Russian Media Says 24 J-10s Sold To Islamic State

On Thursday, China denied reports published in Russian and Israeli media stating it agreed to sell its home-designed J-10 fighter plane to Iran.

"It's not true, it is an irresponsible report," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told the International Herald Tribune. "China has not had talks with Iran on J-10 jets."

RIA Novosti first ran the story Tuesday, claiming it was a done deal. China purportedly agreed to sell two squadrons -- 24 fighters -- to the openly belligerant Islamic state. Russian news reports say the planes would be delivered next year, in a contract valued at $1 billion.

The J-10 (also referred to as F-10) incorporates technology and components Israel provided to China, based on the now-defunct Lavi project... a collaboration between Israel Aircraft Industries and US firms to develop an advanced multi-role aircraft, that was cancelled in the mid-1980s.

Experts tell The Jewish Bugle the J-10 -- considered roughly equivalent to the stalwart F-16 -- poses little risk of superiority over the advanced aircraft of the Israeli Air Force... but then again, that's not the immediate concern.

The sale of such high-profile arms to Iran would signify a deepening relationship between the two countries, already economic partners due to Iran's status as an important oil supplier to China.

That's a relationship Israel, and the US, would rather see experience a falling-out.

FMI: www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/index.html