I personally see the JH-7A and whatever its upgrade may be in the JH-7B as a strike aircraft pretty much solidly.
Certainly it can (and IMHO should) be armed with air-to-air missiles to protect itself and could include the radar/fire control to allow it to do so out to BVR IMHO. But I think the primary task is going to be as a strike aircraft.
For the PLAN, this would primarily be carrying guided munitions, particularly mid to long range anti-shipping missiles.
For the PLAAF if upgraded properly, I would see it doing a similar role, but probably carrying the whole array of air to ground munitions, from precision guided munitions, to dumb bombs and rocket pods...but only engaging in the latter support role where it made sense from a threat perspective, otherwise being a strike aircraft.
But that's just my own opinion.
Certainly it can (and IMHO should) be armed with air-to-air missiles to protect itself and could include the radar/fire control to allow it to do so out to BVR IMHO. But I think the primary task is going to be as a strike aircraft.
For the PLAN, this would primarily be carrying guided munitions, particularly mid to long range anti-shipping missiles.
For the PLAAF if upgraded properly, I would see it doing a similar role, but probably carrying the whole array of air to ground munitions, from precision guided munitions, to dumb bombs and rocket pods...but only engaging in the latter support role where it made sense from a threat perspective, otherwise being a strike aircraft.
But that's just my own opinion.