Chengdu J-10

The Chengdu J-10 (traditional Chinese: 殲十; simplified Chinese: 歼十; pinyin: Jiān Shí, meaning "Annihilator (Fighter) Ten") is a multirole fighter aircraft designed and produced by the People's Republic of China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Known in the West as the "Vigorous Dragon",[4] the J-10 is a multi-role combat aircraft capable of all-weather day/night operation.

The J-10 next-generation fighter program remained unknown outside of a China until December 29 2006, when the Xinhua News Agency officially disclosed its active duty status with the PLAAF.

The program was originally backed by the Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, who authorized half a billion Renminbi to develop an indigenous aircraft, but the official program did not start until several years later in January 1986 when the Chinese government officially issued Project #10,[1] to develop a fighter to counter new fourth generation fighters then being introduced by the USSR (namely, the MiG-29 and Su-27). The 611th Institute, also known as Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute was tasked as the main developer, with Mr. Song Wencong, the chief designer of J-7III assigned as the chief designer, and Mr. Xue Chishou (薛炽寿) as the chief engineer. Initially designed as a specialized fighter, it was later remade into a multirole aircraft capable of both air to air combat and ground attack missions. However, a Chinese magazine (zh:少年科学画报, ISSN1000-7776) published in June 1979 showed a boy holding a model of J-10.[5] The picture indicated that the project began long before 1979.