In a recent CCTV report on a brigade of the Chinese Air Force, images of four PL-15 active radar-guided air-to-air missiles mounted on a J-10C fighter were exposed for the first time, marking that after the PL-12 medium-range missiles, the most advanced PL-15 medium-range missiles have also realized the 4-round mounting of the double pylon on the J-10C, doubling the jet’s air combat capability beyond the visual range.
The J-10 family’s wingspan is limited because of the canard delta wing aerodynamic layout. J-10 fighters can only be equipped with three pylons under the wing and cannot install a pair of fighting missile slide rails on the wing tip like the trapezoidal wings of traditional layout fighters. As a result, the number of air-to-air missiles mounted on the aircraft is limited.
According to analyst Bai Zhandao, in order to obtain a practical combat radius in air combat missions, the J-10 needs to mount three auxiliary fuel tanks on the wing root and belly, and only four pylons in the middle and outside of the wings could mount air-to-air missiles. For a long time, the air combat missions of the J-10 have been equipped with 2 PL-12 active missiles + 2 PL-8 fighting missiles, two fewer mid-range missiles compared to the 4 AIM-120 + 2 AIM-9 of F-16 fighters, which affects its sustained firepower output in air combat beyond visual range.
After J-10 fighters were put into service, designers designed a double-linked under-wing pylon with a small weight. Such pylons can directly replace the original heavy-duty weapon pylons in the middle of the wings of the J-10. They are connected to the missile launching slides through two front and rear herringbone beams. Two medium-range missiles can be mounted on a slide at the same time, so the fighter’s air combat weapons reach the mainstream level of 4 medium and 2 short missiles.
In addition to J-10C, such twin pylons are also equipped with J-20 stealth fighters, which allows the aircraft to mount eight more medium-range bombs in its “beast mode” using four under-wing suspension points. In addition, such pylons also help the Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17/FC-1 fighter achieve a considerable air combat mission mount of 4 medium and 2 short missiles.