THE FIRST description of the Chinese F-10 fighter being developed in a collaborative programme with Israel, have been made available from line drawings prepared by the US Central Intelligence Agency. The drawings were derived from satellite pictures.
NBC News reported on 9 November that the $5 billion programme has been under way since the mid-1980s. The aircraft, based on technology from the Israel Aircraft Industries cancelled Lavi fighter, is expected to be in production by 2003, with up to 300 aircraft eventually replacing most of China's fighter and strike aircraft.
The F-10, being built by Chengdu Aircraft, is scheduled to have its maiden flight early in 1996. The development has caused anger in the US Government, which funded most of the original Lavi work. Israel has rebuffed US attempts to drop the programme.
Source: Flight International