Ye-8?

This is coolbert:

From a comment to the blog:

"Steiner said... The bigger story, entirely ignored by the mainstream press, is the deployment of the Chengdu J-10, which was developed with Israeli assistance from technology developed for the Lavi fighter"

The Chinese Chengdu J-10. A multi-role combat aircraft [MRCA] of the foremost type, design, and performance.

"The Chengdu J-10 . . . is a multi role fighter aircraft designed and produced by the People's Republic of China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation . . . the J-10 is a multi-role combat aircraft capable of all-weather day/night operation, that various sources have compared to the F-16, Mirage 2000, Rafale and Su-27"

The J-10 a very sophisticated combat aircraft. "Loaded" as they say, with all the bells and whistles, beyond what the average aviation enthusiast would expect from a Chinese design?

I do remember quite well the controversy involving the Lavi. A jet combat aircraft of indigenous Israeli design. Comparable to but better than the American F-16. The development project of the Lavi cancelled with a lot of recriminations from the Israeli public sector - - aircraft manufacture and design. Two prototypes of the Lavi kept in use subsequent to cancellation of the program, primarily to test: "The avionics of the Lavi were considered to be innovative and groundbreaking, and included self-analysis equipment to make maintenance easier".

That the Chinese J-10 owes A LOT [?] to the Lavi, the Lavi supposedly studied [?]by the Chinese, the final design [?] of the Chengdu incorporating design elements borrowed directly from the Lavi. Since the Lavi was funded by both the Israeli and Americans and a considerable [?] amount of American aircraft technology was used in the Lavi, well, figure it out for yourself what this means.

"According to some sources China was in possession of a Lavi during development of the J-10. Furthermore, due to the high level of American involvement in terms of technology sharing as well as funding, if these allegations were proven true, the sale of a Lavi and technical assistance in the production of the J-10 would represent a direct and illicit transfer of American technology to the Chinese by the Israelis. In sum, to a degree, the most advanced Chinese aircraft in the world would contain the most advanced American technology. However, the designer of the J-10, Song Wencong . . . has denied any connection whatsoever with Lavi program"

My perception is that the J-10 is analogous in many respects to other foreign designed aircraft, BUT that the J-10 is NOT a "clone" of the Lavi. I would also suspect the Chinese had a good look at the Lavi and incorporated many avionic concepts and technologies as originated by the Israeli into the J-10. NOT so much the "outside" package but the "inside"!

Here now with some images of the J-10 and other MRCA in the same "league" as the Chengdu "indigenous" design. Place close attention to the various similarities:

1. Chengdu J-10.






2. Eurofighter.





3. X-31.





4. Lavi.





5. Ye-8.






The Soviet Ye-8, first built in 1960 "Two built. 1960..1962.", an experimental aircraft based upon the design of the MiG-21, incorporates some interesting features not to be found on "western" combat airplanes until MUCH later.

"E-8 234.0K - Experimental fighter . . . The E-8 was a single-seat, single-engined aircraft with a delta wing and tail surfaces . . . but also with canard foreplanes. The fuselage was similar to that of the X-31 or the EFA [EuroFighter]"

This comment most appropriate: "(how long it took for the West to copy abandoned Soviet project...)" Copy is not so much the right word? You have to judge this all for yourself.

coolbert.