Eurofighter vs Rafale vs J-10

By: Javed - 12th November 2003 at 08:22

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Eurofighter[U][B] =
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Eurofighter is a single-seat, twin-engine, agile combat aircraft which will be used in the air-to-air, air-to-ground and tactical reconnaissance roles. The design of Eurofighter Typhoon is optimised for air dominance performance with high instantaneous and sustained turn rates, and specific excess power. Special emphasis has been placed on low wing loading, high thrust to weight ratio, excellent all round vision and carefree handling. The use of Stealth technology is incorporated throughout the aircraft’s basic design.

In September 1998 the Eurofighter was also designated the Typhoon, though this nomenclature is intended only for use in export markets outside Europe. Eurofighter remains the offical name in Europe, and Typhoon will not automatically be the EF2000s name with the four partner air forces when it enters service.

Eurofighter's air dominance supremacy and versatility as a multi-role combat aircraft is marked by its highly potent and comprehensive air-to-surface attack capability:
Air Interdiction - capable of delivering a large payload over long distances, by day or night. Multiple, flexible sensors coupled with passive modes of delivery, and the retention of a full air-to-air fit ensure a formidable weapon system
Close Air Support - ability to remain on task for long periods. Its sophisticated sensor suite allows close co-ordination with ground commanders, and the identification of individual targets
Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) - the combination of pinpoint navigational accuracy, highly sophisticated onboard sensors and dedicated 'fire and forget' weapons, ensure effective targeting of enemy air defences
Maritime Attack - dedicated radar modes and datalink enable Eurofighter Typhoon to operate autonomously, or as part of an offensive force

Eurofighter’s high performance is matched by excellent all round vision and by sophisticated attack, identification and defence systems which include the ECR 90 long range radar and Infra Red Search and Track (IRST) system, advanced medium and short range air-to-air missiles and a comprehensive electronic warfare suite to enhance weapon system effectiveness and survivability. Eurofighter Typhoon is intentionally aerodynamically unstable to provide extremely high levels of agility, reduced drag and enhanced lift. The unstable design cannot be flown by conventional means and the pilot controls the aircraft via a computerised ‘fly by wire’ system.

The Eurojet EJ200 military turbofan was designed specifically to match Eurofighter Typhoon’s mission requirements. The overall design ensures a small lightweight engine with the thrust and strength to match the typically on demand reheat temperatures generated during combat. The EJ200 engine combines high thrust with low fuel consumption. To reduce ownership cost over Eurofighter Typhoon’s in-service life of 25 years or 6,000 flying hours, and to ensure maximum availability, the important areas of Reliability, Maintainability and Testability have been given equal priority to performance and flight safety.

Wing Span 10.95m
Length 14.96m
Height 5.28m
Wing Area 50m²
Foreplane Area 2.4m²
Empty Weight 9750 kg (approx)
Internal Fuel Load 4000 kg (approx)
External Store Load 6500 kg (approx)
Max T/O Weight 21000 kg
Power 2 EJ200 Turbofan Engines
20,000 lbf (90 kN) each with Afterburner
13,500 lbf (60 kN) each without Afterburner
Maximum Speed 2125 km/hr
Time to 10670m 2.5 minutes
Runway Requirement 700m
T/O run 300m
air combat mission

Combat Radius ground attack, lo-lo-lo : 601 km
ground attack, hi-lo-hi : 1389 km
air defence with 3hr CAP : 185 km
air defence with 10-min loiter : 1389 km

Weapons & Stores Internally mounted 27mm Mauser gun
Total of 13 external stores stations: 5 (incl one wet) under fuselage and 4 (incl one wet) under each wing
Mix of Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM) and Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (SRAAM) carried externally
Four BVRAAM under fuselage in semi-conformal carriage configuration
Laser guided bombs
Advanced anti-armour weapons
Conventionally armed stand-off missiles

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= Rafale =
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The Rafale program is composed of three versions of multi-purpose twin-engine combat aircraft -- the single-seater air version Rafale C, two-seater air version Rafale B and single-seater navy version Rafale M. These three versions are fitted with the same engine, the same navigation and attack system, the aircraft management system and the flight control system. They are all able to perform all types of missions from ground attack to air superiority.

The first production aircraft Rafale B1 flew for the first time 04 December 1998 and was delivered to the French Air Force. Firm orders by the French Government are now up to a total of 61 aircraft to be delivered from 1998 to 2005. The total programme for France, Air Force and Navy, is set at 294 aircraft.

Directly derived from the slightly smaller RAFALE A demonstrator, the three versions of the RAFALE retain all those qualities which have today been proven in flight : 750 kt, 9 g/-3.6 g, 32° maximum angle of attack, 115 kt approach speed, take off and landing in less than 400 meters. These qualities and performances stem from the "delta-canard" aerodynamic concept combining a delta wing and an active foreplane judiciously located in relation to the wing so as to optimize aerodynamic efficiency and stability control without impeding the pilot's visibility. Moreover, shapes and materials have been continuously selected to minimized the aircraft observability to both electro-magnetic and infra-red sensors.

The Rafale C is a multirole fighter with a fully integrated weapons and navigation systems, making use of the latest technology and is capable of outstanding performance on multiple target air-to-air missions and air-to-surface missions deep behind enemy lines.

The two-seater Rafale B retains most of the elements of the single-seater version, and its weapon and navigation system is exactly the same; the Rafale B can perform any operational mission with a lon pilot or with a crew consisting of two pilots or of one pilot and a weapons system operator.

The Rafale M, a single-seater designed for seaborne use, carries the same weapon and navigation system. Its airframe has been designed for aircraft-carriers but retains most of the elements of the other versions.

Specifications

Country France
Type Intercept
Crew Single or twin seater
engine 2 x 16550 lb.
BME 20950 lb.
Max ramp weight 49560 lb.
Ceiling na
Take-off landing < 1300 ft
Combat Radius 1882 km
In-Flight Refueling Yes
Internal Fuel 4250 kg
External stores 13215 lb. to 17620 lb.
Air version 14 hard points
Navy version 13 hard points
Sensors RDX LD/SD radar, FLIR, LRMTS, RWR, Advanced bombsight
Drop Tanks
2000 L Drop tank with 1598 kg for 188nm of range
Armament
Cannon: 1 30mm DEFA 554
Mica, R.550 Magic 2, BGL 400

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= J-10 Fighter Aircraft =
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NAME
PLA Official Designation: Jianji-10 or Jian-10 (J-10)
Westernised Name: F-10

CONTRACTORS
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Co. (CAC)
611 Aircraft Design Institute

PROGRAMME

The Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) J-10 is a single-seat single-engine multirole fighter aircraft with general performance matching aircraft such as France Mirage 2000 or U.S. F-16C/D. After over fifteen years of development since 1988, the aircraft is now ready to enter the PLAAF and PLA Naval Aviation service. The J-10 prototype in test flight, carrying two PL-8 SRAAM mockups Work on the J-10 began in the 1980s as a counter to the Soviet fourth-generation fighters the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker. The original mission was air superiority, but the end of the Cold War and changing requirements shifted development towards a multirole fighter to replace the Shenyang J-6, Chengdu J-7, and Nanchan Q-5, which dominate the air fleets of the PLAAF.The original design of the J-10 was based on the cancelled Israel Aviation Industry (IAI) Lavi lightweight fighter. China and Israel started collaboration in the early 1980's and full-scale co-operation was underway by 1984. After the 1987 cancellation of the Lavi programme, its design was taken over by the CAC, and the IAI carried on with the development of avionic equipment.The J-10 differs from the Lavi mainly in the primary mission carried out by the aircraft. The Lavi was originally designed as a short-range air support and interdiction aircraft, with a secondary mission of air superiority, while the PLAAF is interested in replacing its large fleet of outdated J-6 and J-7 fighters, for which air superiority capabilities remain a top priority while the air-to-ground attack capability is of secondary importance. In addition, the Lavi project had included many elements that Israel could not develop by itself, and China cannot obtain these key technologies from the US.

J-10 prototype No.1013 in the low visibility grey/blue camouflage painting scheme The J-10's development has experienced some serious difficulties due to the Fly-By-Wire (FBW) and engine problems, which resulted in the loss of the No.2 prototype aircraft and its test pilot in 1997. The CAC engineers had to face some major re-design work, which caused a major setback in the J-10's development. Later the revised FBW software was successfully tested on a Shenyang J-8IIACT technical demonstration aircraft, and Russians also agreed to offer its Lyulka Saturn AL-31F turbofan engines for incorporation into the J-10.

ROLES
Air-to-Air: Interception of enemy aircraft in a defensive operation, or grasp of air superiority over enemy regions by using both "beyond-vision-range" (BVR) and short-range air-to-air missiles (AAMs)
Air Interdiction (AI): Low- or medium-level attacks using guided and unguided ammunitions
Anti-Ship Attack: Attack surface ships using the air-launched anti-ship missile

J-10 prototype seen at CAC's test site
VARIANTS
Basic variant single-seat, single-engine fighter
Two-seater fighter-trainer (J-10B?)
Twin-engine navy variant capable of taking-off/landing on aircraft carrier (J-10C?)

DESIGN FEATURES

The J-10 has a rectangle belly air intake, with low-mounted delta wings, a pair of front canard wings, a large vertical fin, and two underfuselage fins. The design is aerodynamically unstable, to provide a high level of agility, low drag and enhanced lift. The pilot controls the aircraft through a computerised digital fly-by-wire system, which provides artificial stabilisation and gust elevation to give good control characteristics throughout the flight envelope.

J-10 prototype No.1003 in the grey painting scheme of early years

COCKPIT

The J-10's cockpit is fitted with three flat-panel liquid crystal multifunction displays (MFDs), including one colour MFD, wide field-of-view head-up display (HUD), and possibly helmet-mounted sight (HMS). It is not know whether the HMS is the basic Ukrainian Arsenel HMS copied by China's Luoyang Avionics, or a new helmet display featured briefly at the 2000 Zhuhai air show.

The pilot manipulates the J-10 by the 'Iron Bird' flight-control system, a quadruple (four channels) digital fly-by-wire (FBW) based on the active control technology tested by the Shenyang J-8IIACT demonstrator aircraft. The pilot will also be aided by advanced autopilot and air data computer. J-10 No.1013 prototype in flight test. The first production variant J-10 is said to enter service by 2005

RADAR

Several options are available for the J-10 fighter. These include the Russian Phazotron Zhuk-10PD, a version of the system in later Su-27s, with 160 km search range and ability to track up to six targets. Israel has offered its Elta EL/M-2035 radar for competition. In addition, China has also developed its own design JL-10A, which might be assisted by Russian technology.

For low-level navigation and precision strike, a forward-looking infrared and laser designation pod is likely to be carried F-16-style on an inlet stores station. A Chinese designed pod similar to the Israeli Rafael Litening was revealed at the 1998 Zhuhai air show.

POWERPLANT

The single-seat, single-engine J-10 is similar in size to the Lockheed Martin F-16C/D. The initial batch J-10s are going to be powered by 27,500 lb-thrust (120 kN) Russian Lyulka Saturn AL-31F turbofan, the same power plant also being used by Chinese air force Sukhoi Su-27s and Su-30s. Some report indicated that 100 AL-31F engines with features specially designed for the J-10 have already been delivered to China in early 2001. China is also developing its own WS-10 turbofan power plant, and it could be fitted on the later versions of the J-10. According to the U.S. intelligence, the J-10 might be slightly more manoeuvrable than the U.S. Navy's F-18E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft. Although the J-10 prototypes are powered by a Lyulka Saturn AL-31F turbofan engine, it was reported that the operational J-10 will be fitted with an indigenous design

WEAPONS
The fixed weapon on the J-10 fighter is a 23 mm internal cannon.
The J-10 has 11 stores stations - six under the wing and five under the fuselage. The inner wing and centre fuselage stations are plumped to carry external fuel tanks. Fixed weapon is a 23-mm inner cannon hidden inside fuselage.
In addition to the PL-8 short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile reportedly derived from Israeli Rafael Python-3 technology, the J-10 could also carry Russian Vympel R-73 (AA-11) short-range and R-77 (AA-12) medium-range missiles equipped by Chinese Flankers. It may also be fitted with indigenously developed PL-11 or PL-12 medium-range AAM for BVR combat. For ground attack missions, the J-10 will carry laser-guided bombs, YJ-8K anti-ship missile, as well as various unguided bombs and rockets. Some missiles currently under development such as the YJ-9 ramjet-powered anti-radiation missile may also be carried by the J-10. The indigenous helmet-mounted sight (HMS)

UPGRADE
According to the sources inside the CAC, a two-seater fighter-trainer version of the J-10 is currently under development. It is expected that this variant, possibly designated as J-10B, will roll out in near future. It also projects that a twin-engine naval variant of the J-10 might be fitted on China's first aircraft carrier.
An all-aspect vectored-thrust version of the AL-31F was revealed for the first time at Zhuhai Air Show 1998, leading to speculation that this advanced engine may wind up on the J-10, potentially conferring phenomenal manoeuvrability. China might also be considering upgrading the J-10 with more advanced phased-array radar from Russia or Israel to improve its combat capabilities.
Once entering service, the J-10 will become the backbone of the Chinese air force

SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: 1
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: N/A
Max Speed: Mach 1.2 (sea-level) or Mach 2.0 (high altitude)
Range: Combat radius over 550 km Service
Ceiling: N/A
Max Climb Rate: N/A
G Limit: N