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F/A-18 Hornet vs. Chengdu J-10

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F/A-18

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J-10

Role
Mulitrole fighterMulitrole fighter
Generation
4th generation4.5 generation
National Origin
United StatesChina
Manufacturer
McDonnell DouglasChengdu
Price (USD)
$35 Million$41 Million
Primary Users
US NavyPeople's Liberation Army Air Force
First Flight
19781998
Last Production Year
2000In Production
# Units Built
1,480>550
Status
In ServiceIn Service
Seats
1 (F-18C) / 2 (F-18D)1
Length
17 m56 ft
16 m55 ft
Wingspan
12 m40 ft
9 m32 ft
Wing Area
38 m²409 ft²
37 m²398 ft²
Height
4 m15 ft
5 m18 ft
Empty Weight
10,433 kg23,000 lbs
9,750 kg21,495 lbs
Gross Weight
16,769 kg36,970 lbs
14,000 kg30,865 lbs
MTOW
23,541 kg51,900 lbs
21,000 kg46,297 lbs
Fuel Capacity
4,926 kg10,860 lbs
3,860 kg8,510 lbs
Number of Engines
21
Engine Type
TurbofanTurbofan
Engine Manufacturer
General ElectricShenyang
Engine Model
F404-GE-402 WS-10B
Dry Thrust
49 kN11,000 lbs
89 kN20,050 lbs
Thrust w/ Afterburner
79 kN17,750 lbf
142 kN32,000 lbf
Max Thrust
158 kN35,500 lbf
142 kN32,000 lbf
Max Speed (Mach)
Mach 1.80Mach 2.10
Top Speed
1,915 km/h1,190 mph
2,327 km/h1,446 mph
Range
2,017 km1,089 nm
2,408 km1,300 nm
Rate of Climb
254 m/s50,000 ft/min
300 m/s59,000 ft/min
Ceiling
15,240 m50,000 ft
17,983 m59,000 ft
G Limit
7 g9 g

What Are the Differences Between the F/A-18 Hornet and Chengdu J-10

F/A-18 Hornet vs Chengdu J-10 Size Comparison

  • At 17.10 meters, the F/A-18 Hornet is 0.20 meters longer than the Chengdu J-10.
  • With a wingspan of 12.30 meters, the F/A-18 Hornet is 2.50 meters wider from wingtip to wingtip.
  • The wing area of the Chengdu J-10 is 1 meters bigger than that of the F/A-18 Hornet’s 4.70 meters.

F/A-18 Hornet vs Chengdu J-10 Price

  • The Chengdu J-10 is more expensive than the F/A-18 Hornet, with a unit cost of approximately 41 million compared to the F/A-18 Hornet’s unit cost of approximately 35 million.

F/A-18 Hornet vs Chengdu J-10 Speed

  • The Chengdu J-10 has a top speed of 1,446 miles per hour, and the F/A-18 Hornet has a top speed of 1,190 miles per hour. Head to head, this makes the Chengdu J-10 256 miles per hour faster than the F/A-18 Hornet.

About the F/A-18 Hornet

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, later manufactured by Boeing, is a versatile and highly capable all-weather supersonic, twin-engine, multirole combat aircraft. Initially designed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, the Hornet has also been adopted by the air forces of several other nations. Its development was influenced by the earlier Northrop YF-17 and it was introduced in the early 1980s.

Production History: The F/A-18 Hornet was developed as part of the U.S. Navy's VFAX program to replace several older aircraft models like the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs. It was intended to complement the F-14 Tomcat. The Hornet's first flight took place on November 18, 1978, and it entered service with the USMC on January 7, 1983, and with the USN on July 1, 1984. The production of the F/A-18 A-D models continued until 2000, with a total of 1,480 units built.

Design Features: The F/A-18 was designed to be highly adaptable, excelling in both fighter and attack roles. It can perform a range of operations including air defense, air interdiction, close air support, and reconnaissance. Its design incorporates advanced avionics and cockpit displays, and it is capable of carrying a wide array of weapons.

Operational History: The F/A-18 Hornet first saw combat during the 1986 United States bombing of Libya and was heavily involved in the Gulf War and Iraq War. The aircraft has proven its effectiveness in diverse roles and environments, contributing significantly to U.S. and allied military operations.

Comparison with Similar Models:

F/A-18 Hornet vs. F-16 Fighting Falcon

Carrier Capability and Versatility: Unlike the land-based F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F/A-18 was designed with carrier operations in mind, featuring robust landing gear, arresting hook, and wing-fold mechanism. While both aircraft are highly capable multirole fighters, the Hornet's ability to operate from carriers offers significant strategic flexibility.

Payload and Range: The F/A-18 Hornet is designed to carry a heavier payload than the F-16, including a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. However, the F-16 often has a longer range on internal fuel, benefiting from its lighter airframe and single-engine efficiency.

F/A-18 Hornet vs. Mirage 2000

Multirole Capability: Both the F/A-18 Hornet and the Mirage 2000 are designed as multirole fighters, capable of engaging in both air-to-air combat and precision strike missions. The Hornet, however, offers greater versatility and payload capacity.

Performance and Technology: The Mirage 2000 is renowned for its delta wing design, contributing to its high speed and agility. The F/A-18 counters with superior avionics and multi-mission capability, allowing for effective operation in a wider range of mission profiles and environments.

About the Chengdu J-10

The Chengdu J-10 "Vigorous Dragon" is a single-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China. Introduced in the early 2000s, the J-10 represents China's effort to develop an indigenous fourth-generation fighter capable of executing air-to-air combat and ground attack missions.

Production History: The development of the J-10 began in the mid-1980s, with the aim of producing a high-performance fighter to counter advancing threats and replace older aircraft in China's arsenal. The first prototype flew in 1998, and the aircraft officially entered service in 2006. Since then, the J-10 has undergone several upgrades, resulting in variants such as the J-10A, J-10B, and J-10C.

Design Features: The J-10 features a delta wing and canard design, contributing to its high maneuverability and agility. It is powered by a single Russian-designed AL-31FN turbofan engine, with later variants (J-10C) adopting the more powerful WS-10A turbofan. The aircraft is equipped with an advanced avionics suite, including an AESA radar (in the J-10C variant), which significantly enhances its air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities. Its weapons bay and multiple external hardpoints allow it to carry a wide range of Chinese and Russian-made ordnance.

Operational History:

The J-10 has become a key component of the PLAAF and the People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF), performing various roles, including air superiority, strike, and reconnaissance missions. While it has not been combat-tested in international conflicts, the J-10 regularly participates in military exercises and air shows, demonstrating its capabilities and serving as a symbol of China's growing aerospace industry and military power.

Comparison with Similar Models:

J-10 "Vigorous Dragon" vs. Dassault Rafale

Operational Flexibility: Both the J-10 and Rafale are designed as multi-role fighters capable of executing a wide range of missions. The Rafale is noted for its omnirole capabilities, and the J-10C offers similar multi-mission flexibility.

Engine and Performance: The Rafale operates with two engines, offering redundancy and enhanced thrust, while the J-10 relies on a single engine.

J-10 "Vigorous Dragon" vs. F-16 Fighting Falcon

Design and Maneuverability: The F-16 has long been praised for its maneuverability and dogfighting prowess, made possible by its innovative fly-by-wire control system. The J-10 shares these qualities, with its canard-delta configuration.

Technological Evolution: While the F-16 has been continuously upgraded over decades, resulting in a highly refined aircraft with extensive combat experience, the J-10 represents a newer generation of design philosophy.

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Values shown may not be 100% accurate, as some metrics are averages or only represent certain production years and configurations. Engine specs are based on the best options available.

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