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Aviation / Aerospace

CAIC FC-20 (J-10CE) Firebird


Lightweight Single-Seat, Single-Engine Multirole Fighter [ 2022 ]



The CAIC FC-20 Firebird of the Pakistan Air Force is nothing more than the export variant of the Chinese J-10 Vigorous Dragon of the PLAAF.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/31/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
FC-20 "Firebird" is the designation applied to Chinese J-10 "Vigorous Dragon" fighter jets in Pakistan Air Force (PAF) service. The specific mark in question is the J-10CE export-minded offering by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (CAC). The original Chinese design recorded its first-flight on March 23rd, 1998 and entered service in 2005 with now over 600 produced and in circulation. With its own introduction of the aircraft on march 4th, 2022, Pakistan became the first export customer of the series as 14 airframes currently (2023) make up the fleet with a further 22 remaining on order.

Pakistan began talks with the Chinese government on acquiring the series back in 2006 with the original single-seater J-10A (F-10A/FC-20) variant at the forefront. Over the next several years, these discussions continued with the focus now shifted to the more advanced, slightly-modified J-10B of 2011 with its AL-31FN-M1 afterburning turbofan engine. By the end of 2020, the parties began to hammer out a deal covering the evolutionary J-10C (exported as the J-10CE) which built upon the proven framework of the J-10B while being equipped with the WS-10B engine instead. The mark also carried an Imaging InfraRed (IIR) seeker, Active, Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and support for both the PL-10 and PL-15 series of Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs). The initial procurement order covered 25 airframes and was in place by the end of 2021.

The first six fighters were subsequently delivered by the end of March of 2022 which resulted in the first standing PAF squadron (No.15 Squadron "Cobras", PAF Base Minhas). In terms of inherent capabilities and design approach, the aircraft is in the same lightweight classification as the American Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon, the French Dassault Rafale, the Russian Mikoyan MiG-35, and the Eurofighter Typhoon - all detailed elsewhere on the Military Factory.

By all accounts, the Pakistani FC-20 retains all of the notable qualities (form and function) of the Chinese J-10. A delta-wing planform makes up the mainplanes and canards are seated ahead of midships to maximize agility. The delta planform means that only a single vertical fin makes up the tailplane arrangement. The single-engine is aspirated by a rectangular inlet located under the cockpit floor and this unit is exhausted by a circular port positioned directly under the tailfin. A wheeled tricycle undercarriage is used for ground-running and this arrangement is comprised of a pair of single-wheeled main legs and a twin-wheeled nose leg.

Internally, the aircraft is powered by the locally-developed Shenyang WS-10B series afterburning FADEC-equipped turbofan engine providing up to 20,050lb thrust dry and 32,000lb thrust with reheat. This gives the jet a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 with a range out to 1,150 miles and a service ceiling of 59,000 feet. Combat range is 770 miles and rate-of-climb reaches 59,000 feet-per-minute.

The aircraft carries a 23mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 internal cannon as standard and has eleven external hardpoints for missiles, Precision-Guided Bombs (PGBs), dumb bombs, rocket pods, and mission pods allowing the single fighter to undertake a myriad of sortie types including air defense, direct-attack, anti-radar, and infiltration missions. Up to three drop tanks can be mounted extended the overall operational range of the fighter.©MilitaryFactory.com
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Specifications



Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIC) / Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) - China
Manufacturer(s)
Pakistan
Operators National flag of Pakistan
2022
Service Year
Pakistan
National Origin
Active, Limited
Project Status
1
Crew
12
Units


AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.


RADAR-CAPABLE
Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.
COUNTERMEASURES
Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.
WING SWEEPBACK
Mainplanes, or leading edges, features swept-back lines for enhanced high-speed performance and handling.
CANARDS
Small foreplanes ahead of the mainplanes reduce wing-loading and / or enhance maneuverability during high angle-of-attack or stall actions.
HIGH-SPEED PERFORMANCE
Can accelerate to higher speeds than average aircraft of its time.
HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
SUPER PERFORMANCE
Design covers the three all-important performance categories of speed, altitude, and range.
A2A REFUELING
Capability to accept fuel from awaiting allied aircraft while in flight.
PILOT / CREW EJECTION SYSTEM
Assisted process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to eject in the event of an airborne emergency.
CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.


55.4 ft
(16.90 meters)
Length
32.2 ft
(9.80 meters)
Width/Span
18.7 ft
(5.70 meters)
Height
21,495 lb
(9,750 kilograms)
Empty Weight
30,865 lb
(14,000 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight
+9,370 lb
(+4,250 kg)
Weight Difference
monoplane / mid-mounted / delta, w canards
Mainplane Arrangement
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represents the most popular modern mainplane arrangement.
Mid-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted along the midway point of the sides of the fuselage.
Delta with Canards
The delta planform is enhanced by way of canards (small foreplanes) seated ahead of the mainplanes, improving angle-of-attack and low-speed / stall control.


1 x Shenyang WS-10B afterburning turbofan engine developing 20,050lb of dry thrust and 32,000lb of thrust with reheat.
Propulsion
1,381 mph
(2,222 kph | 1,200 knots)
Max Speed
897 mph
(1,444 kph | 780 knots)
Cruise Speed
+483 mph
(+778 kph | 420 knots)
Speed Difference
59,006 ft
(17,985 m | 11 miles)
Ceiling
1,150 miles
(1,850 km | 999 nm)
Range
59,000 ft/min
(17,983 m/min)
Rate-of-Climb


MACH Regime (Sonic)
Sub
Trans
Super
Hyper
HiHyper
ReEntry
RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030


STANDARD:
1 x Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 internal automatic cannon.

SUPPORTED:
Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs), Air-to-Surface Missiles (ASMs), anti-radiation missiles, Precision-Guided Bombs, conventional drop bombs, and 90mm rocket pods. Provision for 3 x Jettisonable fuel tanks for increased operational ranges.


11
Hardpoints


X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Hardpoints Key:

Centerline
Wingroot(L)
Wingroot(R)
Wing
Wingtip
Internal
Not Used


FC-20 "Firebird" - Base Series Designation; based in the Chinese J-10CE export form of the J-10 series.


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Images



1 / 1
Image of the CAIC FC-20 (J-10CE) Firebird
Image of a Chinese Chengdu J-10 from the Chinese MoD; Public Release.

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