Xian JH-7

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Xian JH-7
FBC-1 Flying Leopard

The Xian JH-7 fighter/bomber
Type Fighter-bomber
Manufacturer Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation
Maiden flight 14 December 1988
Introduced 1992
Primary users People's Liberation Army Navy
People's Liberation Army Air Force
Number built 96-103+

The Xian JH-7 (Jian Hong-7; NATO reporting name Flounder[1]), also known as the FBC-1 (Fighter/Bomber China-1) Flying Leopard, is a two-seater (tandem), twin-engine fighter-bomber in service with the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF), and the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The main contractors are Xian Aircraft Industry Corporation (XAC) and the 602nd Aircraft Design Institute. The first batch of JH-7 aircraft were delivered to the PLANAF in the mid-1990s for evaluation, and the improved JH-7A variant entered service in 2004.[2]

Contents

[edit] Design and development

In the early 1970s, the PLA submitted a request to the Ministry of Aeronautics (MoA) to develop a new fighter-bomber to replace the Harbin H-5 and Nanchang Q-5. Due to failure to secure a joint design venture with foreign countries, an indigenous program was initiated on April 19, 1983. Initially, two different variants were intended to meet the separate requirements from the PLAAF and PLANAF. The PLAAF variant was to be an all-weather deep-penetration strike bomber, with side-by-side cockpit seating, electronic countermeasures (ECM), and terrain following capabilities similar to the General Dynamics F-111. However, this variant was dropped in the early 1980s.

The PLANAF's variant was for an all-weather, two-seat (tandem), strike/reconnaissance aircraft. Six prototypes were built by December 1988, and a small batch of 12 to 18 JH-7s were delivered to the PLANAF in the early 1990s for evaluation. The first JH-7s used imported Rolls-Royce Spey Mk.202 engines. Later, they were replaced by license-built Spey Mk.202s named WoShan-9 (WS-9). These first batch of JH-7 used Type 243H multifunction radar, with maximum range of 175 km against ships and 75 km maximum range against MiG-21 sized aerial targets.

The JH-7 is China's newest and most capable domestically-built fighter-bomber. The aircraft is underpowered with Mk.202/WS-9 engines, and has a smaller weapons load of 6.5 tons, compared to the Sukhoi Su-24 and Su-30 at 8 tons, and the General Dynamics F-111 at 14 tons. However, the JH-7 is a much lighter and simpler aircraft than the variable sweep winged Su-24 or F-111, and far cheaper to produce than the high performance Su-30 multi-role fighter. The JH-7 represents a significant strike capability for the PLANAF, and its load capacity allows the aircraft to carry 2 (JH-7) or 4 (JH-7A) domestically-made YJ-82s in maritime strike missions.

[edit] Operational history

In 2004, the improved JH-7A entered service with PLANAF. The JH-7A is updated with JL-10A pulse doppler radar, new fly-by-wire (FBW) system, one-piece windscreen, additional hardpoints, and capability to use Russian LGBs and Kh-31 anti-radiation missiles. The aircraft is currently used by the PLANAF 6th Div, PLANAF 9th Div, and PLAAF 28th Div. Although a significant improvement over the original JH-7, the future of this aircraft looks uncertain as China's People's Liberation Army turns to more capable fighter/bombers such as the Sukhoi Su-30/Shenyang J-11 and the Chengdu J-10 for their maritime strike roles. A PLANAF JH-7 regiment typically consists of 18 to 20 aircraft, which is fewer than the usual 24 to 28 aircraft for PLAAF air regiments.

[edit] Operators

Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China

[edit] Specifications (JH-7)

Data from Sinodefence, AVIC I[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2: pilot, weapons operator
  • Payload: 6,500 kg (14,500 lb) of weapons
  • Length: 22.32 m (73 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 12.7 m (41 ft 7 in)
  • Height: 6.57 m (21 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: m² (ft²)
  • Empty weight: 14,500 kg [7] (31,900 lb)
  • Loaded weight: kg (lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 28,475 kg (62,720 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Xian WS9 (a license-built Spey Mk202) afterburning turbofans
    • Dry thrust: 54 kN (12,140 lbf) each
    • Thrust with afterburner: 91.2 kN (20,500 lbf) each

Performance

Armament

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft

[edit] References

  1. ^ "British and Russian Technology for the Xian JH-7A FLOUNDER", U.S.-China Economic and Security review commission. Retrieved on 2007-04-06. 
  2. ^ a b JH-7/A (FBC-1) Fighter-bomber. Sinodefence.com (2006-04-13). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  3. ^ PLANAF. China-military.org.
  4. ^ 6th Naval Division. China-military.org.
  5. ^ 9th Naval Division. China-military.org.
  6. ^ 28th Division. China-military.org.
  7. ^ CATIC brochure, Zhuhai 1998
  8. ^ PL-5 Short-range Air-to-air Missile. Sinodefence.com (2006-04-09). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  9. ^ YJ-8K (C-801K) Air-launched Anti-ship Missile. Sinodefence.com (2006-04-09). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  10. ^ YJ-82K (C-802K) Air-launched Anti-ship Missile. Sinodefence.com (2006-04-09). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  11. ^ KH-31P/YJ-91 Anit-radiation Missile. Sinodefence.com (2006-04-01). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.

[edit] External links

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