As for the J-10, I know, we all know, that it resembles the Lavi, but how can you prove it so with official specs? You can't can you? It's all speculation, by noobs and skeptics alike.
Janes, regarded as a very credible source interviewed Russian engineers working on the J-10. The Russian engineers stated the China had access to the Lavi. Im not alowed to post URL's yet, so just search Janes. Perhaps A.V. Can post it.
As for the "Abovetopsecret" link, I personally think it's legitimate, tell me why you think it's bullcrap, I'll be glad to hear from you.
AboveTopSecret is a discussion forum, how can you take that as a reliable source?
To be honest, I had faith in the PAK-FA project. But now that's it's overrun by Indians and the fact that I had highly anticipated for it to fly in the past 2-3 years really ruined my confidence and my patience, it really did. How can you assure me that the PAK will fly next Feb? Can you assure me that the engineers won't run out of dinner money before then?
. Just joking btw.
Well firstly, the Indian version will be different from the Russian version. With that being said. Idia's involvement is a positive thing because: India already has an aurospace industry, India will provide some of the funding, India will provide their engineers, scientists, manpower, ect.
I can't assure you the Pak Fa will fly February, that just what Konstantin Makiyenko the deputy head of the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies said. In his own words:
"even with delays, the plane would likely make its first flight by January or February."
A member on Idia defence told me that if the Pak Fa isn't ready to fly by this time next year, Idia will withdraw from the program, he didn't give me a link, but if that is indeed true i have all the confidence in the world the Pak Fa will take to the skys soon.
This is actually quite funny, as J-10 is a development of the cancelled J-9. Israelis helped China with calculation of data in the mid to late 1980's. Their technicians would come to China, bring back flight data to Israel for analysis, then send it back to China. No component was ever transferred between the two sides. The claim that J-10 is a Lavi copy is really just a funny claim.
I'm not alowed to post URL's yet, so you will have to search Janes. Refer to my first paragraph.
Second, only the engine on J-10 is currently purchased from Russia, as China found Russian avionics to be inferior. This should be apparent to you by now considering China ditched the Russian kits for Su-27SK and produced its own J-11 back in 2005. While Russia did provide some help to the J-10 program, China has grown out of that need. Notice how the last engine order for AL-31F were in 2007, yet J-10 production has never stopped?
Inferior to what? Whatever avionics China is getting is downgraded version of what Russia uses. For example, the SU-35 is superior to the SU-30mki. The MKI uses some western avionics while the SU-35 uses all Russian avionics.
Like i said earlier Russia already built two models of AESA radar, also Russian jammers such as the SAP-518 are atleast as good as any western systems. Don't forget most of the important avionics on the SU-30MKI are Russian. I would like to see a link of China claiming Russian avionics are "inferior", if you do provide a link i'll take it with a grain of salt considering China is always interested in Russian technology/avionics. However, Russia is now refusing to sell or share some of its technology to China, hence SU-33.
How did China "ditch" the SU-27sk? The J-11 is a customized SU-27SK. There is no question that the J-11 is superior to the SU-27SK. However, the SU-27SK is only the entry level fighter of the Russian AirForce. Russia operates the SU-35 BM a 4++ gen fighter, which is rediculously better than the SU-27SK and easily better than the J-11.
China can say whatever they want about Russian avionics the fact of the matter is they always end up either: buying, copying, or stealing Russian technology.
China's pirating of Russian technology is One of the Reasons Russia denied China the sales of the SU-33.
Russia has stoped selling sensitive avionics to China. As a result, China has no other choices but to start producing its own systems.
Russia's displeasure with China's pirating of Russian technology: not allowed to post URL, so search:
igorrgroup.blogspot.com
According to deagel, China has ordered over 100 AL-31F's this past February. Source: well again i'm not alloud to post URL's yet, so search: deagel
. China is interested in reducing its reliance on foreign technology for both cost reasons and a desire to improve its domestic research and design. It is reported that one regiment of J-11Bs are currently in service, but this seems to contradict with the latest information provided by the Chinese government: In May, 2007, the existence of J-11B was finally acknowledged by the Chinese government for the first time when the state-run Chinese TV stations first aired the report on J-11B in PLAAF service. However, the official Chinese report claims that there are only two squadrons of J-11Bs in service, instead of a regiment, which is consisted of three squadrons (as of end of 2007). According to the Chinese report, which is agreed by some western sources such as Jane's Information Group, the J-11B is superior to Su-27SK in the following areas:
