China Fields New J-10 Fighter

Published: Jan 03, 2007
Source: www.defensenews.com



China has officially acknowledged the fielding of the indigenous Jian-10 (J-10) fighter aircraft. Since the end of December, the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has released videos and photos of the aircraft via the state-run China Central Television (CCTV) and Xinhua News Agency.

The announcement was met with surprise by many defense analysts. China had canceled two recent displays of the J-10. The most recent was at the Zhuhai Air Show in November, where Chinese President Hu Jintao, who also chairs the Central Military Commission, reportedly canceled the J-10 unveiling for unknown reasons.

The J-10 has been considered one of the most elusive classified military programs in China’s history. Speculation and rumor have shrouded the fighter since its initial stages in the late 1980s.

However, video provided by CCTV gave surprising details about the aircraft.continue..