The Q-5, J-7, J-8 and older PLAAF aircraft
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thunderchief
Senior Member
I don't think they would close production line just yet in such a dramatic fashion . After all , PLAAF stil has lots of J-7s that would need spare parts until they are retired . And don't forget foreign users like Bangladesh . Most likely this means simply PLAAF will not order any new J-7 for now on , but this doesn't mean some will not be produced for eventual foreign customers .
production lines can rarely afford to sit idle and wait for possible orders. Most of the time orders are planned and negotiatied years in advance and if it happens there are no more contracted planes to be built, production line closes. The people working on it need a new task, machines can be stored away and so on. restarting the line is oftentime costly. Plus, i can imagine chengdu needing both the workers and the assembly halls for other projects - uavs, perhaps additional j10 production, soon even j20 parts etc. Instead of investing in a whole new assembly hall, additional workers etc, they may see fit to retask the j7 team with another product that is more lucrative. The profit margins on j7 are likely to be not that great, compared to more modern, hi tech products. There is really nothing unusual about j7 line being finally closed, even for foreign buyers. After bangladesh i am not sure if there was any other foreign order. jj7 trainer contracts might have also been fulfilled.
There's always Guizhou, still producing the spiritual successor to j7.
There's always Guizhou, still producing the spiritual successor to j7.
About time they stopped making J-7s. Gotta move on to bigger and better things.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Unless of course it brings China money. Which it does with increased sales to Africa and South Asia.
Agreed, but only unless these orders come in in stable numbers, which justifies to keep a J-7 line open !
I however have the feeling that following the final F-7BG's delivered - and no new export orders ! - it was time to close that line.
As such I agaree with You with one small correction:
And like others said, for those who still need a cheap fighter, the JL-9 might be an option on the "lower" end as well as maybe even refurbished, retired PLAAF-ones (for those who really want a Fitter
) or on the "higher" end the FC-1,That even more does not mean that spare parts will still be produced for some timne ... it's only the closure of a production like !
Deino
There is a big difference between maintaining a production line and maintaining the badge production of spare parts as necessary.
Just because the J-7 production line is closed to new orders, doesn't exclude sale of existing stock.
The Chinese AF still has hundreds of J-7's in service/reserve. Though I suspect the defense industry would prefer to sell new planes (with government subsidies for poorer customers).
The Chinese AF still has hundreds of J-7's in service/reserve. Though I suspect the defense industry would prefer to sell new planes (with government subsidies for poorer customers).
kwaigonegin
Colonel
Only if these nations do not also possess 4th generation fighters at all. A lot of 3rd world nations nowadays while still having majority 3rd Gen planes like the ones you mentioned also possess a few 4th gen in their arsenal as well. If all you have is 3rd Gen and your neighbor has even a single squadron of say Mig 29, F-16, SU27 etc you're in deep doo doo.
thunderchief
Senior Member
Production lines are not the same thing as assembly lines . It is true that either assembly or production lines should not sit idly if it is at all possible . In the current situation , assembly lines for J-7 would probably close or be kept to minimum since there are no new orders for newly built aircraft (as far I know
) . But there are , and there will be new orders for certain parts of J-7 . There are hundreds of J-7s flying all over the world , many are relatively young (less then 10 years old) . Their owners (including PLAAF) would want to keep them flying for at least 10 more years . Therefore , there will be demand for spare parts enough to keep production lines open for a good number of years . Partially true , but if you obtain small number of 4th generation fighters your 3rd generation fighters would "gain" in value . So , for a small country it would be more economically feasible to obtain let's say 1 squadron of 4th generation fighters and 2-3 of 3rd generation fighters , then to strain itself fiscally and go for all around 4th generation fighter force .
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