JH-7/JH-7A Thread

[tphuang]

a bunch of pictures of JH-7A in the 5th division (14th regiment I think). Including numerous photos showing JH-7A carrying KD-88. We've actually seen quite a few pictures coming out of 5th division recently. My guess is that this means 5th division JH-7A has finally reached the point of fully comfortable with JH-7A. Remember, it took a while before the 28th division JH-7A photos came out repeatedly. I wonder how long it will take before the 11th division JH-7A get to this stage.

[Miragedriver]

The JH-7 (if re-engined with the AL-31) will give it an increase in its acceleration. This aircraft is really the unsung hero of Chinese aircraft design. The potential that this aircraft has to be an excellent naval strike platform (in conjunction with the J-11) I don’t believe has been fully realized. Imagine this aircraft with a couple of YJ-82’s and several drop tanks. You could get some real long strike distances, and anytime you’re not limited by range you can have a tactical advantage of attacking from a direction that your opponent is not expecting. T will be interesting to see who there first major export customer will be.

[Bltizo]

The JH-7 (if re-engined with the AL-31) will give it an increase in its acceleration. This aircraft is really the unsung hero of Chinese aircraft design. The potential that this aircraft has to be an excellent naval strike platform (in conjunction with the J-11) I don’t believe has been fully realized. Imagine this aircraft with a couple of YJ-82’s and several drop tanks. You could get some real long strike distances, and anytime you’re not limited by range you can have a tactical advantage of attacking from a direction that your opponent is not expecting. T will be interesting to see who there first major export customer will be.

The Al-31 won't be able to fit the JH-7; the Spey/WS-9 engines they were designed around are smaller.

And I doubt there will be any export customers; the JH-7A is undeniably an aged design, and many newer multirole fighters can do its job while also having higher manouverability.

That's not saying it's useless though; it can still rain down the whole PLAAF inventory of PGMs, and will be important in any ground/naval attack scenario.

[Miragedriver]

The Al-31 won't be able to fit the JH-7; the Spey/WS-9 engines they were designed around are smaller.

And I doubt there will be any export customers; the JH-7A is undeniably an aged design, and many newer multirole fighters can do its job while also having higher manouverability.

That's not saying it's useless though; it can still rain down the whole PLAAF inventory of PGMs, and will be important in any ground/naval attack scenario.

I will adit that the JH-7 is an elderly design however it can pack a very hard punch and has the advantage of being cheep to produce. As for the engines I believe that you are incorrect in your statement. The Diameter, length and dry weight of the AL-31 is less than that of the Spey engine.
Should you wish to check, gere are some facts:

Spey WS-9 AL-31
Length 204.9 in (5204.4 mm) 4990 mm
Diameter 43.0 in (1092.2 mm) 905 mm
weight 4,093 lb (1856 kg) 1570 kg
Thrust military 12,140 lbf (54 kN) 74.5 kN
Thrust with afterburner 20,500 lbf (91.2 kN) 122.58 kN
Fuel consumption 0.82 lb/(lbf·h) 0.67 lb/(lbf·h)

[Bltizo]

I will adit that the JH-7 is an elderly design however it can pack a very hard punch and has the advantage of being cheep to produce. As for the engines I believe that you are incorrect in your statement. The Diameter, length and dry weight of the AL-31 is less than that of the Spey engine.
Should you wish to check, gere are some facts:

Spey WS-9 AL-31
Length 204.9 in (5204.4 mm) 4990 mm
Diameter 43.0 in (1092.2 mm) 905 mm
weight 4,093 lb (1856 kg) 1570 kg
Thrust military 12,140 lbf (54 kN) 74.5 kN
Thrust with afterburner 20,500 lbf (91.2 kN) 122.58 kN
Fuel consumption 0.82 lb/(lbf·h) 0.67 lb/(lbf·h)

Oh whoops -- well it's good to know it can undergo an engine upgrade

BUT -- the fact that we haven't heard anything about re-engining the JH-7A probably says a lot; I think the PLAAF might not want to waste Al-31F's on an aging airframe and spend so much time having to redeisgn and rebalance for a boost in performance.

[Miragedriver]

Oh whoops -- well it's good to know it can undergo an engine upgrade

BUT -- the fact that we haven't heard anything about re-engining the JH-7A probably says a lot; I think the PLAAF might not want to waste Al-31F's on an aging airframe and spend so much time having to redeisgn and rebalance for a boost in performance.

I agree the upgrading would be very nice and would defiantly boost the performance of this aircraft. With that said, the engine upgrade maybe to radical of change. However we do keep seeing regurgitations of the Mig-21 evolving into the J-7E with the large engine and double deltas wing. In any event the Chinese will always do whatever gives them the best bang for the money spent.

[plawolf]

The JH7 is a bomb truck, and it does that job nicely. It might not be as flashy as a Su34 for example, but then it doesn't need to be.

If your dedicated strikers need to rely of their agility to deal with hostile air threats, then something has gone very wrong several steps beforehand. And no matter how agile your striker is, its still not got much of a chance to beat a dedicated fighter close up unless the striker is packing HMS cued AAMs. That will be a far cheaper and much more useful upgrade if the JH7A doesn't already have it.

The JH7 might be underpowered, but it does not seem to have any issues with range or payload, which are a strike aircraft's primary attributes.

The range on these things is so good, they don't even plan to put refueling probes on them, and JH7s are often seen with a full load of 4 C801/2/3 missiles each, so its not like they can hang much more stuff on them.

The main reason the JH7 is unlikely to be exported is the same reason the PLA value them - they are a highly specialized plane ideally adapted to the PLA's needs.

They are probably one of the best long range strike aircraft in the world in terms of range and payload, and especially so if you also take into account the costs compared to the likes of the Su34 or F18E/F for example. However, they are not much good for anything else, and cannot compete with other multi-role fighters currently on the market in any other field.

Not a problem for the PLA who can field hundreds of dedicated 4th gen fighters as escorts and who is relying on the JH7s to help deal a decisive saturation attack against multiple USN carrier battle groups. But a wasteful overkill for most other nations and not so attractive when their entire operating budget would probably only be able to service one fighter type.

[tphuang]

hmm, I actually would rather it not get engine change. WS-9 right now is by far the most reliable domestic engine currently under production for PLAAF. Although it is underpowered, it actually provides the kind of reliability and fuel efficiency that AL-31F simply can't match.

[tphuang]

Pictures of JH-7A unit 11266 from the 5th division landing in Zhuhai airshow. Looks like PLAAF is basically putting forward all of its latest fighters that have achieved FOC status in this airshow. We are seeing more than usual here.

[challenge]

this variant carry GPS/beidou receiver,a new data link (blade antenna) and the third,still unknown.

[challenge]

国产YZ-200系列精确制导炸弹亮相航展|第八届ç �*海航展_新浪视频
according to the reporter JH-7A carry new set of radar.but my mandarin is not very good, can anyone translate it?

[latenlazy]

国产YZ-200系列精确制导炸弹亮相航展|第八届ç �*海航展_新浪视频
according to the reporter JH-7A carry new set of radar.but my mandarin is not very good, can anyone translate it?

Nothing we don't already know. He's saying the JH-7A is an upgrade to the JH-7 with a better radar.

[challenge]

more likely improve JL-10A (B?) ,original variant suffer from low-MTBF. likely upgrade,like APG-66 upgraded to APG-69.

[latenlazy]

more likely improve JL-10A (B?) ,original variant suffer from low-MTBF. likely upgrade,like APG-66 upgraded to APG-69.

Doesn't specify. Just says the JH-7A's radar is improved from the JH-7's.

[montyp165]

The biggest airframe modification I can think of for the JH-7 would using Foxbat style inlets instead of the Q-5/Mig-23 style inlets for better supersonic performance.