Before the Chinese New Year, preparations for the J-10's test flight were already in full swing, mainly because there were still some minor problems in the adaptation process to the WS-10.
After the Spring Festival, all preparations are almost done.
A few days ago, a ground test was just conducted.
The J-10 fighter jet was tested while taxiing on the ground.
After a series of ground tests, the J-10 will finally make its first flight at the end of February.
Because the J-10 uses the WS-10 engine, the core components of which are the turbine and tail nozzle, all made by the Rocket Research Institute.
Therefore, as a collaborative development unit, Zhang Xingyang also has the opportunity to serve as the representative of the R&D unit.
Come to Tianfu City, where Chengdu Aircraft Co., Ltd. is located, and visit the first flight of the J-10.
"Xingyang, you must have had a hard time along the way."
As the chief engineer of the WS-10 project, Zhang Zhengjiang shook hands with Zhang Xingyang enthusiastically.
"It's not hard, I came by plane, and the business class is quite comfortable."
Zhang Xingyang was also very happy and shook hands with Zhang Zhengjiang excitedly.
"Has the J-10 test flight time been determined?"
Because the test flight must take into account the weather conditions of the day, Zhang Xingyang did not know the specific time when the J-10 would conduct the test flight before arriving.
I only know that the approximate time for the test flight is within two days tomorrow.
"The weather in the past two days, the answer given by the meteorological center is that the weather conditions have been relatively good during the past two days, and there has been no cloudy or rainy weather."
"They just completed the division of test flight airspace today and applied for a piece of airspace. The time is tomorrow!"
The airspace for test flights needs to be applied for in advance, but the domestic competent authority for this part of the work is the Air Force, so it is easy to apply.
"It seems I came at just the right time!" Zhang Xingyang said with a smile.
"How has the WS-10 performed recently?"
Since participating in the first flight of the Su-27 equipped with the first modified WS-10 engine in October, things at the Rocket Research Institute were once so heavy that they exploded.
Zhang Xingyang didn't have much time to inquire about the subsequent improvements and flight status of WS-10, so naturally he didn't know much about its latest status.
"Recently, we have made a lot of changes according to the improvement direction you provided before."
"The performance has indeed been improved to a certain extent. It can maintain the cruise speed of Mach 0.98 of the Su-27 fighter jet without afterburner, and can reach the supersonic speed of Mach 2 with afterburner on."
"If we continue to improve the engine performance in the future, after the thrust is increased, it will be possible to achieve supersonic speeds in cruising state."
Supersonic cruise is a relatively advanced concept these days, and there are not many fighter models that can achieve this.
The MiG-31 previously developed by Mao Xiong barely touched the edge of supersonic cruise. It has a fuel load of 16.3 tons and can allow it to fly at supersonic speeds for 15 minutes.
But generally, a vehicle that can maintain supersonic flight time for more than 30 minutes is considered to have true supersonic cruising capabilities.
The latest secretly developed F-22 by Yingjiang also has supersonic cruise capabilities, but it has not yet been successfully developed and is still far away from being put into the battlefield.
The same Typhoon fighter jet jointly developed by the four Europa countries is also designed to have supersonic cruise, but the first prototype just made its first flight three years ago, and there are still a lot of problems that have not been solved.
It can be said that in this era, there is still no fighter jet with true supersonic cruise that has been put into practical application.
If we can really catch up with the international level at this time, then the subsequent days will be much easier.
After all, in international competition, the real backing is the strength of the respective countries.
A large part of the strength is supported by the combat effectiveness of the army.
"After your improvements, can the J-10 achieve supersonic cruise?"
Zhang Xingyang asked curiously. The J-10 that used the AL-31F engine in its previous life was naturally unable to achieve supersonic cruise, but after applying the WS-10 in this world, there is still a question mark as to whether it can.
"this......"
Hearing Zhang Xingyang's question, Zhang Zhengjiang also felt helpless. Even with many improvements, the WS-10's thrust can only reach 2.85 tons without afterburner.
With this thrust, it is difficult to maintain supersonic flight for a long time.
"To be honest, it is difficult to achieve true supersonic cruise, but intermittent supersonic cruise should still be no problem."
"The aerodynamic layout of the J-10 means that when it is in a critical state, the shock wave resistance it faces is too great, and it cannot overtake it without using afterburner."
The J-10 using external pylons faces too much shock wave resistance when mounting missiles. The engine thrust must be at least 3 tons to push the aircraft to supersonic speed.
"If missiles are not mounted, I am confident that the J-10 can maintain supersonic cruise."
Hearing this, Zhang Xingyang rolled his eyes. Can a fighter jet without missiles be called a fighter jet?
It can only be regarded as a target for others!
"So the new generation of fighter jets must have capabilities such as all-weather stealth, supersonic cruise, and high-altitude perception."
"To achieve stealth and supersonic cruise, it is necessary to use an embedded magazine."
Zhang Xingyang expressed his views on the next generation of fighter jets, especially his thoughts on layout.
These are actually designs that have been tested by wars in later generations and have been recognized by everyone, but they are indeed relatively new to everyone at this time.
"Furthermore, as a single-engine light fighter, the J-10 itself has certain shortcomings. It has a small bomb load and a short range."
"It will definitely not be able to meet the growing combat needs of the Air Force in the future!"
"Especially over the vast ocean in the south, the Air Force needs aircraft with a larger combat radius."
"Only twin-engine heavy-duty fighter jets can meet these needs of the Air Force!"
Zhang Zhengjiang doesn't think much about it yet. After all, everyone's latest fifth-generation machine is still under development at this time.
In China, the project has not even started yet, so it is really far away to consider these things.
"If the J-10 succeeds, it will actually be considered advanced in the world. The situation is not as bad as you said."
Zhang Zhengjiang's understanding of the situation was not as detailed as Zhang Xingyang's, so he naturally had to be more optimistic.
Zhang Xingyang cannot attack him anymore, and as Zhang Zhengjiang said, at this time, the J-10 can barely meet the combat requirements of the Air Force.
From an economic point of view, the Air Force at this time really needs light fighter jets.
As for the new generation of twin-engine heavy fighter jets, I will definitely participate in it. After all, no one in this era knows how to design and manufacture an advanced fifth-generation fighter jet better than me!
If you are deeply involved, the domestic fifth-generation fighter may even become the world's first fifth-generation fighter!
