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.
Variants
- 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. [link]
- J-7I (J-7A) : Improved J-7 variant built by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp (CAC) in 1970's. Limited production as day-fighter with WP-7B engine, two 30mm guns, & 2 under-wing pylons. Exported to Albania and Tanzania as the F-7A. [link]
- J-7II (J-7B) : Improved J-7I vairant built in 1970's, limited all-weather fighter with two 30mm guns and WP-7B engine. Modified for export as the J-7B/F-7B 1982, with re-wired pylons to use French R550 AAM's. Sold to Egypt, Iraq, and Sudan in 1982-1983. A special F-7BS vairant with 4 wing pylons was built for Sri Lanka in 1991.
- J-7IIA : Improved J-7II vairant with western avionics, all-weather fighter built in early 1980's.
- J-7IIH : Improved J-7II vairant with enhanced ground attack capability [link]
- F-7M Airguard : Imporved J-7II vairant for export with western avionics and WP-7B/WP-7BM engine and four under-wing pylons. Can use French R550 and PL-7 AAM's. Sold to Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe in 1980's.
- F-7P Sabre II : aka Super-7, planned upgrade with US-made equipment in 1980's. Project eventually turned into FC-1/JF-17.
- F-7P Skybolt : Modified F-7M for Pakistani Air Force (PAF), with Martin-Baker ejection seat, GMAv Skyranger PD radar, and AIM-9 Sidewinder capability.
- F-7MP Skybolt : Further improved vairant of F-7P with western avionics and FIAR Grifo-7 PD radar for the PAF. [link]
- J-7III (J-7C) : Reverse-engineered copies of MiG-21MF "Fishbed-J" [link] by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Copr (CAC) with JL-7 fire-control radar, Liyang WP-13 turbojet engine, new HUD/avionics, and improved fuel capacity. Limited production of 20-30.
- J-7IIIA (J-7D) : Improved J-7III/J-7C with JL-7A radar and WP-13FI turbojet engine, jointly-developed by CAC and Guizhou Aviation Industry Group (GAIG). Limited production of 20-30. [link]
- J-7E : Improved vairant of J-7II, developed in 1987 as replacement for J-7II/J-7B. New double-delta wing, WP-13F turbojet engine, Type 226 PD radar, increased internal fuel capacity, and better performance. [link] A special unarmed J-7EB vairant is used by the PLAAF August 1st Aerobatic Team.
- F-7MG : Export vairant of the J-7E, sold to Bangladesh as F-7BG in 2005 [link]
- 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. [link]
- J-7G : Improved variant of the J-7E by CAC, first flew in 2002. Equipped with new KLJ-6E PD radar (suspected copy of Israeli EL/M-2001) with helmet-mounted sight (HMS) integrated with PL-8 AAM. One 30mm gun was removed. [link]
- JJ-7 (FT-7) : Dual-seat J-7 trainer, based on the MiG-21U Mongol-A design. Originally built by Guizhou Aircraft Design Institute and Guizhou Aircraft Company (now Guizhou Aviation Industry Group/GAIC) [link] [link] in 1981, exported as FT-7.
- JJ-7A (FT-7A) : Improved JJ-7 vairant with new HUD and avionics, built in early 1990's. Exported as FT-7A, other vairants (JJ-7B, JJ-7N, JJ-7PG) are also known to exist, possibly customized for export customers.
- FT-7P : Trainer vairant of FT-7 for Pakistani Air Force (PAF), FT = Fighter Trainer. [link]
- FT-7PG : Latest FT-7 trainer vairant for PAF.
- JL-9 (FTC-2000) : Also known as FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle (Shan Ying), new two-seat trainer derived from the JJ-7. Built by GAIC in early 2000's as the low-cost solution to JJ-7 trainer replacement. [link]
Specifications for J-7E
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