The Q-5, J-7, J-8 and older PLAAF aircraft

2011-12-14 (China Military News cited from strategypage.com) -- China has officially withdrawn its MiG-21 clone (the J-7) from first line service. This comes as no surprise. In the last four years, China has more than doubled the number of modern combat aircraft (J-10, J-11, Su-27, Su-30 and J-8F) from 500 to over 1,200. Four years ago, China relied mainly on some 2,000 locally built copies of Russian MiG-19s (J-6) and MiG-21 (J-7). There are still several hundred bombers, mostly Russian knockoffs. Normally, the actual number of Chinese aircraft is a state secret. However, thanks to the ability of Chinese to move freely throughout the country, and access to the Internet, it's possible to locate and count all the air force units in the country. That shows a current force that is rapidly changing from one that is mostly MiG-21s and MiG-19s, to one composed of much more capable aircraft. China is buying and building a lot of the Russian Su-27s and Su-30s (the latter an upgrade of the former.) But new, home grown designs, like the J-20 are also showing up.

Hmmm ... IMO a not completely correct report , since thru the last years already several regiments have been reequipped with more modern types and even today several are still operational (or did I missed anything !??? )

Maybe they simply confused/mixed "all" J-7 with the complete retirement of all J-7C (IMO also the D) ??

Deino

J-7G is still operational ,right? But I think it will probably withdraw in few more years time or sell cheaply to some africa or Southern West Asia countries.

No one can seriously believe that China will overnight cut its fighter force by half by retiring 22 J-7 regiments.

Of which the four J-7G regiments are the newest, being produced between 2004 and 2006.

P.S. I liked the picture of the Missile Test Regiment Dingxin J-7H(?) 60191, which I did not know. It is a pre-2005 picture, though (red serials).

The second picture is a very old one of 29 Ftr Div 87 Regt Chongming J-8D's being upgraded to J-8DH.

And the first is of JJ-7A twin-seaters (which are probably still in production).

franco-russe said:

And the first is of JJ-7A twin-seaters (which are probably still in production).

Click to expand...

Ain't JJ-7A replace already by JL-9? JJ-7A shall have stopped production already.

If your numbers are correct, a more likely explanation is redefinition of "front line"

Well, very few JL-9 have been seen in active service, a couple with PLANAF Training Base 19 Regt at Shanhaiguan and a couple at FTTC Cangzhou.

But JJ-7A production may of course have ended, I do not know.

female pilot