A claim J-10 = Lavi is not idiotic. The fact is the J-10 would look exactly as Lavi if China had a possibility to procure PW1120 or F100 engines. But they didn’t. So they went for the closest available solution which was the Al-31FN – 34 in longer, 10 in larger in diameter and over 600 lb heavier – but also almost 7,000 lbf more powerful (AB setting). That required a complete rework of the lightweight Lavi – elongated and beefed up structure, completely new air inlet ducts and powerplant attachment points, modified bleed management and air-conditioning ducting system, enlarged fuel tanks, modified fuel lines and hydraulic systems, stronger landing gear, everything had to be adapted for the monster which is the Saturn engine compared to the PW1120. That is why, in the end, the J-10 looks visibly different from the Lavi, but it is still the same pedigree.
Sorry, but that claim is pathetic ! You note Yourself it uses a larger engine with a wider diameter ?? … and still say it is a copy, a clone??
Maybe we should check what definition for clone we use, but for me a copy is a 1:1-copy and so it is none. Even if You upscale a Lavi You don’t match the J-10.
And the fact that it would probably if, if, if is still not a reason to call it a copy.
I agree that the J-11-series is a clone of the original Su-27SK even if much refined, the same with several other Chinese types, but the J-10 is simply not a copy.
Again I don’t deny any relations, any direct connections in its development … but at least per the definition I gave above it is not.
In the end I can agree with You: “the J-10 looks visibly different from the Lavi, but it is still the same pedigree.” Exactly what I said in my comparison with the YF-17 development to the F/A-18E/F … and no one would call the Super-Hornet a copy of the Cobra ?? Or am I wrong?
Deino
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