-generation aircraft for foreign trade. Our aviation industry has just started, and there is still a certain gap between it and the international level. The subsequent production of third-generation aircraft will give priority to China's own needs.
Upon hearing such a reply, representatives from all parties rolled their eyes to the sky.
Don’t we know what virtues you rabbits have?
When the 053 was sold to Thailand, didn't you say this?
Besides, almost all the Xiaolong projects that are being cooperated with Pakistan are semi-public. Although it is only a second-generation aircraft, who knows whether you will upgrade it to a third-generation aircraft when the final blow is made?
In short, Rabbit's heart is not pure and he cannot believe anything he says.
But it’s one thing not to believe it. It’s really not easy to figure out the true purpose of Rabbit and then formulate targeted competitive strategies...
…
On the other side, while other countries are trying their best to guess whether China has any export plans, what exactly it plans to export, and when it will be exported, in the workshop of 601 Institute, the first modified J-8 III fighter jet has already walked off production line.
Lei Gang wiped his sweat and walked beside Lin Yongming, and said with a little emotion:
"We have been really busy during this period. There has just been some progress on the J-10 reform. The J-8 reform project has been started again. Now the J-8 reform is completed. In two months, the J-22 will be tested again... …”
"What's wrong? Can't do it anymore?"
Lin Yongming raised his eyebrows and asked in a teasing tone.
"No way, the more I work, the more energetic I become. I have been working in 601 for more than ten years and almost twenty years. This is the first time I have been so busy. You can say you are tired. It is indeed tiring, but it is fulfilling!"
"In less than half a year, three results have been produced, and each result is not false. I never dared to think about this kind of thing before... Forget it, I won't say so much. Leader, let me introduce it to you. This plane?”
Lin Yongming nodded and said:
"Then tell me, and I'll see where your renovation costs were spent."
Lei Gang chuckled and replied:
"No matter where it is used, it must be used on the blade..."
"Leader, we have mainly modified three major parts of this J-8 III: power, avionics, and airframe."
"The first is the power system. We use the latest WS-10E foreign trade engine. Compared with the previous WP-13, it has better performance at low altitude and low speed, and is more in line with the needs of use in the current war environment."
"Of course, in order to adapt to the changes in the engine, the body configuration originally designed as an interceptor aircraft has fallen behind."
"We adjusted the wing layout of the J-8 II, modified the aspect ratio, and made certain modifications to the air inlet. We also adjusted the ventral fins, which greatly improved its low-speed lift."
"In other words, our aircraft now has relatively reliable visual range combat capabilities, which is still very important to our customers."
"Last point, we have comprehensively upgraded the avionics and radar systems. The flight control is more intelligent and the radar is stronger. Although we still use Doppler radar, it is at least much better than the previous generation. "
Hearing this, Lin Yongming nodded slightly.
Everyone has seen how bad the 204 radar used by the J-8 was before. Now that it is for sale, it must not be used to fill the data.
In the past few years, domestic radar technology has been continuously improving. Not only the active phased array radar, but also the performance of the relatively "old" PD radar has also taken a big step forward, which can be used on this J-8 III on.
Lin Yongming sorted through Lei Gang's information and then asked:
"With such improvements, what level do you think this fighter jet can reach?"
Lei Gang frowned and hesitated for a while, then answered:
"In horizontal comparison, there is still a gap with the F-16 and F-15, but overall, the gap is not too big."
"Basically, with the advantages of avionics and radar, the J-8 III should be on par with the Mirage 2000, and slightly more stable than the Tejas fighter that just entered service in India."
"Is this sales talk, or is it your own judgment?"
Lin Yongming continued to ask.
"It's my own judgment, all calculated based on data results, but the specifics can only be tested in actual combat."
Lei Gang answered frankly, and then added:
"Our positioning is for nearly third-generation machines, and buyers should also know this."
This is quite true.
Lin Yongming nodded, thinking secretly:
Originally, the main focus of this foreign trade J-8 III was cost performance. Unexpectedly, various technological breakthroughs made the aircraft's performance far exceed expectations.
It is precisely for this reason that I can't help but compare this aircraft with the third-generation aircraft currently in service in the world.
In fact, the one that should be benchmarking against those aircraft is the J-10...
Therefore, buyers who buy this fighter jet will not only not feel as disappointed as themselves, but should think that they have gotten a big deal.
In this case, it would be okay to increase the price a little bit, right?
