Should china go for more J-8 or concerate on new desings like FC-1??

I think China will concentrate heavily on J-10/J-11, along with a smattering of JH-7A and FC-1. I have not seen a lot of J-7G built or even of regimental conversions. The same with J-8F/H. It seems new aircraft are few and regiment conversions are just as few. It should be noted that China probably has close to 300 Flankers of all types now, while the number of J-8II of all types could be 300 to 400, and J-7E/G is probably just over 300. The amount of the older aircraft is less than most people think.

What we are going to see more is that the J-8Ds will all be converted to the radar used on the J-8F/H. There is probably six to eight of these regiments, along with 2 regiments of -H and one regiment of -F. Converting the Ds will be much faster and gain better numbers. After the -Ds are converted, they may probably focus on converting the -Bs with lower flight hours, or the -Bs that were converted earlier to D's.

No, the J-8 is not a modern fighter. The PRC should sink cash into more J-10 and J-11 upgrade program. I also believe the fielding of its new attack Helocopter is a MUST. Imagine that russian aircraft carrier operating off the coast of ROC with 40+ attack helos for close airsupport missions

do you guys think that the j-8 was meant for a stop gap program until china got the flankers???

Also, why didn't China design any twin engine multirole fighter??

small question: does bigger and twin engine means you can fly farther due to bigger fuel tank and saver for flying over the sea??

two engined fighters are inherently perferred for naval applications because you can still limp back to base if one of your engines die. They also tend to be bigger, thus the increased fuel load. However, a twin engined fighter does not necessarily have greater range, look at the MiG-29 for example. It all depends on the design. The Flanker has a ridiculous amount of fuel capacity, in fact, it CAN'T carry external fuels. But it comes at the cost of agility. Despite the much touted Flanker super agility, it flies like a pig until half to 2/3 of the fuel is gone.

ahho said:

do you guys think that the j-8 was meant for a stop gap program until china got the flankers???

Also, why didn't China design any twin engine multirole fighter??

small question: does bigger and twin engine means you can fly farther due to bigger fuel tank and saver for flying over the sea??

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you can expect future Chinese fighters to be twin engined multirole type, because China is concerned about the reliability of single engined fighters.

bigger engine == more thrust, larger payload/fuel

vincelee said:

two engined fighters are inherently perferred for naval applications because you can still limp back to base if one of your engines die. They also tend to be bigger, thus the increased fuel load. However, a twin engined fighter does not necessarily have greater range, look at the MiG-29 for example. It all depends on the design. The Flanker has a ridiculous amount of fuel capacity, in fact, it CAN'T carry external fuels. But it comes at the cost of agility. Despite the much touted Flanker super agility, it flies like a pig until half to 2/3 of the fuel is gone.

Click to expand...

Agreed exept it only flies like a pig when doeing those showcase manevuers. High speed combat performance is pretty damn good. Cope India anyone?

ahho said:

do you guys think that the j-8 was meant for a stop gap program until china got the flankers???
Also, why didn't China design any twin engine multirole fighter??
small question: does bigger and twin engine means you can fly farther due to bigger fuel tank and saver for flying over the sea??

Click to expand...

@_@ Wow this is an old thread. LoL

On subject of Shenyang J-8, I'd refer you to this link:

The plane's design began in 1964 and is the first Chinese plane to be designed and built indigenously. Despite design beginning in 1964 it was not produced until 1979 and it entered service in 1980. Its basic frame is an enlargement of the MiG-21...

The original J-8 development started long before the Flankers existed. It was an attempt to build an advanced jet fighter after the Sino-Soviet split. Regardless of actual capability, it gave the ROCAF a scare and kickstarted the IDF project.

As for the twin engine question, I'm not an aircraft engineer but can give this observation -- most long range strike aircraft have 2 crews and 2 engines. So I'd deduce that the engineers think it's more efficient that way than to build a bigger single-engine aircraft.

well that is true that j-8 was long ago thought it was a success IMO when they developed on their own with j-7 as a reference.

The thing is, at the time frame when fc-1 and j-10 started, how come there were no twin engine in design proposal? Was it because there was no twin engine to fighter that they could aquired to base on or they weren't needed.

ahho said:

do you guys think that the j-8 was meant for a stop gap program until china got the flankers???

Also, why didn't China design any twin engine multirole fighter??

small question: does bigger and twin engine means you can fly farther due to bigger fuel tank and saver for flying over the sea??

Click to expand...

of course not. in the 1960s, when j8 was first concieved, china and russia were bitter enemies. the last thing on maos mind was buying russian aircraft. besides, the flanker did not even exist until the late 1970's.

a twin engine gives more range, whcih is why u never see a single mission aircraft conductiong strike. seeing how china had a defensive "peoples war" in mind, an offensive aircraft would not be needed.

ahho said:

well that is true that j-8 was long ago thought it was a success IMO when they developed on their own with j-7 as a reference.
The thing is, at the time frame when fc-1 and j-10 started, how come there were no twin engine in design proposal? Was it because there was no twin engine to fighter that they could aquired to base on or they weren't needed.

Click to expand...

Well, technically J-8-II was developed around the same time, and that's twin engined. =/ But yeah, all the others (J-9, FC-1, J-10, J-13) were all single engined.

I think the most advanced fighter that the PRC had imported during that period (1970's?) was couple of MiG-23's from Egypt, that's a single engined aircraft too.