Latest rumour coming out of the PLAAF land

I'd like to finish up on 054A, but there are certain air force related matters that I want to go over.

As you have all probably noticed, there was a Russian report that China will deliver 24 J-10s to Iran. Now, I have to say that the original report was full of errors just in terms of its description of J-10. It basically called J-10 a clone of Lavi (which is not close to the truth). Of course, the Israeli and American news services picked up on this and harped on China's betrayal of Israel's help. They also made sure readers noticed that American tax dollars are not only spent on J-10, but will also be forwarded to Iran, their enemy. Aside from the obvious part that the Israelis stopped helping the J-10 project in 1995 (first flight didn't come until 1998), people fail to realize that J-10 would've been completed eventually with or without the Israeli help (although there is no doubt that the Israeli assistance sped up the development process). There are several reasons why China would not sell J-10 at this point:

1. China does not export its best technology (similar to USA and Russia). In fact, several years back, the Iranians were interested in J-8F. However, China was only willing to offer F-8IIM, so the deal fell through. Until J-11B is fully in service J-10 is by far China's most powerful aerial threat. If they would not even export J-8F to Iran, why would they export J-10?
2. The risk of J-10 falling into American hands is too great. If J-10 is exported to Iran, then the likelihood of it falling into American hands after a confrontation against Iran is extremely high. In that case, US would be able to take it back, examine the aircraft and get all of its performance parameters. Once that happens, the effectiveness of current and future J-10 would be significantly reduced. In fact, it is actually more beneficial to US if J-10 gets exported to Iran (especially considering the likelihood of military action against it).
3. If JF-17 is good enough for Iran, why would J-10 need to be exported. In fact, Iran was always expected to be the largest JF-17 customer outside of Pakistan. There have even been talks of an assembly line for JF-17 in Iran.
4. China has also apparently helped Iran on Shafaq and its indigenous F-5. It can do a lot of business with Iran without having to sell its most advanced fighter, why would it do it?
5. There is also the recent sanction by US on IRG. It's possible that any Chinese companies dealing with IRG will get sanctions. Would companies like SAC and CAC sacrifice their contracting jobs with Boeing just to make a few bucks with Iran?

In general, I think there are simply too many factors against such a move.

There have also been some rumours out regarding China's 5th generation fighter. The latest word is that SAC did not win the competition as many had suspected. Rather, it is a combined effort with CAC. In fact, it seems CAC is getting the lion share of the design work. Now, it's likely that the assembly line in Shenyang (112) will be in charge of the main final assembly rather than the one in Chengdu (132). Make a note, there is a difference between the design bureau (601 for SAC, 611 for CAC) and the actual factory producing the aircraft (112 for SAC and 132 for CAC). Due to Shenyang's experience producing heavy fighters like J-11, it might get the final assembly order, but that remains to be seen. If this is the case, then CAC might not put as much resource into the much talked about twin-engined J-10 project. Either way, there are a lot of projects for both SAC and CAC in the coming years.

Another recent rumour is the existence of JH-7B variant, but I'm still waiting for more photos to come out on that.

Finally, it seems like Russians have cut off Shenyang for the components to J-11, because they are worried that China will not make any orders for su-35, if J-11B becomes to successful (too late in my mind). But as it turns out, the domestic suppliers have stepped up and it hasn't been a problem. In fact, a recent avic1 article talked about J-11 changing engines. I'm not sure if it's talking about equipping new J-11Bs with WS-10A or just swapping older flankers with WS-10A. You can find the article here:

本报讯 近日，中国一航沈阳飞机设计研究所提前完成型号飞机换装发动机及鉴定试飞，飞机顺利转场；取得阶段性成果。一航沈阳所所长、型号总师孙聪荣获中国一航“总经理特别奖”。

型号飞机发动机换装项目是中央军委、中国一航决策的重点科研项目，从机上改装到试飞结束仅有一个月时间，周期短，任务重。

一航沈阳所充分发挥总师单位的主导作用，以高度的政治责任感和使命感，积极发扬团队合作精神，与兄弟单位通力合作，精心部署，加大管理力度，对每个工作环节制定详细的日计划，组织精兵强将专项跟踪，盯飞、盯数据、盯进度，跟产现场，服务现场，在较短时间内先后完成了方案论证、成品技术协调、改装发图与现场技术支持、地面试验、空地勤培训、试飞技术支持等各项工作。

在调板系统一项成品换装及技术鉴定试飞的关键阶段，改进的成品在试飞中出现斜板系统故障。参研人员结合飞参数据模拟飞行状态检查、分析故障机理，确定故障系控制器“收紧”与起调转换软件判故逻辑存在缺陷造成，协助承制单位制定并落实解决措施，完成试验验证，排除了故障，为提前完成阶段任务赢得了宝贵时间。

在项目实施过程中，一航沈阳所所长、型号总师孙聪精心筹划，现场指挥，对技术核心问题和影响进度的关键问题当场决策。当无损检测发现板材复合材料分层时，他立即组织专业人员集智攻关。改进方案确定后，孙聪亲自带队现场办公。由于措施得当，及时解决这一影响飞行安全的“瓶颈”问题，确保了项目阶段任务顺利完成。

一航沈阳所党委书记褚晓文多次带队深入一线，慰问指导，组织调配，鼓舞士气。各职能机关大力支持，密切配合做好后勤保障，促进问题加速解决。全所参研人员克服一个个难关，为项目顺利进行铺平了道路，创造了换装交付周期最短的奇迹。

It says that it takes one month from the start of changing engine to the end of flight test. Looks like J-11B has is finally fully indigenous.