JH-7/JH-7A/JH-7B Thread

[Miragedriver]

The nice thing about the JH-7 is that its maximum armament load is approximately 9000 kg, compared to the Sukhoi Su-24 and Su-30 at around 8000 kg (the General Dynamics F-111 at 11,000 kg beats them all). Being a lighter and less complex aircraft than the variable geometry wing Su-24 and F-111 or the multi-role Su-30, JH-7 is considerably cheaper to produce and operate. Although it does not have the air-to-air performance of the Su-30, its range is greater and it can carry 4 domestically-made YJ-82 anti-ship missiles in maritime strike. Another possibility for the JH-7 is that it could support the Su-30 as an electronic attack platform.

I will now get back to bottling my Malbec

 

[Blitzo]

Yes, JH-7 is probably best compared to the panavia tornado but without the complex variable geometry wings.

It is good that it can carry the entire class of YJ-8 and its many derivatives of ASHMs and LACMs. The longest range of the newest variant is well over 200km in the CM-802AKG, which is in service as a YJ-83K variant, and is basically like SLAM, with an ImIr seeker that can attack both ships and land targets.

They might not be stealthy or have fancy folding wings to extend range even further, but given the relative lack of airframe change, I think its specs are quite competitive.

I suspect in any contingency PLAAF would sortie their JH-7/A/Bs as carriers for these weapons and lob them at sites and ships at stand off range, with some as escort jammers carrying those nice pods we've seen.

Really, it is their range, payload, and sheer number that makes them a credible force.

 

[Blackstone]

The nice thing about the JH-7 is that its maximum armament load is approximately 9000 kg, compared to the Sukhoi Su-24 and Su-30 at around 8000 kg (the General Dynamics F-111 at 11,000 kg beats them all). Being a lighter and less complex aircraft than the variable geometry wing Su-24 and F-111 or the multi-role Su-30, JH-7 is considerably cheaper to produce and operate. Although it does not have the air-to-air performance of the Su-30, its range is greater and it can carry 4 domestically-made YJ-82 anti-ship missiles in maritime strike. Another possibility for the JH-7 is that it could support the Su-30 as an electronic attack platform.


I will now get back to bottling my Malbec

JH-7A is already a good bomb truck, and with more powerful engines (in B series?), it could be even better. Do you think it would ever be cost effective to adapt JH-7A and B series for carrier use? Lighter loads could be used for STOBAR carriers, until PLAN gets CATOBAR carriers.

 

[asif iqbal]

Must admit don't know much about the JH-7B but sure looks like a good aircraft

Nice to see China developing full spectrum of aircraft and not just the high end ones

 

[SteelBird]

JH-7A is already a good bomb truck, and with more powerful engines (in B series?), it could be even better. Do you think it would ever be cost effective to adapt JH-7A and B series for carrier use? Lighter loads could be used for STOBAR carriers, until PLAN gets CATOBAR carriers.

Carrier use? The JH-7 series are well-known of under-power. How do you expect it to take off with ski jump?

 

[delft]

JH-7A is already a good bomb truck, and with more powerful engines (in B series?), it could be even better. Do you think it would ever be cost effective to adapt JH-7A and B series for carrier use? Lighter loads could be used for STOBAR carriers, until PLAN gets CATOBAR carriers.

The forces on a carrier aircraft are much larger than on a land based one and the new version would have to be recalculated. It makes then sense to create a wholly new design rather than adapt a twenty years old one if it is thought that such an aircraft would be worthwhile beside the J-15. And not for CV16 who lacks space for such an aircraft.

 

[Miragedriver]

JH-7A is already a good bomb truck, and with more powerful engines (in B series?), it could be even better. Do you think it would ever be cost effective to adapt JH-7A and B series for carrier use? Lighter loads could be used for STOBAR carriers, until PLAN gets CATOBAR carriers.

They could replace the existing power plant with the AL-31, it is smaller in diameter than the current Spey engine and provides the additional thrust.

Probable still not suitable for carrier operations due to its gross weight and long takeoff run..

 

[Blitzo]

Yeah, I don't know why anyone woudl bother with navalising an old plane like JH-7 when they have J-15s...

Carriers have limited real estate, you want your aircraft to be as multirole as possible. JH-7 won't fit the bill.

 

[Deino]

Just a quick return to the latest JH-7B image ... I'm still not convinced that this should be a "B" ??? ... any other ideas ?

Deino

 

[Hendrik_2000]

Just a quick return to the latest JH-7B image ... I'm still not convinced that this should be a "B" ??? ... any other ideas ?

Deino

Don't know how reliable is this news sound fantastic according to Huanqiu


Xian JH-7B fighter-bomber has new homegrown engine LM6 :
A Xian JH-7B. (Internet photo)

A Russian military news website claims China has installed an indigenous engine in its Xian JH-7B fighter bomber. The plane has been designed to be difficult to detect, reports Huanqiu, the website of China's nationalistic Global Times.

A Xian JH-7B that has carried out test flights has been powered by the LM6 turbofan engine designed specifically for the aircraft which boasts more powerful thrust than the country's latest WS-10A engine. The LM6's air intake has been designed to be less visible and its exterior is coated with materials that can absorb electromagnetic waves. The engine is undergoing fine-tuningin preparation for mass production and the fighter bomber will be installed with new avionics and may use an active phased array radar.

The development of the plane began as early as 1974 after a battle against Vietnam in the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. The incident prompted Beijing to decide to develop a supersonic all-weather aircraft that could be used by both the navy and air force. Development was slow, however, since a suitable engine for the aircraft could not be found and other countries were unwilling to sell advanced engines to the country.

The Xian JH-7 was China's first aircraft capable of mid-air refueling. Its advanced JH-7A variant has seen service with three navy battalions and three air force battalions.