Back to the topic, while Rafale and F-16 Block 52+ clearly outmatch J-10 Generation Uno, clearly J-10 Generation Zwei is at least a match for either of them in terms of avionics and clearly superior to both of them in terms of airframe design.

Pardon the pun, but the F-35’s future is “certainly” not uncertain. The DoD has continually backed the program and it has been doing quite well over the last couple of years of it’s development.

While it cannot be known exactly how many will be built and when (the same can be said of the JF-17), there is no doubt that it will makeup the majority of the DoD’s (and Partner & FMS nation’s) multi-role assets in number and capability

Nothing in the future is certain. An asteroid might hit the Earth and destroy humanity next year for all we know. Oh, and JF-17 is not used by the Chinese air force, it’s only for exports.

PT-04 with DSI was a prototype, AA-1 was not.

If prototypes count, the X-35 flew in 2000.

X-35 was a concept, much like FT-SX was the concept that spawned the Toyota Venza. X-35 does not count.

JF-17 beat F-35 by a little over 3 months. I don’t see any reason for any other argument.

Actually, the F-16 (followed by the X-35 and F-35) were the the first to have DSI.

As to top speed, the F-16 with DSI went up to mach 2.

JF-17 (developed from Super 7) beat F-35 (developed from X-35) by a few months, so it takes the record of being the first.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAC/PAC_JF-17_Thunder

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-35

Doesn’t DSI limit Mach number or something ?

Nope. According to the chief engineer of JF-17, DSI was found to have no fault, only benefits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieIfEcumZPY

SAAB also utilize DSI on Gripen NG

I don’t see any DSI. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/50528037/GRIPEN-NG-FOR-THE-NETHERLANDS

F-22 and T-50 both lack canards and DSI which J-20 has. I don’t see see how either of them can be more maneuverable than J-20. In any case, it doesn’t matter because J-20 is armed with the devastating PL-21 / PL-10 combo http://pic2.chinawestnews.net/0/10/32/85/10328554_888400.jpg

As such – IMO:diablo: – it is simply SAC’s attempt to stay in China’s fighter business, maybe even to survive as an independent aircraft developer.

Deino

SAC is not its own company. China only has 1 state-owned aviation company that makes all the military aircraft and weapons and electronics and engines, and that is AVIC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Aviation_Industry_Corporation