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J-13: The genesis of the J-13 plan was in 1971 when the 601 Institute began researching a new fighter aircraft for the 1980s to replace the J-6. In early 1974 the PLAAF formally proposed development of a new light fighter to replace the J-6 as the mainstay of the Air Force. As with many Chinese fighter projects, the principal sticking point was the lack of a suitable powerplant for the aircraft. In order to meet a required Mach 2.0 level speed, the original plan was to use one British Spey Mk202 turbofan (with afterburner giving 9,300kg thrust) domestically produced as the WS-9. Because the domestic project failed to work out as planned the powerplant was changed to a 12,200kg thrust WS-6 turbofan (the WS-9 was finally completed in 1980 but its thrust-to-weight ratio was far too low for a single-engine fighter). Preliminary design of the aircraft was completed in the late 1970s and the project was named the J-13. The new aircraft used cantilever wings and fuselage side mounted air intakes - it resembled the French Mirage-F1. Normal takeoff weight was 11660kg. Some reports suggest that in 1978 China obtained a MiG-23MS Flogger-E from Egypt and set about reverse-engineering the R-29 turbojet as the WS-15 (12,500kg wet thrust) for installation on the J-13. In the end none of these projects produced an efficient, reliable, powerful engine. The J-13 design stressed speed, a good rate of climb and was optimised as an interceptor with some ground attack capability. Ceiling was 19,000 metres, sea level rate of climb approximately 260 metres/second, maximum overload +9G, and payload about 4.5 tons. Because of the successful J-8-II project, in the mid-1980s development of the J-13 was delayed and accorded low priority. However, into the late 1980s the project continued although the operational requirements had increased to match the Russian MiG-29 and American F-16 light fighters. In the early 1990s the project was finally abandoned because of the success of the Chengdu J-10 project.

J-10: The Chengdu Aircraft Company has developed since the 1980s a single-engine, single-seat high performance fighter as Project 10. The J-10 design is similar to that of the cancelled Israeli Lavi: close coupled canards and tailless delta wing, a single ventral air intake, a 'bubble' canopy, all-moving canards, two ventral fins under the rear fuselage and a single vertical stabiliser. According to some reports, an early prototype known as the 8810 was completed in 1993 as a virtual clone of the Lavi including an F-100 turbofan engine. But PLAAF requirements had changed following experience with the Su-27 and the 611 Institute carried out a significant redesign in the mid-1990s. This incorporated the Russian AL-31F engine (approximately 120kN) mounted upside-down and altered the air intake and vertical tail. It is reported than an attempt to incorporate thrust-vectoring ran into trouble and was dropped, as well as an attempt to develop an electronically scanned phased array radar (or these may be technologies intended for the next-generation fighter described below). By 1998 development hurdles were overcome and the official first flight took place on 23 March. The J-10 is fitted with a zero-zero ejection seat for the pilot and Chinese helmet-mounted sights and colour multifunction displays. The pulse doppler radar can control radar guided and active homing AAMs and the J-10 may be fitted with Chinese radar absorbent materials. In 2001, Russia announced it would supply 300 AL-31 engines to China for use on 300 J-10s that will begin mass production in 2003. Reports suggest a two-seat/twin-engine naval variant may be under development - possibly for use on a future Chinese aircraft carrier.

FC-1: In response to a requirement from Pakistan the Chengdu Aircraft Company began development of a lightweight multirole fighter for export. Originally based on the Super-7, the FC-1 will probably use the Russian RD-93 turbofan powerplant and a mixture of Russian and Western avionics. Developmental delays have dogged the project and the FC-1 is unlikely to be operational for a number of years. It is uncertain whether the PLAAF will buy the FC-1.