• Background
• Chengdu J-7 / MiG-21 Fishbed
  • Chengdu J-7-I Fishbed
  • Chengdu J-7-II Fishbed
  • Chengdu  J-7C/D/J-7-III (Mig-21MF) Fishbed
  • Chengdu  J-7E Fishbed
  • Chengdu  J-7G/F-7MG Fishbed
  • Chengdu  J-7FS Fishbed Demonstrator
• Nanchang A-5/Q-5 Fantan
• Shenyang J-8 Finback
  • Shenyang J-8-I Finback A
  • Shenyang J-8-II Finback B/D
• Xian JH-7 Flying Leopard / Flounder
• Shenyang J-6 / MiG-19 Farmer
• Resources

Background

The PLA-AF and PLA-N operate a large number of legacy types, most of these being cloned and evolved variants of older Soviet MiG designs. With many manufactured as recently as a decade ago, and many still in production, both services will be hamstrung by this large fleet of maintenance intensive day VFR short range combat aircraft.

By far the most numerous of the legacy types are variants of the J-6 series, essentially a cloned MiG-19 Farmer. Around 2,800 are listed in current reference publications, although real numbers may be much lower as these relics are replaced with newer types.

The second most numerous Soviet clone is the J-7 series, based on the MiG-21 Fishbed. Around 700 are listed, comprising a mix of J-7-I, J-7-II/J-7C, J-7-III/J-7D, J-7E and J-7G. Later versions incorporate modern avionics, and a new and larger double delta wing planform to improve agility. The current production J-7G is claimed to have superceded the J-7E (263 built) in production as late as 2002. The Fishbed is likely to remain in service post 2020 on current trends.

China started out in the fighter business by cloning and evolving existing Russian designs, and the J-7G is by far the best Fishbed ever built.

The first truly indigenous design was the Nanchang Q-5/A-5, evolved from the J-6/MiG-19 as a dedicated strike aircraft. A new forward fuselage with a solid nose, side inlets and numerous structural changes resulted in a supersonic equivalent to the A-4 Skyhawk, of which large numbers were exported, and around 600 remain in PLA-AF/PLA-N service. The design added an internal bomb bay for two 1,000 lb weapons or more fuel, up to four external fuselage hardpoints, additional outboard wing stations and extensive avionic changes.

The 20,000 lb empty weight class Shenyang J-8 Finback series evolved to fill the niche occupied by the Sukhoi Su-15/21 Flagon and Tornado ADV - air defence interception. The J-8-I Finback A grew out of MiG-21 technology, resembling a twin engine Su-9/11 Fishpot, and after an extensive nose job transformed into the current J-8-II/J-8B Finback B series, equipped with a Type 208 or KLJ-1 pulse Doppler radar. Several variants, the J-8B, J-8C, J-8D, J-8F and J-8H have been identified, with J-8B service entry cca 1990. The J-8R photo-recce variant is a modified J-8A with a podded recce package. Chinese sources claim between 240 and 360 Finback aircraft in service, mostly J-8B and J-8D variants, the latter with a fixed refuelling probe. The J-8D is best known as the Chinese fighter which collided with an EP-3C over the South China Sea, causing a major diplomatic incident. While the J-8B/D has a strike capability, it has been mostly used as a long range interceptor and remains in production.

A contemporary of the J-8 is the Xian JH-7 'Flying Leopard' maritime strike fighter, developed to replace the Harbin H-5 (Il-28) Beagle in PLA-N service and essentially a Chinese analogue of the Panavia Tornado IDS - less the swing wing. Initiated in the late 1970s, the FH-7 now equips one PLA-N regiment. The aircraft is powered by two RR Spey 202 fans, is fitted with a Type 232H 'Eagle-Eye' pulse Doppler radar, and carries a typical weapon payload of four YJ-8K/C-801K anti-ship cruise missiles, similar to the Exocet or Kormoran. Dependent on imported surplus RR Spey fans, the JH-7 is likely to become the first victim of the PLA-N's new Su-30MK2 maritime strike fighter, which outperforms it in all cardinal parameters. Given the choice of an F-15E analogue vs a Tornado analogue, the PLA-N is likely to prefer the Sukhois.

The Q-5 Fantan is the most developed derivative of the MiG-19 Farmer (Chinese Internet).

Shenyang J-8 Finback

The J-8B Finback remains widely used as an interceptor.

Shenyang J-6 / MiG-19 Farmer

The J-6 Farmer, a licenced Soviet MiG-19S, was the backbone of the PLAAF and PLANAF fighter fleets until the 1990s, when imported Russian Su-27SK Flanker B fighters displaced it in this role. In recent years the PLA retired its last remaining operational examples, but the type continues to be widely operated by Chinese client nations in the developing world. During its long service life, the Farmer was subject to more experimentation than any other PLA aircraft, evolving eventually into the parallel production Q-5 Fantan.

Above, below: Derelict Chinese supplied J-6 Farmers, with pitot probes in characteristic stowed position, parked in the main tunnel of the 14 metre wide underground hangar at Gjadër / Lezhë-Zadrima AB in Albania. Most Chinese client nations have been supplied with the J-6  (Courtesy of Chris Lofting).

Chinese built J-6 Farmers on display at Datangshan (© Air Power Australia, via Zhenguan Studio).

Imported Soviet MiG-19P Farmer B. This variant was fitted with the  RP-1 Izumrud / High Fix  ranging radar (© Air Power Australia, via Zhenguan Studio).

The DF-102 was a Chinese Farmer variant with a unique inlet arrangement and a centrebody bullet radome (© Air Power Australia, via Zhenguan Studio).

Shenyang J-6-III Farmer. Note the wingtip rails for PL-2A Atoll AAMs, and standard 23 mm gun arrangement (© Air Power Australia, via Zhenguan Studio).

Shenyang J-6-IV Farmer. The wing root gun fairings are removed (© Air Power Australia, via Zhenguan Studio).

The DF-103 or F-6A was a reverse engineered Soviet MiG-19P Farmer B. This variant was fitted with the  RP-1 Izumrud / High Fix  ranging radar and standard wing root gun armament (© Air Power Australia, via Zhenguan Studio).

Resources

1. Australian Aviation  - August 2004 - The Sleeping Giant Awakens (PLA-AF/PLA-N)
2. Australian Aviation  - July 2004 - Asia's Advanced Precision Guided Munitions
3. Defence Today - January/February 2006  -  Regional Precision Guided Munitions Survey
4. Defence Today - Sept  2004 - 2010+ Regional Futures
5. Defence Today - January/February 2006  - Regional Developments 2005
6. Imagery Sources: Xinhua; PLA-AF; MilitaryPhotos.net; other Internet sources.