Chengdu J-14 (Jianjiji-14 Fighter aircraft 14) / F-14

The J-14, designed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, was said to be a twin engine design based on the single-engine J-10. The project was apparently rejected in favor of the J-11B upgrade of the Su-27 design. Many foreign media speculated that the J-14 is China's reverse research version of the Russian MiG 1.44, using internal magazines to reduce radar reflections and improve stealth. However, J-14 is more likely to be designed by Hongdu Aircraft Factory based on Qiang-6 to bid for the third-generation fighter plan of the PLA with Shenyang J-13 and Chengdu J-10. The number of the J-14 was vacant, and there was never any definite evidence to prove the plan of the J-14 or its fighter entity. As of 2020 this program was only rumored, and details were not confirmed.

Chengdu J-14 Stealth Fighter

In 2006 the respected journal Military Technology reported ["China Develops Stealth Fighter" Vol.30, Iss. 2; pg. 44, 3 pgs] that China was developing new "stealth" fighter, under a program variously referred to as XXJ, J-X, or J-XX by Western intelligence sources, apparently designated as J-14. The first "picture" recently become available, though the authenticity of the image was quickly challenged. The aircraft in the photo looked at first sight as a complete prototype, but was said to be a very detailed full-scale engineering mock-up. It can be speculated that, after having been used to study the aircraft's internal installations, the mock-up has also received an external finish for presentation purposes. Its real function at this point, however, was probably to assist in the definition of the required logistic support (i.e., access to the various avionics boxes and on-board systems, ground support equipment like the various ladders and the external power source units, air conditioning units and so on) as well as to study the engines' removal/installation procedures.

According to this report, it is however still not clear whether the designation of J-14 is intended to suggest a successor design to both the J-12 and the J-13, and whether the existence of the J-14 engineering mock-up (clearly based on the J-12) indicated that the type has been selected for development, or the competition was still going on with parallel activities underway on another such mock-up based on the J-13.

The general configuration of the aircraft was clearly from CAC's experience in developing the J-10, with its canard layout and ventral air intake. But while the J-10 is known to be related to the Israeli LAVI, this new and much more ambitious design appeared to have a relationship with the ill-fated Russian 5th generation fighter of the 1990s, the MiG 1.44 MFI. While the overall aerodynamic configuration of the J-14 followed that of the MiG 1.44 demonstrator, a canard configuration is hardly the ideal solution from the point of view of a reduced radar signature. A radical redesign had been implemented for a significant reduction in the radar cross-section value. In particular, the aircraft incorporates a pronounced wing-body blending, which was totally lacking in the original Russian design.

Chengdu J-14 4th-generation Multi-Role Combat Aircraft [MRCA]

One of the most significant revelations coming out of the 8th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province between November 16 and 21, 2010 [also known as Airshow China 2010] was official confirmation of the existence of two parallel R&D programs aimed at fielding a fourth-generation multi-role combat aircraft [MRCA] - the Jian J-14 - by 2014, and the fifth-generation Jian J-20 air dominance combat aircraft by 2018. Both these new-generation combat aircraft are being developed by the PLA Air Force's Nos 601 and 611 Institute, with Chengdu Aircraft Corp's Plant No132 (CAC) acting as the prime industrial contractor.

The J-14 will be twin-engined version of the existing single-engined Jian J-10A (140 of which are presently operational), and will feature enlarged wings and a twin vertical tail structure. Powerplant for the J-14 will be two WS-10G turbofans (each rated at 147kN maximum thrust) developed by the Liming Aeroengine Manufacturing Corp (LAMC).

The J-20, on the other hand, will be powered by twin uprated WS-10Gs, each of which will offer a maximum thrust of 155kN. It was on November 9 that the PLA Air Force's Deputy Commander, General He Weirong, confirmed the existence of both the J-14 and J-20 by saying that the former will soon be rolled out, while the latter will begin entering service by 2018. The J-20's design will be characterised by three 'S' capabilities: stealth, super cruise, super manoeuvrability and short take-off.

By early 2009 there were reports that the J-14 next generation fighter appeared to have been rejected in favor of Chengdu's J-13 design, and to have lost out to SAC's more realistic approach to develop a Flanker-derived type.