The Chengdu J-10 is a multirole fighter aircraft designed and produced by the People's Republic of China's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Known in the West as the "Vigorous Dragon",[4] the J-10 is a multi-role combat aircraft capable of all-weather day/night operation, that the PRC's People's Daily has compared to the F-16 and Mirage 2000. The status of the J-10 next-generation fighter program remained somewhat ambiguous until December 29 2006, when the Xinhua News Agency officially disclosed its active duty status with the PLAAF.