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

[manqiangrexue]

Below is a report about JH-7B, If it has been posted before, just view it once again

It seems they are truly very pleased with it airframe performance, describing it as a very high range, heavy payload bomber with the nimbleness of a fighter and the ability to fully cover China's territories at sea. JH-7B first flew in August of 2012; it was marveled as an improvement over the JH-7A in every way, including 4.5 gen avionics, drastically increased range, with many other secrets unrevealed. Paired with the YJ-12, it is considered a trump card ship killer, earning it the nickname of carrier slayer. This missile's maximum range is over 500km, velocity over mach 4, and houses an extremely jam-resistant radar which they believe that even under the heaviest jamming conditions, will be true to its mark within 1.5 meters. They were so pleased with the airframe, they say that JH-7B will certainly not be the ultimate form of the Flying Leopard family; there is another improved version in the works with a new radar and other upgrades.

 

[FORBIN]

Did the report mention if it is being pursued by the PLAAF or PLAN?

The report said there are two sample, the 821 and 822, bring tested fly. I think this implies it has not been pursued yet.

Definitely for the Navy as the first JH-7.

 

[siegecrossbow]

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JH-7A at Aviadart 2016.

 

[Quickie]

It seems they are truly very pleased with it airframe performance, describing it as a very high range, heavy payload bomber with the nimbleness of a fighter and the ability to fully cover China's territories at sea. JH-7B first flew in August of 2012; it was marveled as an improvement over the JH-7A in every way, including 4.5 gen avionics, drastically increased range, with many other secrets unrevealed. Paired with the YJ-12, it is considered a trump card ship killer, earning it the nickname of carrier slayer. This missile's maximum range is over 500km, velocity over mach 4, and houses an extremely jam-resistant radar which they believe that even under the heaviest jamming conditions, will be true to its mark within 1.5 meters. They were so pleased with the airframe, they say that JH-7B will certainly not be the ultimate form of the Flying Leopard family; there is another improved version in the works with a new radar and other upgrades.

Not so surprising the JH-7A/B are still relevant as it's the first indigenously designed jet fighter bomber with the modern aerodynamics of its day whose design philosophy hasn't changed that much to this day. In fact, it's the very first indigenous jet fighter with the more modern design compared to the J-7 or J-8, for example.

 

[newguy02]

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JH-7A at Aviadart 2016.

Isn't that image from a few years ago?

 

[siegecrossbow]

It seems they are truly very pleased with it airframe performance, describing it as a very high range, heavy payload bomber with the nimbleness of a fighter and the ability to fully cover China's territories at sea.

I seriously doubt that even the JH-7B could match the maneuverability of a fourth generation fighter.

 

[Iron Man]

I'm not sure how the JH-7 series provides any capability that a J-11BSH or J-16 could not provide. Seems like the only real reason the JH-7 is still alive is to keep Xian funded.

 

[jobjed]

I'm not sure how the JH-7 series provides any capability that a J-11BSH or J-16 could not provide. Seems like the only real reason the JH-7 is still alive is to keep Xian funded.

Cost-effectiveness might contribute. The JH-7A has a similar payload capacity to the Su-30 but is so much cheaper. It might be cheap enough that it justifies having a dedicated logistics chain as the total expenditure might still be lower than replacing the JH-7A units with Flankers. Xi'an also shouldn't need the JH-7 family to survive since the Y-20 and WS-15 projects are both under their tenure and, oh lordie, the orders for those two will really be piling up for the next decade or so.

 

[Totoro]

jh7 has been out of production for some 4-5 years now. And there are so many planes that need replacement that it's unlikely flanker will be replacing 10-15 year old jh7 when there are hundreds of older j8 and q5 to be replaced first.

 

[Iron Man]

Cost-effectiveness might contribute. The JH-7A has a similar payload capacity to the Su-30 but is so much cheaper. It might be cheap enough that it justifies having a dedicated logistics chain as the total expenditure might still be lower than replacing the JH-7A units with Flankers. Xi'an also shouldn't need the JH-7 family to survive since the Y-20 and WS-15 projects are both under their tenure and, oh lordie, the orders for those two will really be piling up for the next decade or so.

I suspect that the relatively cheap cost, acceptable payload capacity, funneling money to Xian, and the fact that J-11 series fighters have not been fully developed and ramped up, are the main reasons the JH-7 series still exists. But this is a fighter that has reached its limit of usefulness. Upgrades like the "JH-7B" and "JH-7C" can do little to change the fact that at best this is a gen3.5 plane, capable of being nothing more than a bomb truck that cannot handle any significant airborne threat like its modern compatriots the J-10 series, J-11 series, etc. who can all dump their ordinance and defend themselves effectively in air-to-air combat if necessary. I suspect that once the J-11BSH and/or J-16 start being produced in numbers within the next 10 years or so, they will replace this legacy plane and never look back.