J-10 with thrust vector nozzle?

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-06-02 AT 10:50 AM (GMT)]
This was a picture of the J-10 that came out at the same time or just before the famed “1006” photo came out (in comparison below). The picture was deliberately scarred to remove the prototype number (definitely not 1006). I never saw this picture reposted again in any chinese military forum or website until recently.

What is really unusual in this picture is the way the nozzles are angled in relation to the tail, implying a full 3D movement.

There has been rumors, reports, website postings indicating that the AL31FN is a full 3D TVC engine, and a full 3D TVC engine was displayed in a Zhuhai airshow. It’s hard to say whether TVC will be adopted fully in the series J-10 production, or that a certain prototype is only being tested with it.

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