The Q-5, J-7, J-8 and older PLAAF aircraft
- Thread starter adeptitus
- Start date
franco-russe
Senior Member
J-20 is the new J-8 IMHO.
Why ?? Both versions have nothing avionic wise) in common - the Indian version is a Russian/International update, the F-7PG a Chinese version, which has - like all other Chinese Fishbeds - no BVR-capability.
Deino
Sorry, I should have made myself a little more clear.
Main reason being that the F-7PG would be need to be upgraded to counter the Mig21 BISON given aircraft numbers on both sides.
PAK have upgraded their F-7PG with new radars, avionics and such and I was wondering whether they included support for BVR missiles.
They have new JF-17 with BVRAAM SD-10.. Why bother to upgrade F-7PG? It's th same in PLAAF case.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
The Indian Mig21 Bisons are based on the Mig21MF airframe, which differs from the Mig21F the Chinese J/F-7PGs airframes are ultimately based on in that the MF has a larger nose cone. It is this larger nose cone that allows the installation of a BVR capable (barely) radar on the Bisons.
The Chinese also experimented with the MF after obtaining a few examples from Egypt, which led to the J7III. However, the sacrifices in agility in order to accommodate the bigger radar was judged to not be worth it, so the J7III only entered very limited service, and future J7 variants were all based on the original J7B airframe.
Because of this significant difference in the underlining airframe of the F7PG and Mig21M, the PG could not be upgraded with a Bison sized radar even if there was the funds and will to do so.
J-8II is still consider more valuable than old J-7.. It got a bigger nose which radar continuous upgrade is possible to meet future demand.
It has much much longer leg than J-7 with its long frame body, more hard points. More range and hard point plus bigger payload means its able to handle the multi-role task of ground strike.
There is nothing bad about J-8 compare to J-7 except ONE THING. It cant dogfight like a J-7G.