inducted the Chinese J-10C fighter jets earlier this month. China deliveredthe jets in just eight months rather than the years that defensemanufacturers usually take to deliver fighter jets such as the J-10C.
The J-10C fighter aircraft has been developed by the Chengdu AircraftCorporation (CAC). The J-10C fighter jet is a single-engine, tail-less,canard delta wing, multi-role, combat aircraft capable of all-weatheroperations. It is primarily designed for air-to-air combat, but it can alsoperform strike missions.
Pakistan has inducted the J-10C fighter jets from its all-weather ally inorder to address the military imbalance in the region that resulted fromthe Indian acquisition of French-made Rafale fighter jets.
The Rafale jet is a twin-engine, canard delta wing, multi-role fighteraircraft designed and manufactured by Dassault Aviation, a French militaryaircraft manufacturer.
Defense experts have claimed that the J-10C is more powerful than theRafale because it can carry more advanced fourth-generation missilesdespite being lighter in weight due to the composite materials used in itsmanufacturing.
Let’s have a look at the detailed comparison of the two jets.Basic Description
Both J-10C and Rafale have identical attributes. The only difference is inthe engine as the former is powered by a single-engine while the latter isfueled by a twin engine.*Attributes* *J-10C* *Rafale*Weight Medium-weight Medium-weightEngine Single-engine Twin-engineGeneration 4.5thgeneration 4.5thgenerationRole Multi-role Multi-roleGeneral Characteristics
The J-10C is longer and taller than Rafale. Since it is made from compositematerials, it is lighter in weight than the Rafale. The J-10C has asuperior internal fuel capacity and is powered by a single engine whichproduces nearly as much thrust as the twin engines of Rafale.*Features* *J-10C* *Rafale*Crew 1 (single-seat) 1 (single-seat) or 2 (two-seat)Length 55 feet 2 inches 50 feet 1 inchWingspan 32 feet 2 inches 35 feet 9 inchesHeight 18 feet 8 inches 17 feet 6 inchesWing area 400 sq. ft. 492 sq. ft.Empty weight 9,750 kg 10,300 kgGross weight 14,000 kg 15,000 kgMax takeoff weight 19,277 kg 24,500 kgFuel capacity (internal) 4,950 kg 4,700 kg (single-seat) or 4,400 kg(two-seat)Powerplant 1 x WS-10B afterburning turbofan engines, 89.17 kN thrust dry,142 kN with afterburner 2 × Snecma M88-4e turbofans, 50.04 kN thrust eachdry, 75 kN with afterburnerPerformance
The J-10C has by far a superior speed, combat range, and service ceiling incomparison to the Rafale. The rate of climb, wind loading, and thrust isalmost identical.*Characteristics* *J-10C* *Rafale*Maximum speed Mach 2 Mach 1.8Ferry range 2,950 km 3,700 kmCombat range 2,600 km 1,850 kmService ceiling 56,000 feet 52,000 feetG limits +9/-3 +9/-3.6Rate of climb 59,000 feet/minute 60,000 feet/minuteWind loading 381 kg/meter2 328 kg/meter2Thrust/weight 1.10 0.98Armament
Despite having fewer hardpoints, the J-10C is equipped with a better gunand more air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles,and bombs.*Weapons* *J-10C* *Rafale*Guns 1× 23 mm GSh-23 twin-barreled autocannon capable of firing 3,600rounds per minute 1× 30 mm GIAT-30 autocannon capable of firing 2,500rounds per minuteHardpoints 11 (6× under-wing, 2× under-intake and 3× under-fuselage) with acapacity of 5600 kg of external fuel and ordnance 14 for Air Force versionsand 13 for Navy versionsAir-to-air missiles PL-8
PL-10
PL-12
PL-15
PL-15EMBDA MICA EM
MBDA MICA IR
MBDA Meteor
Magic IIAir-to-surface missiles KD-88
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YJ-91MBDA AM 39 ExocetAnti-ship missiles C-601
C-705KD
C-802AK
CM-400AKG
HD-1AAM39 ExocetBombs LT-2 (laser-guided)
LS-6 (glide)
GB3 (glide)
GB2A (glide)
GB3A (glide)
FT-1 (satellite-guided)
250 kg and 500 kg unguided bombsLaser-guided bombs from 225 Kg to 900 kgAvionics
In this department as well, the J-10C fares better than the Rafale jet.*J-10C* *Rafale*Type 1473H pulse-doppler fire control radar Thales RBE2-AA AESA radarAESA fire control radar Thales SPECTRA Electronic Warfare system.K/JDC01A targeting pod Thales/SAGEM-OSF Optronique Secteur Frontalinfra-red search and track (IRST) systemType Hongguang-I infra-red search and track podCM-802AKG targeting pod for KD-88 and YJ-91KG600 electronic countermeasure podBlue Sky navigation/attack podVariants
The J-10 has fewer variants as compared to the Rafale.*J-10C* *Rafale*J-10A Rafale AJ-10AH Rafale DJ-10S Rafale B variant F3-RJ-10SH Rafale C variant F3-RJ-10B Rafale M variant F3-RJ-10B TVC Demonstrator Rafale NJ-10C Rafale RJ-10CE Rafale DMRafale EMRafale DHRafale EHRafale DQRafale EQOperators
The J-10 is operated by just two countries; China and Pakistan. On theother hand, Rafale is operated by 8 countries.
*J-10C* *Rafale*China CroatiaPakistan EgyptFranceGreeceIndiaIndonesiaQatarUAElink