BEIJING – The People’s Liberation Army-Air Force has modified the J-10aircraft to have thrust vector control (TVC) capability, part of theservice’s drive to make the aircraft more lethal.
A recent image on a Chinese defense magazine showed the J-10 with a numberof upgrades that haven’t been seen before, including a new engine with”sawtooth” edges that make the engine less noticeable on enemy air radars.Engine specialists say that radar signals reflect well off straight lines,but that sawtooth patterns can smother the radar return.
The American-made F-35 and Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30/35 Flanker seriesaircraft feature similar engine edges to improve their low observabilitycharacteristics, Business Insider notes.
The TVC aspect of the engine increases the plane’s angular velocityduring flight by slightly repositioning the engine itself so as tomanipulate the thrust created by the engine.
The new developments will allow the J-10 to make more precise maneuversin the air while giving pilots more control over altitude changes. The US’F-22 Raptor and the Su-30/35 family of aircraft make use of TVC as well,Defense News noted.
Beijing has reportedly been interested in TVC research and developmentfor quite some time, but has not mastered TVC as of yet, Andreas Rupprecht,a Chinese military aviation expert, said this week.
The above picture of the J-10 with TVC ability has not been independentlyverified for authenticity by Sputnik News. Speaking to Defense News,Rupprecht said the TVC project is likely being used to further examineengine improvements for the more advanced J-20 fighter aircraft.