Crew: 2 (pilot, weapons operator) Payload: 9,000 kg (19,842) of weapons Length: 22.32 m (73 ft 2 in) Wingspan: 12.8 m (41 ft 7 in) Height: 6.22 m (20 ft 4 in) Maximum speed: Mach 1.75 (1,808 km/h, 1,122 mph) Combat radius: 1,759 km (890 nm, 1,093 mi) Ferry range: 3,700 km (1,970 nm, 2,299 mi) Service ceiling: 16,000 m (51,180 ft)

The Xian JH-7 (Jian Hong-7; NATO reporting name Flounder), 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 603nd Aircraft Design Institute,now named First Aircraft Institute of AVIC-1. 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.

Design and development

In the early 1970s, the PLA submitted a request to the Ministry of Aeronautics (MoA), the predecessor of AVIC 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 with an order personally authorized by the then Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. Chen Yijian (1930 - ) was named as the general designer. 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 and 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 two, 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 original JH-7 was designed only to be an anti-shipping fighter-bomber platform, though this concept changed as China restructured its Air Force to deal with possible future conflict. Its new requirement for the JH-7 was to have air-to-surface precision strike capability, with the new aircraft being designated as the JH-7A. The general designer of JH-7A is Mr. Tang Changhong. All current JH-7 in service are fitted with electronics to JH-7A standard, with future and current manufactured JH-7 being produced as upgraded and modified JH-7A.

The JH-7/A is China's newest and most capable domestically-built fighter-bomber. The aircraft is powered by Spey Mk.202 licensed manufactured under the designation WS-9, the weapons load of JH-7A is at 9 tons, compared to the Sukhoi Su-24 and Su-30 at 8 tons, and the General Dynamics F-111 at 11 tons. The newer modified JH-7A airframe being lighter, and having strengthen airframe carries a bigger payload at 9 tonnes. The JH-7/A is a lighter and simpler aircraft than the variable sweep winged Su-24 or F-111 and is cheaper to produce than the Su-30 multi-role fighter. It does not have the air-to-air performance of the Su-30, but has increased range. Neither the JH-7 nor the Sukhoi Su-30MKK in PLAAF service has any significant air-to-air role, since large quantities of specialized aircraft are available for that purpose. The JH-7/A 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. Its air-to-air defence is the PL-5 short-range, infra-red guided missile, with single 23mm twin-barrel GSh-23L cannon.

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. A PLANAF JH-7 regiment typically consists of 18 to 20 aircraft, which is fewer than the 24 to 28 aircraft for PLAAF air regiments.

Operators

People's Republic of China

- People's Liberation Army Navy - The Naval Air Force has 3 regiments (as of November 2005) equipped with the JH-7/A:
- East Sea Fleet, 6th PLANAF Division
- 16th Regiment based in Shanghai Dachang Naval Air Station (JH-7)
- 17th Regiment based in Yiwu (Yiwi) Airbase, Zhejiang (JH-7)
- South Sea Fleet, 9th PLANAF Division
- 27th Regiment based in Ledong Naval Airbase, Hainan Island (JH-7A)

- People's Liberation Army Air Force has 1 regiment (as of May 2006) known to operate the JH-7A. It's speculated that the 19 PLAAF JH-7A will serve in precision ground-strike role, rather than anti-shipping.
- Nanjing Military Region, 28th PLAAF Division
- Regiment based in Hangzhou Jianquiao Airbase, Zhejiang (JH-7A)

Specifications (JH-7)

General characteristics

- Crew: 2: pilot, weapons operator
- Payload: 9,000 kg (19,842) of weapons
- Length: 22.32 m (73 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 12.8 m (41 ft 7 in)
- Height: 6.22 m (20 ft 4 in)
- Empty weight: 14,500 kg (31,900 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 28,475 kg (62,720 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Xian WS9 (a license-built Spey Mk202) afterburning turbofans
- Dry thrust: 54.29 kN (12,250 lbf) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 91.26 kN (20,515 lbf) each

Performance

- Maximum speed: Mach 1.75 (1,808 km/h, 1,122 mph)
- Combat radius: 1,759 km (890 nm, 1,093 mi)
- Ferry range: 3,700 km (1,970 nm, 2,299 mi)
- Service ceiling: 16,000 m (51,180 ft)

Armament

- Guns: 1× 23mm twin-barrel GSh-23L autocannon, 300 rounds
- Rockets: Rocket launchers
- Bombs
- 9 tonnes of guided bombs
- 9 tonnes of free-fall bombs
- Missiles:
- Air-to-air missiles:
- PL-5
- PL-9
- Anti-ship missiles:
- Yingji-8K
- Yingji-82K Anti-Ship Missile (AShM)
- Anti-radiation missiles:
- Yingji-91

Source: WikiPedia