{
  "id": "j-10a",
  "name": "J-10A (Firebird)",
  "aliases": [
    "Chengdu J-10"
  ],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Multirole combat aircraft",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 2006,
  "operators": [
    "CHN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 1,
  "summary": "The Chengdu J-10, known by its NATO reporting name \"Firebird\" and also referred to as \"Vigorous Dragon,\" is a single-engine, lightweight multirole fighter aircraft designed for all-weather operations.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 1,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hardpoints",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "11 in total (6× under-wing, 2× under-intake and 3× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 7,000 kg (15,400 lb) external fuel and ordnance",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 16.43,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 5.43,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 11.3,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Wingspan"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Wing area",
      "section": "dims",
      "v": "45.5 m sq",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 9730,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Empty weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "mass_kg",
      "v": 24650,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Max takeoff weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "1 x Saturn Lyulka AL-31F",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "27,558 lb (12,500 kg) static thrust",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_km",
      "v": 1853,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_mach",
      "v": [
        1.85,
        2
      ],
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 18000,
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire Control Radar",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Type 1473H pulse-doppler fire control radar",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Externally Mounted Avionic Pods",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "*Type Hongguang-I infra-red search and track pod *BM/KG300G self-protection jamming pod *KZ900 electronic reconnaissance pod *Blue Sky navigation/attack pod *FILAT…",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rocket Weapon System",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "90 mm unguided rocket pods",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "v": "1 x Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23; PL-10 (ASR); PL-11; PL-12",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "1 x Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23",
      "role": "Autocannon",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Autocannon",
        "Caliber": "23mm",
        "Rate of fire": "3,400–3,600 rounds/min"
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "PL-10 (ASR)",
      "role": "Air-to-Air Missile",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Air-to-Air Missile",
        "Guidance": "Multi-element imaging infrared",
        "Warhead": "Blast-frag, or expanding rod (RF-fuse)",
        "Length": "3.0 m"
      },
      "range_km": 60
    },
    {
      "name": "PL-11",
      "role": "Air-to-Air Missile",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Air-to-Air Missile",
        "Speed": "Mach 4",
        "Length": "3.89 m"
      },
      "range_km": [
        40,
        75
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "PL-12",
      "role": "Air-to-Air Missile",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Type": "Air-to-Air Missile",
        "Guidance": "Active Radar"
      },
      "range_km": 100
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "J-10A",
      "text": "Single seat multi-role variant. The export designation is F-10A.",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "J-10S",
      "text": "Tandem-seated trainer variant of J-10A.",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "J-10B",
      "text": "An upgraded J-10, initially identified as \"Super-10\". It features a lighter and stealthier diverterless supersonic inlet, a longer nose radome possibly housing an active electronically scanned array radar, an electro-optic targeting sensor (IRST, and laser…",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "J-10C",
      "text": "An upgraded version of J-10B, it is equipped with an indigenous Active electronically scanned array (AESA) fire-control radar and is equipped with infrared-homing PL-10 and new long range PL-15 air-to-air missile (AAM).",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "FC-20",
      "text": "Single seat multi-role fighter jet, the export version of the J-10.",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "J-10B TVC Demonstrator",
      "text": "A prototype fighter based on J-10B that is equipped with WS-10B thrust-vectoring control engine. The fighter has supermaneuverability, capable of performing Pugachev's Cobra.",
      "src": [
        "weg-j-10a"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "fighter",
  "image": {
    "file": "j-10a.jpg",
    "thumb": "j-10a-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Tyg728",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:J-10_Fighter_aircraft_20170902.jpg",
    "title": "File:J-10 Fighter aircraft 20170902.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/j-10a.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-j-10a": {
      "title": "J-10A (Firebird) Chinese Multirole Combat Aircraft",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/J-10A_Firebird_Chinese_Multirole_Combat_Aircraft",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}