Is it feasible to add on conformal fuel tank on J-7G??
- Thread starter Kilo636
- Start date
China's Fishbeds originated from the 1st Fishbeds found in this world, which has smaller nose, radar, slimmer backbone, which has different dimensions and is different from the later models, like bis, and those that India have.
I would doubt that the mentioned above upgrades are that easy or feasible for Chinese Fishbeds.
The J-7 was built as a defensive fighter, not much need for range. Being able to do a 850km radius is pretty good.
The J-7 is a small plane however, so adding CFTs might mean a major change in shape...
ahho said:
1) Most MiG-21's use centerline pylon for 450 liter fuel tank only. Very rarely is the centerline pylon used for anything else.
2) I'd point to India's MiG-21-93 Bison upgrade, which include the Kopyo PD radar and ability to use R-77 BVR missiles.
3) Not necessary (see #2).
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Also, if you look at MiG-21-Bis photos such as these:
You'd note that even the outer wing pylon is cleared to take pretty large sized fuel tanks. If they can take those, they should be able to carry light air to ground missiles too, assuming if you have the radar and fire control system to use it.
ahho said:
Since this capability has already been demonstrated by India's MiG-21-93 upgrade, I think it's technically feasible for the J-7G too. Even Singapore F-5T can be upgraded to use the AIM-120.
So we have to explore on why it isn't done. From observation, I think sometimes aircraft upgrade programs are axed because they don't want it to compete against another, newer aircraft.
We could speculate that the PLAAF doesn't want upgraded J-7's with BVR or FC-1 because they want the allocate limited resource/funds to the J-10...
Yes, but the F-5Ts didn't get a major physical refit, did it? I doubt it is feasible to enlarge the J-7E/G into something the size of J-7C/Ds. (Isn't the Bison, MiG-21-2000 and Lancer all larger than the J-7s in China?) Perhaps it can be done to the J-7C/Ds in Chinese service?
Wingman
Junior Member
That's a very unconventional method but I don't think it's impossible. You just need to reprogram the missile to accept mid-course corrections from another aircraft instead of its parent aircraft. Have the other aircraft spot the target then he'll tell the J7 to prickle, then the missile shifts control to the other aircraft for mid-course guidance. Fighter-fighter datalink will work too
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Conformal fuel tank
Conformal tanks are interesting but I have never really known anyone who followed them. I have talked to F15E crews a number of times but never asked them about the penalties they suffere compared to clean F15s.
I will say that all of the US Tactical fighters are equipped with IF refueling, be it the larger and complex "flying boom" system or the more compact but demanding "hose and drogue" system used by NATO and the US Navy/Marine fighters.
One benefit over IFR that a comformal tank gives is a smaller need for heavy tanker support. Huge tankers floating in long orbits attract attention. The use of conformal makes a strike aircraft more independent, meaning it is more stealthy. I'll ask around and see if anyone can give me info on them.
Conformal tanks are interesting but I have never really known anyone who followed them. I have talked to F15E crews a number of times but never asked them about the penalties they suffere compared to clean F15s.
I will say that all of the US Tactical fighters are equipped with IF refueling, be it the larger and complex "flying boom" system or the more compact but demanding "hose and drogue" system used by NATO and the US Navy/Marine fighters.
One benefit over IFR that a comformal tank gives is a smaller need for heavy tanker support. Huge tankers floating in long orbits attract attention. The use of conformal makes a strike aircraft more independent, meaning it is more stealthy. I'll ask around and see if anyone can give me info on them.