j-7 capability

The mig-21-2000 has BVR?
What about its manuverability?

All the BVR fishbeds are the big nosed ones, not the small nose, which the Chinese have.

China should not have built new J7Es to replace the J-7B, just make the improvements on the J-7B instead.....

Maybe China can put BVR on the J-7E/G too, but one thing is for sure, China should put MLUs on the J-7E, waaaay more efficient. Those HP were rated for 500kg but everytime they only carry a PL-8, which weighs only 115 kg...
You can even put 2 250kg bombs to each HP doing that.

They could use a laser designator. But not a refueling probe.

guys, every plane has an end to potential. soviet planes are well known for their upgrade ability, but this is redicoulous. the mig-21 has reached the end of the upgrade line. why work on a 40 year old plane if you can work on new, modern designs like the j-10?

If the Israelis can upgrade F-5E's to use the Derby BVR missile, there's no reason why you couldn't upgrade a J-7 to do the same.

Look at the old A-5's. You can upgrade them to carry targetting pods for laser guided bombs too.

Not all missions require top of the line fighter-bombers. However, if maintaining too many different kinds of aircraft and engines is costing high overhead, then maybe it's better to consolidate to fewer aircraft types.

Actually, The fishbed's range isn't bad when you count Chinese made fighters.
It has a radius of 850 km.
The J-8B has only 800 km.
The A-5 had 600 km.
J-10, not yet released, current numbers over 550 km.
J-7 can use MLU and laser-designating, and maybe a new radar (The F-5's nose is small, but it's a solid nose. Can the same thing be fit in the Chinese Fishbed, without the Bis/on nose?).
But it's an old plane, so just upgrade the old ones, don't build new ones.
Maybe it can replace the A-5?

The A-5 is sexy, but it sucks. 10 HP is nothing if it can't carry more than 2 tonnes for 600 km......
I am not impressed with the way the A-5 works w/ the laser designator either.
Was it true that it used the C-801?

550 is way to low for J-10.

Here's a great site on MiG-21/J-7's:


Here's some scanned pics of the IAI MiG-21-2000 upgrade flyers:




MiG-21-93 upgrade:



IMO the PLAAF missed its only opportunity to deploy J-7/J-7A's in combat during the Sino-Vietnam war. The PRC has not been involved in any armed conflicts since and it's highly doubtful that the J-7's today would take part in offensive operations in the future.

Elsewhere in the world, not all countries can afford modern/expensive fighters. There are still some 50 countries that still operate the MiG-21 platform. Nambia just formed their independent air force branch this year and introduced MiG-21 for the first time (number and source unknown), and Nigeria is buying 15 J-7's from China for $251 million USD.