Chengdu J-7
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The Chengdu Jian-7 (export versions F-7) is a People's Republic of China-built fighter jet derived from the Russian MiG-21. It is still produced today, and serves in the Air Forces of some nations. It is an upgraded version of the original MiG-21 with more modern avionics and weaponry. It serves mostly as an interceptor in the air forces that operate it.
In the early 1950s and 1960s, the Soviet Union shared most of its conventional weapons technology with the People's Republic of China. One of these was the famous Mikoyan MiG-21 short-range interceptor and fighter aircraft. Powered by a single engine and designed on a simple airframe, these fighters were inexpensive, but fast and maneuverable, suiting the strategy of forming large quantities of 'people's fighters' to overcome technological advantages of Western aircraft.
With the delivery of a handful of Mikoyan MiG-21 fighters (F variant) along with technical documents, China set about reverse engineering the aircraft for local production. This was achieved with only minor real differences from the original. Poor initial quality and slow progress resulted in full scale production only coming about in the 1980s, by which time the design was showing its age. However, the fighter is affordable, and widely exported as the F-7, often with Western systems incorporated like the ones sold to Pakistan. Currently Pakistan Air Force is buying JF-17 to replace its old fleet of F-7.
In the mid 90s, the PLAAF began replacing its J-7Bs with the substantially redesigned J-7E variant. The wings of the J-7E have been changed to a unique "double delta" design offering improved aerodynamics and increased fuel capacity, and the J-7E also features a more powerful engine and improved avionics. The newest version of the J-7, the J-7G, entered service with the PLAAF in 2003.
The role of the J-7 in the People's Liberation Army is to provide local air defense and tactical air superiority. Large numbers are to be employed to deter enemy air operations.
[edit] Variants
The J-7 was the largest Chinese jet family with most numerous models and longest production run. There are around four dozens of designs and these include:
[edit] J-7
First reverse-engineered copies of the MiG-21-F-13 "Fishbed-C" by Shenyang Aircraft Factory in 1962, powered by WP-7 (R-11F-300 copy). Only 12 were produced. [1]
[edit] J-7I
Improved J-7 variant built by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp (CAC) in 1970's, differs from J-7 in that the fixed intake of J-7 was replaced by a variable intake. Still engined with WP-7.
[edit] F-7A
Limited export version of J-7I with WP-7B engine, two 30mm guns, & 2 under-wing pylons. Exported to Albania and Tanzania. In accordance with Mao Zedong's foreign aid policy at the time, the export version was armed with better equipment than the domestic ones. [2]
[edit] J-7II
Improved J-7I vairant built in 1970's, limited all-weather fighter with two 30mm guns and WP-7B engine. The forward hinged canopy jettisoned with the ejection seat of the Soviet design proved to be unsuccessful and was replaced by a rearward hinged canopy jettisoned before the ejection seat.
[edit] F-7B
Export version of the J-7II. with re-wired pylons to use French R550 Magic Air-to-air missiles. Sold to Egypt (A total of 150 F-7B and F-7M), Iraq, and Sudan in 1982-1983. The Iraqi units were paid by Egypt.
[edit] JJ-7
Dual-seat J-7 trainer, Chinese equivalent of the MiG-21U Mongol-A design. Originally built by Guizhou Aircraft Design Institute and Guizhou Aircraft Company (now Guizhou Aviation Industry Group/GAIC) [3] [4] in 1981.
[edit] FT-7
Export version of JJ-7 with the domestic Chinese Type-II ejection seat replacing the Chinese copy of the original Soviet design, because the Soviet design was less reliable than the Chinese design.
[edit] JJ-7I
Chinese equivalent of the Soviet MiG-21US trainer with domestic Type-II ejection seat. Only a very smaller number built before converting to JJ-7II.
[edit] FT-7A
Conversion package offered to Soviet MiG-21U trainer customers such as Egypt to replace the original Soviet-built ejection seats with Chinese built Type-II ejection seat, and a rear hinged canopy that would be jettisoned before the ejection seat instead of the forward hinged canopy jettisoned with the ejection seat.
[edit] J-7IIA
Improved J-7II variant in early 1980's with western avionics, such as the British Type 956 HUD, which became standard for J-7 fighters from now on.
[edit] F-7W
First J-7 Export model with HUD, delivered to Jordan completed in 1986. The smaller canopy and the small window behind it were replaced by a larger canopy so that the small window no longer existed on J-7 models from now on.
[edit] JJ-7II
JJ-7I with Rockwell Collins avionics that became standard for later J-7 models.
[edit] FT-7B
Export version of JJ-7II, first J-7 model to have Martin-Baker ejection seat.
[edit] J-7BS
First J-7 to have 4 underwing pylons.
[edit] F-7BS
4 export version of J-7BS units sold to Sri Lanka, and these units lacked the HUD.
[edit] F-7MB
16 F-7BS units exported to Bangladesh, with capability to carry reconnaissance pods and operate the equipment inside the pods from the cockpit.
[edit] F-7M Airguard
Improved J-7II vairant for export with western avionics, namely, the British GEC-Marconi Type 226 Skyranger radar and Type 956 HUD, and WP-7B/WP-7BM engine. A totally different wing with complete new design enabled the take-off and landing distance to be reduced by 20%, while increasing the aerodynamic performance in dogfights at the same time. According to customers' claims, F-7M is nearly 40% more effective than MiG-21 in terms of overall performance. Can use French R550 Magic and PL-7 Air-to-air missiles. 24 sold to Myanmar, and Egypt in 1980's.
[edit] FT-7M
Trainer version of the F-7M. This is the J-7 trainer version on which the head-up display became standard.
[edit] J-7M
Until the early 2000's, there was at leat a F-7M used by Chinese as a radar and avionics test bed. Differs from other models in that there was no fixed radars and avionics due to the different equipment being tested.
[edit] J-7IIM
Conversion package to upgrade domestic Chinese J-7's to F-7M standard.
[edit] J-7IIH
Improved J-7II variant with enhanced ground attack capability. First J-7 model to test universal missile-launching rails so that all ordnance could be carried by one missile-launching rail instead of many different ones, thus greatly reduced time and resources needed. [5]
[edit] J-7MP
After nearly two years use of F-7M, Pakistani Air Force (PAF) returned the 20 F-7M aircraft to China in the late 1980's with recommendations for 24 upgrades, including replacing the original GEC-Marconi Type 226 Skyranger radar with the Italian FIAR Grifo-7 radar, and AIM-9 Sidewinder capability. The Italian radar weighs 55 kg, had a slot antenna planar array, and had a range greater than 50 km, while the British radar only weighs 42 kg, with a parabolic antenna, but only had range of 15 km. Both radars have a mean time between failure rate of 200 hours. J-7MP is the design specially tailored to Pakistani requirement.
[edit] J-7IIK
Conversion package resulted from experienced gained from J-7MP to upgrade domestic Chinese J-7 to J-7MP/F-7MP/F-7P standard.
[edit] F-7MP
J-7MP converted from F-7M, a total of 20 delivered and in Pakistani service, it is also known as F-7P Skybolt like the F-7P. Pakistani Air Force does not distinguish the two since the only difference was how they were produced.
[edit] F-7P
Newly built Skybolt for Pakistani Air Force (PAF). A total of 60 built. Starting with this model, F-7's in the Pakistani service begun to be upgraded with the Italian FIAR Grifo-Mk-II radar license assembled by the ISO - 9002 certified Kamra Avionics, Electronics and Radar Factory of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). In comparison to the Grifo-7, the new radar only weighs an extra 1 kg (56 kg total), but the sector of scan was increased to +/- 20 degrees from the original +/- 10 degrees of Grifo-7. The newer radar also had improved ECM and look-down and shoot-down capabiity, and can track 4 targets simultaneously while engage one of four target tracked.
[edit] FT-7P
Trainer version of F-7MP and F-7P. Unlike most Chinese built J-7 trainers which lack radars, the FT-7P was armed with the same radar on the single seat version and thus fully capable for combats.
[edit] Super-7
Rejected British upgrades of F-7M in the mid-1980's. After the successful deal with Chinese in the early 1980's resulting in F-7M, British offered further upgrade to improve the performance of F-7M by adopting either General Electric F404 or Pratt & Whitney PW 1120 turbofan engines. The radar options would include Red Fox, the repackaged version of Blue Fox radar used on Sea Harrier FRS Mk 1, or the Emerson AN/APG-69. Although the radar tests were successful, the upgrade was rejected before engine tests because either radars and engines cost more than a new J-7, (2 million United States Dollars, 1984 price). The name, Super-7, however, was retained to be used for FC-1/JF-17.
[edit] J-7III
Reverse-engineered copies of MiG-21MF "Fishbed-J", reportedly obtained from Egypt. [6] by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Copr (CAC) with JL-7 fire-control radar (weigh 100 kg, maximum range is 28 km, and MTBF is 70 hours), Liyang WP-13 turbojet engine, new HUD/avionics, and improved fuel capacity. Limited production of 20-30.
[edit] F-7-3
Export version of J-7III with different missile launching rails that are compatible with French R550 Magic Air-to-air missiles. No sales reported.
[edit] J-7IIIA
Improved J-7III/F-7-3 with JL-7A radar and WP-13FI turbojet engine, jointly-developed by CAC and Guizhou Aviation Industry Group (GAIG). Limited production of 20-30. Straight topped spine like that of MiG-21PF and PFMA. [7]
[edit] F-7D
Export version of J-7IIIA with different missile launching rails that are compatible with French R550 Magic Air-to-air missiles. No sales reported.
[edit] JZ-7
Reconnaissance version of the J-7, Chinese equivalent of MiG-21R. In addition to the photo reconnaissance, this aircraft was the first to have the domestically developed ESM reconnaissance pod.
[edit] Saber-II
Replacement for Super-7. Northrop Corporation upgrade for F-7P for the Pakistani Air Force. Side intakes replaced the nose intake, and General Electric AN/APG-67 radar on F-20 Tigershark would be adopted. The program was terminated due to the Tiananmen Square protest of 1989, and eventually evolved into FC-1/JF-17.
[edit] J-7E
Improved vairant of J-7II, developed in 1987 as replacement for J-7II/F-7B. New double-delta wing, WP-13F turbojet engine, British GEC-Marconi Super Skyranger radar, increased internal fuel capacity, and better performance. 45% more maneuvorable than the J/F-7M, while the take-off and landing distance is reduced to 600 meters, incomparion to 1,000 meter take-off distance and 900 meter landing distance of earlier versions of J-7.[8] J-7E is the first of the J-7 family to incorporate HOTAS, which has since become standard on the later versions.
[edit] J-7EB
A unarmed J-7EB vairant is used by the People's Liberation Army Air Force August 1st Aerobatic Team.
[edit] J-7MG
J-7E armed with Martin-Baker ejection seat for potential customers' evaluation. Pakistan and Bangladesh evaluated the aircraft.
[edit] F-7MG
Export vairant of the J-7MG, with the single piece windshield replacing the 3-piece windshield of J-7MG. Evolved to F-7BG.
[edit] F-7BG
F-7MG with reconnaissance capability like that of F-7MB, sold to Bangladesh in 2005. [9]
[edit] J-7PG
Alternative to J-7MG, similar to J-7MG except armed with Italian Grifo-MG radar, which further increased the sector of scan to +/- 30 degrees from the +/- 20 degrees of Grifo-Mk-II on F-7P. The Grifo-MG radar has better ECCM, look-down and shoot-down capabilities than its predecessor Grifo-Mk-II, while the weight remained the same. The number of targets can be tracked simultaneously is increased from the original 4 of the Grifo-Mk-II to a total of 8 of the Grifo-MG.
[edit] F-7PG
Export vairant of the J-7PG, with the single piece windshield replacing the 3-piece windshield of J-7PG, Pakistan ordered a total of 80 in two batches, with 50 and 30 respectively in each batch. According to the Pakistan Air Force, the performance at high altitude of F-7PG has increased more than 83% in comparison to that of F-7P/MP. Just like the earlier Italian FIAR Grifo-Mk-II radar on F-7MP/P, the Italian FIAR Grifo-MG radar of F-7PG will be license assembled by the ISO - 9002 certified Kamra Avionics, Electronics and Radar Factory of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).
[edit] FT-7PG
FT-7 trainer vairant of F-7PG for the Pakistani Air Force. The rear seat is 0.5 metre higher than the front seat, so the periscope is eliminated.
[edit] J-7FS
Technology demonstration aircraft built by CAC, with redesigned under-chin inlet and WP-13IIS engine. First flew in 1998, only two prototypes were built before being replaced by J-7MF. [10]
[edit] J-7MF
Successor of J-7FS, with rectangle shaped under-chin inlet similar to that of Eurofighter Typhoon, and movable canards for aerodynamic performance improvement.
[edit] F-7MF
Italian proposed export version of J-7MF armed with proposed FIAR Grifo-M radar. The plan was abandoned in favor of FC-1/JF-17, but the aircraft was reportedly used to test the FIAR Grifo-S radar for FC-1/JF-17. However, it is rumored that of the a total 80 F-7PG ordered by Pakistan, the last 30 were switched to F-7MF, but this cannot be confirmed.
[edit] J-7G
Improved variant of the J-7E by CAC, first flew in 2002. Equipped with new KLJ-6E PD radar (Chinese copy of Italian Pointer-2500 ranging radar used for Q-5M, and the Italian radar itself was a development of Pointer radar, the Italian copy of Israeli Elta EL/M-2001) with helmet-mounted sight (HMS) integrated with PL-8 Air-to-air missiles. One 30 mm gun was removed, and a more powerful engine installed. [11]
[edit] J-7GB
Unarmed version of J-7G used to replace J-7EB for the August 1st Aerobatic team.
[edit] F-7N
18 export F-7MP version to Iran with domestic Chinese avionics replacing the western avionics. Reportedly, the radar was SY-80 pulse doppler radar.
[edit] F-7IIN
22 modified F-7M sold to Zimbabwe, with the domestic Chinese avionics replacing the western avionics, reportedly with JL-7A radar.
[edit] J-7 Drone
Unmanned J-7 remote-controlled drone.
[edit] JL-9 (FTC-2000)
Also known as FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle (Shan Ying), new two-seat trainer derived from the JJ-7 series. Built by GAIC in early 2000's as the low-cost solution to JJ-7 trainer replacement. [12]
[edit] Combat Services
Most actions carried out by F-7 models were air-to-ground missions and for the air-to-air missions, there was rarely any encounter resulted in dogfights.
[edit] Albania
The station of F-7A near the border successfully checked the Yugoslavian incursion into Albanian airspace, and the F-7A saw action as late as the Kosovo War.
[edit] Egypt
It was reported that after the initial air war resulted in Egyptian MiG-21s shooting down Libyan MiG-23s, the F-7B were deployed to the Egyptian-Libyan border along with MiG-21 to fend off further possible Libyan MiG-23 incursion to Egyptian airspace, after the worsened relationship between the two countries because the Egyptian signing of peace accord with Israel.
[edit] Iran
No known combat actions but participated in several movies by portraying Iraqi MiG-21s during the Iran-Iraq War, such as the one that tell the story of Iranian Air Force strike on Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor on September 30, 1980 and the one that tells the story of the 810 km deep raids into Iraqi heartland against Iraqi air fields on April 4, 1981, as well as movies depicting the air combat in 1981 resulting in downing around 70 Iraqi aircraft. However, unconfirmed reports claimed that during the late stage of the war, these aircraft were used for air-to-ground attacks.
[edit] Iraq
F-7B paid by Eygpt arrived late for the air combats in the early Iran-Iraq War and participated mainly for air-to-ground sorties.
[edit] Myanmar
F-7M were used for ground attack sorties against drug lords' private armies in Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia).
[edit] Sri Lanka
F-7BS were used for ground attack missions in the civil war because rebels have no air force.
[edit] Sudan
Like Myanmar, the Sudanese F-7Bs were used in the Sudanese Civil War against ground targets because opposition had no air force.
[edit] Tanzania
The F-7A in the Tanzanian hands served in the Uganda-Tanzania War against Ugandan and their Lybian ally in 1979, and the appearance of F-7A effective terminated the Idi Amin's Lybian ally's Tupolev Tu-22 bombing runs.
[edit] Operators
- Albania, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia
[edit] Specifications for J-7E
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 14.885 m (48 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 8.32 m (27 ft 4 in)
- Height: 4.10 m (13 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: Greater than 23 m² (247.5 ft²)
- Empty weight: 5,292 kg (11,667 lb)
- Loaded weight: 7,540 kg (16,620 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 9,100 kg (20,000 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Liyang Wopen-13F (R-13-300) [13] Afterburning Turbojet
- Dry thrust: 44.1 kN dry (9,590 lbf)
- Thrust with afterburner: 66.7 kN (14,815 lbf)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 2,175 km/h (1,350 mph)
- Combat range: 850 km (528 miles)
- Ferry range: 2,200 km (1,380 miles)
- Service ceiling: 18,800 m (61,700 ft)
- Rate of climb: 11,700 meters/min (38,400 ft/min)
- Wing loading: Greater than 379 kg/m² (77.8 lb/ft²)
Armament
- Two 30mm Type 30-1 guns with 60 rounds each
- Four under-wing store stations (500 kg load each, 2,000 kg total limit)
- Centerline station (typically used for 720 liter drop tank)
- PL-8, PL-9 short-range AAM
- 50kg - 500kg Free-fall bombs
- 12x55mm Rocket pod, 7x90mm Rocket pod
Avionics
- Type 226 PD radar (domestic)
- GEC-Marconi Super Skyranger or Italian Grifo-7 (export)
[edit] Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
| PLAAF Aircraft (active) | |
| Bombers: |
|
| Fighters: J-4 | J-5 | J-6 | J-7 | J-8 | J-10 | J-11 | Q-5 | Su-27 | Su-30 MKK | JH-7 | |
|
| Reconnaissance: HZ-5 | JZ-5 | JZ-6 (MiG-19R) | JZ-7 | JZ-8 Finback | Tu-154M | |
|
| Tanker: HY-6 |
|
| Transport: B737-200 | CL 601 Challenger | Il-76 Candid | Tu-154 | Y-8 | Y-11 | Y-12 | Y-5 | Y-7 | |
