China is developing twin-seat variants of the J-10 for use in the reconnaissance, training and attack roles. A two-seat J-10B fighter-trainer aircraft conducted a successful flight in 2003. The aircraft features a stretched forward fuselage and a higher canopy to accommodate an additional seat and its equipment. Its dorsal spine also may have been enlarged to accommodate electronics displaced by the rear cockpit
J-11
There are rumors of a variant or further development of the J-10 under a joint Chinese Russian design program. The J-11 could mount China's WS-10 turbofan powerplant if the engine is ready in time. The J-11 reportedly will use design features of the Su-27 family of aircraft, but with more capabilit ies.
J-13
Chengdu and its subordinated 611 Aircraft Design Institute has begun work on an enlarged twin-engine version of the J-10 to compete with Shenyang's J-12 project for the PLAAF's fourth generation fighter program. The new fighter, which reportedly has been designated J-13, uses the J-10's canard delt a design and resembles the Russian MiG MFI (Project 1.44) fifth-generation fighter demonstrator. The J-13 may be powered by two improved AL-41 turbofan engines with thrust-vectoring nozzles and possibly supersonic cruise capability too, with a maximum take-off weight of 40,000 pounds (9,072 kg).
