In the previous article, the author talked about a series of comparisons between the various weapons and equipment of the mainland and neighboring Japan, such as the Type 039C and the Big Whale class submarine, the Type 054B and the most class frigate, and so on. Today, let's talk about Japan's F2 fighter and the mainland's J-10C fighter, I have to say that as a neighboring country across the sea, it is the norm for the fighters of both sides to "come and go". So, how does Japan's F2 fighter compare to the mainland's J-10C fighter?
American F16 fighter, a very classic fighter model
First of all, let's talk about the development of Japanese fighters. As we all know, Japan was a defeated country in World War II. In the fifties and sixties, in order to prevent Japan's comeback, the United States imposed very strict restrictions on Japan in all aspects. After entering the 70s, the United States was powerless in the face of the Soviet Union in its heyday. Some restrictions on Japan had to be gradually relaxed, so in the seventies and eighties, Japan's military power developed rapidly. In terms of fighters, Japan has successively imported F4 and F15 heavy fighters from the United States.
Please note that due to restrictions on Japan, the version exported by the United States to Japan is a simplified version. Due to the heavy aircraft, Japan feels a lot of pressure in terms of maintenance costs and logistics. Japan wants to develop a medium-sized aircraft to work with the F15. At first, Japan looked at the American FA18 fighters. However, the FA18 fighter was able to develop a carrier-based version, and the "Midway imprint" of that year is still in front of us. After repeated weighing and deliberations between the United States and Japan, the two sides made concessions to each other.
F2 fighters, a total of more than 90 units were produced
Japan can develop its own medium-sized aircraft, that is, the F2 fighter project, on the basis of the C/D model of the American F16 fighter. Judging from the timeline, the Japanese F2 fighter is very close to the continental J-10 fighter. Basically, they were medium-sized aircraft projects that were established in the 80s and first flew in the 90s, and the Japanese F2 fighter was slightly earlier than the J-10 project. The Japanese F2 fighter adopts the mature design of a large number of F16 fighters, and from the point of view of appearance, the difference is not particularly large, somewhat similar to the relationship between the J-16 and the Su-30.
In 2000, the Japanese F2 fighter entered service and was discontinued in 2011, with a total of 98 units produced. However, due to the tsunami and various other reasons, a total of 10 aircraft were reduced. At present, at this stage, there are only more than 80 F2 fighters that Japan can use. Note that at the beginning of the 21st century, the F2 fighter was still very threatening. At that time, the author was in high school, and various military journals usually compared the use of F2 with the J-10A fighter that had just entered service on the mainland.
The payload capacity of the Japanese F2 fighter is not weak
The F2 fighter is the world's first main fighter to use active phased array radar, the early model uses the J/APG-1 active phased array radar, and the logistics model uses the J/APG-1 active phased array radar. According to foreign reports, the specific performance is comparable to that of the APG-79 series phased array radars. At present, the American APG-79 phased array radar has developed at least 4 different improved models.
As a medium-sized fighter, the Japanese F2 fighter is very close to the American F16 in many aspects, with a maximum take-off weight of 22.1 tons, and uses a F110-IHI-129 turbofan engine of the American General Motors, with a maximum thrust of 13.1 tons. With 11 hardpoints, the maximum payload capacity of the F2 fighter is claimed to be 8 tons. However, for this figure, the author is deeply skeptical. As a single-engine medium fighter, the maximum payload is 8 tons, which is a bit incredible. The American F16 and FA18, the French Rafale, and the European Typhoon are all unable to reach this number.
Japanese F4, F15, F2, and F35 fighters are in the same frame
Some foreign institutions speculate that the actual maximum payload capacity of the F2 fighter should be about 6.8 tons. I have to say that before 2010, the F2 fighter did have obvious advantages in some aspects in the face of the mainland's J-10A fighter, and even the J-10B fighter after that. However, after 2017, the J-10C fighter began to be mass-produced. As neighboring countries across the sea, the two fighters will certainly engage in "various exchanges." So, what about the continental J-10C fighter?
In 2004, the J-10A fighter was finalized, mass production began, and it was delivered to the PLA troops. In 2013, the J-10B fighter using passive phased array radar was finalized and delivered to the troops in batches. In 2017, the J-10C fighter with active phased array radar was finalized and began to be delivered to the troops in batches. The performance of the J-10C fighter in all aspects has reached the standard of the fourth-generation and a half fighters.
The J-10 series fighters have produced more than 700 units in total
At present, both the J-10A and J-10B have been discontinued, and at this stage, the production of J-10C fighters is the mainstay. According to the statistics of foreign media, by the end of 2023, more than 300 J-10A fighters will be produced, dozens of J-10B fighters will be produced, and more than 300 J-10C fighters will be produced. In other words, the production of the entire J-10 series of fighters has exceeded 700 units.
In terms of air combat capabilities, the J-10C has no absolute advantage over fighters such as Rafale, Typhoon, and American F16 late-stage models in Europe. However, the J-10C fighter has a problem that cannot be avoided. From the beginning of the design of the J-10 fighter, it was positioned as an air supremacy fighter, and there was not much consideration for multi-purpose payload capacity. Therefore, in terms of multi-purpose payload capacity, there is an obvious gap with F16, Rafale, Typhoon and other fighters.
The multi-purpose payload capability of the J-10C is weak
The J-10C fighter also has 11 hardpoints, with a maximum payload capacity of 7 tons. Theoretically, the mounting capacity is not low. However, there are many cases where 11 mounts cannot be used at the same time. Moreover, there are fewer heavy-duty pylons. 6 under the wings on both sides, 1 on the central axis of the belly, and 4 on the underbelly sides. In the standard mount mode, after the J-10C is mounted with 3 auxiliary fuel tanks, it is basically mounted with a total of 4 air-to-air missiles in 2 near and 2.
In recent years, after the adoption of composite pylons, it has been adjusted to a new model in 2 near and 4. However, with the use of composite loadouts, maneuverability is significantly reduced. Fighter jets of all countries will face this problem, and there will definitely be trade-offs. In short, in air combat mode, at the level of the J-10C fighter, it is significantly better than the F2 fighter produced before the 2010s. Because, the F2 fighter was discontinued in 2011. However, in terms of multi-purpose payload, the J-10C is slightly insufficient.
J-10C fighter, standard mount mode
In the face of various mainstream medium-sized aircraft in the world, this is the obvious shortcoming of the J-10 series fighters. Of course, under the fighter system of the PLA troops, this shortcoming is not obvious. Because the J-10 series fighters mainly undertake tasks such as combat readiness patrols, perimeter vigilance on the battlefield, and daily training. As for complex loading tasks such as ground-to-sea and other tasks, fighters such as J-16 and J-7A are mainly responsible. Especially after 2016, the J-16 fighter entered the stage of mass production. According to foreign media reports, by the end of 2023, more than 400 J-16 fighters have been produced.
The J-16 fighter has very strong multi-purpose capabilities
In the 2010s, PLA fighters and Japanese fighters were basically in between. For example, J-11B and F15J, J-10A and Japanese F2, etc., in the 2020s, Japan has been completely crushed in the field of fighters. First of all, the J-20 series fighters have been mass-produced and put into service. At the same time, the J-35 fighter has already entered the advanced testing stage. It is very close to finalization and mass production. Of course, the number of Japanese F35 fighters is also increasing year by year.
The J-35 fighter has entered the advanced testing stage
In the future of the East Asian sky, there will be a new stage in which the fifth-generation aircraft will be the main force, the fourth-generation and a half-generation, and the fourth-generation will be changed to auxiliary. Especially for the Navy, the Japanese Izumo is capable of carrying F35 carrier-based aircraft. For the continental J-35 fighter and J-15B fighter, it can be called one of the fierce opponents.
Pay attention to look, top right corner
A series of stories about the development of aircraft types in the PLA troops, and many more. The author will talk to you slowly in future articles.