Chengdu J-10 "Vigorous Dragon" fighter - News only

snne said:
J-10(A/B?)
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Indonesian military enthusiasts talk about a J-10BD, and it should be more or less pretty similar in capability to the J-10CE, and it will have Russian engines. Maybe because Indonesia already operates Flankers, so engine maintenance should be easier.

Rafale was always seen as an interdiction and anti-ship role afaik.
 
ComradeVortex said:
Indonesian military enthusiasts talk about a J-10BD, and it should be more or less pretty similar in capability to the J-10CE, and it will have Russian engines. Maybe because Indonesia already operates Flankers, so engine maintenance should be easier.

Rafale was always seen as an interdiction and anti-ship role afaik.
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It’s still got a decent enough PESA radar, even by today’s standards, plus the same IRST and datalink as the C variant. All J-10s produced up until 2019 came with AL-31FNs. Modernizing the radar only really makes sense if it’s the A variant they’re getting. The B variants still have plenty of airframe life left in them, and the radar is decent enough for the time being, a future MLU isn’t out of the question.

j-10c-image171.jpg


Most rumors suggest a direct transfer of used aircraft from the PLAAF inventory, which is the most sensible option anyway, aside from ordering new aircraft. Even though the PLAAF no longer needs a point-defense fighter and is already flying prototypes that are two leagues ahead; realistically, no credible air force is going to hand over its recently inducted platforms to another country when it still has plenty of aging airframes to retire and thousands of adversary aircraft to contest across the Western Pacific.
 
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snne said:
It’s still got a decent enough PESA radar, even by today’s standards, plus the same IRST and datalink as the C variant. All J-10s produced up until 2019 came with AL-31FNs. Modernizing the radar only really makes sense if it’s the A variant they’re getting. The B variants still have plenty of airframe life left in them, and the radar is decent enough for the time being, a future MLU isn’t out of the question.

j-10c-image171.jpg


Most rumors suggest a direct transfer of used aircraft from the PLAAF inventory, which is the most sensible option anyway, aside from ordering new aircraft. Even though the PLAAF no longer needs a point-defense fighter and is already flying prototypes that are two leagues ahead; realistically, no credible air force is going to hand over its recently inducted platforms to another country when it still has plenty of aging airframes to retire and thousands of adversary aircraft to contest across the Western Pacific.
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We never really figured out the radar. This might be how…
 
MoF Purabaya Approves Purchase of Chengdu J-10 Fighter Jets, Roughly Worth US$9 Billion

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has approved the budget for purchasing a fighter jet or fighter jet from China, the Chengdu J-10.

Purbaya said the budget for purchasing the Chinese-made fighter jets reached US$ 9 billion.

"US$9 billion, if I'm not mistaken, or more. I forget the exact figure. That’s our budget. But it's been approved, so everything should be ready," Purbaya emphasized when met at Wisma Danantara on Wednesday (10/15/2025).

Purbaya added that he had to double-check the purchase of the fighter jets. Although the budget had been approved, he admitted he didn't know when the fighter jets would be imported.

"What was mentioned should have been included in the budget. But I'm still double-checking whether he plans to import again next year or when," he said.

https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/...ian-fighter-jet-chengdu-j-10-nilainya-us--9-m
 
ComradeVortex said:
The question is, which variant?
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I'm guessing J-10Cs, just the oldest ones in the Chinese fleet.


snne said:
I mean, F-16As, Su-30s, Rafales, J-10(As?), KF-21s and the future Kaan Block 30s all in one fleet? That's an unprecedented logistical nightmare for any maintenance crew.
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Logistics sucks, but it's the usual small-power dance to avoid giving any one Large Power too much control.
 
Scott Kenny said:
Logistics sucks, but it's the usual small-power dance to avoid giving any one Large Power too much control.
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I get it, many countries do that.
Soviet/Russian and French (India, Peru, etc)
Soviet/Russian and American (Malaysia)
or American and French (Greece)
or sometimes three, Russian, French and American..

but here it's potentially, Russian, French, Chinese, American, Korean, Turkish.
 
helmutkohl said:
I get it, many countries do that.
Soviet/Russian and French (India, Peru, etc)
Soviet/Russian and American (Malaysia)
or American and French (Greece)
or sometimes three, Russian, French and American..

but here it's potentially, Russian, French, Chinese, American, Korean, Turkish.
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Well, F-16As are likely on their way out by 2035. I'm guessing that those are getting replaced by the J-10s. Maybe KF-21s.

Flankers will probably linger for a while, but I suspect that the Kaan will replace them eventually.

I think the Rafales are there for naval strike, so Kaan might be able to replace them later on. Once the Turkish equivalents to Exocets are integrated.
 
ComradeVortex said:
MoF Purabaya Approves Purchase of Chengdu J-10 Fighter Jets, Roughly Worth US$9 Billion

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa confirmed that the Ministry of Finance has approved the budget for purchasing a fighter jet or fighter jet from China, the Chengdu J-10.

Purbaya said the budget for purchasing the Chinese-made fighter jets reached US$ 9 billion.

"US$9 billion, if I'm not mistaken, or more. I forget the exact figure. That’s our budget. But it's been approved, so everything should be ready," Purbaya emphasized when met at Wisma Danantara on Wednesday (10/15/2025).

Purbaya added that he had to double-check the purchase of the fighter jets. Although the budget had been approved, he admitted he didn't know when the fighter jets would be imported.

"What was mentioned should have been included in the budget. But I'm still double-checking whether he plans to import again next year or when," he said.

https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/...ian-fighter-jet-chengdu-j-10-nilainya-us--9-m
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It's not true that J-10B budget is US$9 billion. US$9 billion or US$9.7 billion to be precise is the total budget of PSP's latest iteration signed by Minister of Finance last month. US$1.6 billion allocated for J-10B, while another US$1.2 billion allocated for KAAN.
 
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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asi...-fighter-jets-china-aircraft-purchase-5404896
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s top defence official said on Wednesday (Oct 15) that Jakarta will acquire at least 42 Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C fighter jets.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on Wednesday confirmed that his ministry had approved a budget for the purchase of the aircraft from China that reached more than US$9 billion.
 
aonestudio said:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asi...-fighter-jets-china-aircraft-purchase-5404896
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s top defence official said on Wednesday (Oct 15) that Jakarta will acquire at least 42 Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C fighter jets.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on Wednesday confirmed that his ministry had approved a budget for the purchase of the aircraft from China that reached more than US$9 billion.
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This is mostly wrong.

> Chengdu J-10C

They’ve been called as J-10BD, I suppose a special variant?

> Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa on Wednesday confirmed that his ministry had approved a budget for the purchase of the aircraft from China that reached more than US$9 billion.

I posted this before:

ComradeVortex said:
It's not true that J-10B budget is US$9 billion. US$9 billion or US$9.7 billion to be precise is the total budget of PSP's latest iteration signed by Minister of Finance last month. US$1.6 billion allocated for J-10B
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> First non-Western purchase

Jesus Christ, Indonesia is operating the Flanker (Su-27 and Su-30) since 2002.
And we had Tupolevs, MiGs, Sukhois throughout our air force history...
There's a MiG-17 statue in my city...



Now, J-10B and J-10C share similar external parts and dimensions. The difference on sensors and engine. Deino also talked that 50 J-10B basically in reserve condition as China wants J-10C with their own WS-10 engine being operated rather then AL-31 powered J-10B.

So basically those J-10B are in relatively low airframe hours, and China seems willing to let them go on a discount price. For Indonesia it means similar engine with Flankers that TNI-AU engineers are already familiar with. Speculation is that they all going to operate in Kupang, Biak and Makasar. TNI-AU also already signed agreement with India on Flankers for maintenance, and i guess it will include AL-31 engines.
 
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Sorry, I haven't been following this thread. Is the alleged purchase of J-10s by Indonesia intended to replace the Rafale order, or are both types expected to be purchased in parallel? Haven't the first Rafales already been built?
 
US$ 9 billion? Did Dassault lend China their sales team?
helmutkohl said:
I get it, many countries do that.
Soviet/Russian and French (India, Peru, etc)
Soviet/Russian and American (Malaysia)
or American and French (Greece)
or sometimes three, Russian, French and American..

but here it's potentially, Russian, French, Chinese, American, Korean, Turkish.
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and Brazilian.

Just imagine how amazing their aircraft museums are going to be in 30 years.
 
EmoBirb said:
It truly seems like KAAN and KF-21 would have sufficed for a future proof and near future hi-lo mix. While the likes of Rafale, J-10 and F-15 seem utterly redundant. Keeping their F-16s and Flankers until the Turkish and joint effort with Korea come to fruition.

Usually I'd say that there is probably a clever reason for why it is how it is. But to me the only reason could be money laundering, tbh.

However it is good to see the J-10 picking up pace on the export market again. Similar to it's French canard-cousin it may be a late bloomer with regards to exports. First Pakistan, now Indonesia with Uzbekistan and Egypt being consistent rumors. Truly a lot of potential there, obviously a single engine fighter completely independent from US control is quite attractive for many, and thus a truly viable alternative to the F-16 and JAS 39. That it can carry potent Chinese origin weapons and has recently garnered respect and attention with it's combat record probably helps too.
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That's what I thought as well. their F-16s and Su-30s could possibly last a bit longer until the Kaan and KF-21 start being delivered, the latter of which is already entering production.
Being the largest country in Southeast Asia, and one of the largest in the world that has it's own independent alignment, they should strive to further develop their own arms industry. Turkey and South Korea, tend to be a bit more generous with the tech transfers compared to say, the US. It's one reason to buy from them. In addition, strategically, South Korea is closer making logistics relatively easier while Turkey has generally been supportive of Indonesia.

That said, the other argument that they're trying to buy from everyone to build relations is understandable, although it doesn't have to be with just aircraft. They could buy J-10s from China, and French warships instead, etc. (their navy procurement is also just as diverse as the air force).

Scott Kenny said:
With minor powers, it's all about keeping the major powers happy enough.





Agreed.

The Russians not having a single-engined fighter available is an issue.
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I've felt the same way. Had the Sukhoi S-37 concept been made available earlier, it might have been more popular. That would have been the Soviet/Russian equivalent of the J-10
 
helmutkohl said:
That's what I thought as well. their F-16s and Su-30s could possibly last a bit longer until the Kaan and KF-21 start being delivered, the latter of which is already entering production.
Being the largest country in Southeast Asia, and one of the largest in the world that has it's own independent alignment, they should strive to further develop their own arms industry. Turkey and South Korea, tend to be a bit more generous with the tech transfers compared to say, the US. It's one reason to buy from them. In addition, strategically, South Korea is closer making logistics relatively easier while Turkey has generally been supportive of Indonesia.

That said, the other argument that they're trying to buy from everyone to build relations is understandable, although it doesn't have to be with just aircraft. They could buy J-10s from China, and French warships instead, etc. (their navy procurement is also just as diverse as the air force).



I've felt the same way. Had the Sukhoi S-37 concept been made available earlier, it might have been more popular. That would have been the Soviet/Russian equivalent of the J-10
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S-37 was more of a strike fighter while J-10A more of an interceptor in conception. One of the requirements was to intercept Backfires before the Soviets collapsed.
 
siegecrossbow said:
S-37 was more of a strike fighter while J-10A more of an interceptor in conception. One of the requirements was to intercept Backfires before the Soviets collapsed.
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What where the original J-10 requirements?
 
Guys, once again … can we Stick to the topic, namely the CAC J-10!?

Anything on political and the Indinesian AF‘s consuderations on why to purchase so many different types is irrelevant.
 
F-2 said:
What where the original J-10 requirements?
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Challenge Su-27/Mig-29 in aerial combat and protect the capital and Northern China from Soviet bombers like Tu-22M and Tu-95. This led to emphasis on trans/supersonic performance in J-10 over weapon load. Until fairly recently the belly hardpoints weren’t even plumbed for AAM and required some pretty difficult modifications if user wanted the option to do so (take fuselage apart level difficult).
 
Deino said:
finally the confirmation that there is NO J-10CE deal
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Just because someone on Twitter said this ?
Is he some official or insider surely you can elaborate a little.

If the bar is this low then why not trust their Generals also who claim on live TV that they operate HQ9B ?
 
Wonder when they will eventually sign GTX? The J-10 would be an excellent fighter for Indonesia.
 
FighterJock said:
Wonder when they will eventually sign GTX? The J-10 would be an excellent fighter for Indonesia.
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Frankly, if I was advising the Indonesians, I would be telling them to pick one or two platforms and put more money into sustainment to ensure you can actually operate them. Right now they have F-16s (old, upgraded and potentially new), Su-27/30, Rafale (coming), KF-21 supposedly coming, TAI Kaan supposedly coming, F-15s looked at, now J-10s...sigh.
 
Quite right GTX, this nightmare situation with Indonesia is getting rather boring now. Wake me up when they eventlually put pen to paper and sign a contract for new fighters.
 
Deino said:
Can we please stop this constant nonsense of declaring ANY Chinese item a copy & paste product? I think we are here not in a low-level forum or the Kindergarten!
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He will never listen to you, he’s been called out on this behaviour many times and continues to do so. And no wonder, he’s a DFB regular. One liners is his specialty.
 
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