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The 'Shenyang J-8' or 'Jian-8' (Chinese nickname 'Apollo' or 'Handsome man'; NATO reporting name 'Finback') is a People's Republic of China-built single-seat interceptor fighter aircraft.

Contents

Design and development

Operational history

Variants

J-8 (Finback-A) Series

J-8II (Finback-B) Series

Operators

Specifications (J-8B/D)

References

External links

Related content

Design and development

After the Chinese military delegation led by Field Marshal Peng Dehuai visited former-Soviet Union in the late 1950's, China subsequently purchased the incomplete Soviet design of Ye-152 (E-12) fighter. The hope of joint development or any Soviet help was lost when the relationship between the two countries soured and China decided to finish the design on its own. The effort to complete the plane's design began in full in 1964 and was the first Chinese plane to be designed (mostly) and built indigenously. Despite the early beginnings, due to political turmoils such as Cultural Revolution, it was not first produced until 1979 and entered service in 1980. Its basic configuration is an enlargement of the delta-wing MiG-21 'Fishbed' with two Liyang (LMC) Wopen-7A turbojet engines, and a maximum speed of Mach 2.2. The aircraft is armed with a 23-mm twin-barreled cannon and seven hardpoints for missiles, bombs, rockets or fuel tanks. Weapons carried include The PL-2, PL-5, and PL-8 short-range air-to-air missiles as well as the PL-11 medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missile. Unguided bombs and rockets can also be carried.
Despite entering service relatively recently, it remained very unmaneuverable, and comparable to many older Soviet aircraft. The original combat avionics package was soon replaced with an all-weather capability in aircraft designated 'J-8I'. The later 'J-8E' featured improved electronic warfare systems. In 1982 work began to replace the unimpressive J-8 (Finback-A) type with a new design known as the 'J-8II'.
The J-8II (Finback-B) series appear quite different from the original J-8, with a new forward fuselage, intakes and nose structure more reminiscent of the Su-15 'Flagon'. J-8IIs are powered by Wopen-13A engines. It was hoped to equip the production 'J-8B' with an American AN/APG-66(V) radar, but this proved politically impossible after 1989. At least 30 J-8Bs have been converted by the PLA Navy to 'J-8D' standard, with an in-flight refuelling probe for use with Xian H-6DU 'Badger' tankers.
The 'J-8IIM', first flown in 1996, is a further improved version. One major improvement over the J-8II is the capable Russian-made Zhuk-8II coherent pulse doppler radar, 100 of which have been delivered in the 1990's. The J-8IIM has had no new orders from China or the export market, where it is offered as the 'F-8IIM'. However the experience gained has been applied by Shenyang Aircraft Company to the later J-8H/F upgrades. For comparison, please see this photos:

★ J-8D cockpit

★ J-8IIM cockpit
The 'J-8H' configuration features WP-13B turbojet engines and the KLJ-1 (Type-1471) Pulse Doppler fire control radar. With the radar upgrade comes the ability to fire the PL-12/SD-10 MRAAM employing an Active Radar Homing (ARH) seeker. The 'J-8F', featuring a glass cockpit and enhanced air-to-ground capability using the AS-17 'Krypton' anti-radar missile, has also been demonstrated. New build J-8H/Fs have an improved "Type-02" airframe with additional wing fences. The Type-02 is heavier than the original airframe, but can tolerate higher G-loadings.
The 'J-8III/J-8C' advanced variant with digital fly-by-wire flight controls was apparently cancelled during the development stage. In 1988, one airframe was converted into the 'J-8ACT' an experimental fly-by-wire testbed for the J-10 program. To date, no plans for a twin-seat J-8 design have been announced.
Despite some foreign sources have considered the later version of J-8 such as J-8IIM comparable to early versions of F/A-18A Hornet and Mirage 2000C, the Chinese themselves are much more prudent, most (including many official sources) only consider the J-8 as the equivalent of F-4 Phantom II, and only the latest versions are somewhat close to the earlier version of F/A-18A Hornet.

Operational history

There are currently about 300 J-8s of all types serving in the People's Liberation Army Air Force and People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force; that number is expected to grow in limited numbers in the next ten years. The J-8 is expected to be exceeded by modern J-10 and J-11 variants in the coming year.
;April 2001 incident
On April 1, 2001, a Chinese J-8D fighter jet collided with a U.S. EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft flying over international waters about 70 miles south of China. The EP-3 crew was forced to make an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island; the pilot of the J-8D, Wang Wei, ejected but was never found and is presumed dead. American reconnaissance crews had been intercepted several times by Wang, who in some instances flew as close as ten meters away from the stronger-built American surveillance aircraft.
The crew of 24 Americans was detained for 11 days, eventually be allowed to return home on April 11. The American aircraft was not returned for another 3 months. It was suspected that the Chinese government used this period of time to try to study the EP-3, though such aircraft are fitted with systems that allow sensitive components to be destroyed quickly and it is unlikely any vital instruments were left intact to be examined.
The incident resulted in increased tensions between the two countries, which had an already stressed relationship.

Variants

J-8 (Finback-A) Series

;J-8
:First flew on July 5, 1969. Initial day fighter variant, resembles an enlarged MiG-21. Equipped with 2 x WP-7A turbojet engines, SR-4 ranging radar 2 x Type 30-I 30mm cannon (200 rounds each), and 2 x PL-2 IR-guided AAMs. Limited production. ^[1] Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of F-4A of the F-4 series.
;J-8I
:First flew in April 24, 1981. Improved all-weather version with SL-7A fire-control radar (40 km range), twin-barrel Type 23-III 23 mm cannon, & up to 4 AAMs (or rockets/bombs). Limited production. Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of F-4B of F-4 series.
;J-8E
:Mid-life upgrade for J-8I. Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of F-4C/J of the F-4 series.
;JZ-8 (J-8R)
:Reconnaissance version of J-8 or J-8I. Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of early reconnaissance version of the F-4 series.
;J-8ACT
:First flew on June 24, 1990, fly-by-wire testbed aircraft.

J-8II (Finback-B) Series

;J-8II (Finback-B)
:First flew on June 12, 1984. Improved J-8I prototype with redesigned nose/front section and fuselage. Replaced nose air inlet with solid nose (like F-4 Phantom). Equipped with Type 208 (SL-4A) monopulse radar (40 km range). Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of F-4D/K of the F-4 series.
;J-8II Batch 02 (J-8IIB)
:First flew in Nov 1989, improved J-8II with SL-8A (Type 208?) PD radar (70 km range). Powered by 2 x WP-13AII turbojet engines. Armed with twin-barrel 23mm Type 23-III cannon (copy of GSh-23L) and up to 4 PL-5 or PL-8 AAMs (or rockets/bombs). No BVR capability. Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of F-4F/M of the F-4 series.
;Peace Pearl J-8 (J-8II)
:During the Sino-US cooperation era, up to 50 J-8IIs was to be delivered to the US for upgrades and installation of AN/APG-66(v) radar and fire control system for US$500 million, under the Peace Pearl program. However the project was cancelled and only about 24 J-8II was produced.^[2] Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of AN/APG-66 equipped Japanese F-4EJ Kai or EL/M-2032 equipped Turkish F-4 Terminator 2020 of the F-4 series.
;J-8IIACT (J-8II-BW2)
:First flew in 1988, fly-by-wire testbed and technology demonstrator. Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of F-4E/N of the F-4 series.
;J-8IID (J-8D)
:First flew on November 21, 1990, modified J-8B with fixed refuelling probe and updated avionics such as TACAN navigation system. Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of F-4G/S of the F-4 series.
;J-8IIM (F-8IIM)
:Unveiled in Zhuhai Air Show 1996, export version of J-8B with Russian Phazotron Zhuk-8II PD radar (70 km range), R-27R1 (AA-10) AAM and Kh-31A (AS-17) anti-ship missile. Failed to attract any export customers and no domestic orders. ^[3] Conversion from older airframe was reportedly much fewer than the 100 units of Zhuk-8II radar delivered, and the conversion might have only been an experimental program. Some Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of the AN/APG-65 equipped German F-4 ICE and Greek F-4 Peace Icarus 2000 of the F-4 series.
;J-8IIM (2006)
:At Zhuhai Air Show 2006, a newer version of the J-8IIM was put on display with upgraded systems similar to the J-8F. [4]
;J-8III (J-8C)
:Upgraded J-8II with FBW system and 2 x WP-14 powerplants. Development halted in favor of other version described below, but was used to test new radars such as Type 1471 (KLJ-1) and other avionics associated with FBW system. Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of the AN/APG-76 equipped Israeli F-4 Kurnass 2000 of the F-4 series. From this version on, electronic warfare pods such as BM/KG300G and KZ900, as well as navigational / targeting pods including Blue Sky navigation pod and FILAT become operational on J-8II.
;J-8IIH (J-8H)
:First flew in Dec 1998, upgraded J-8II with new glass cockpit, WP-13B power plant, Type 1471 (KLJ-1) PD radar (75 km range) with look-down, shoot-down capability. Can use medium-range R-27 (AA-10), PL-11 AAMs, and YJ-91 anti-radiation ASMs. Many Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of the Northrop YF-17.
;J-8IIF (J-8F)
:First flew in 2000, J-8H with WP-13BII powerplant, in-flight refueling probe, and Type 1492 PD radar. Successfully test-fired PL-12/SD-10 AAM in 2004.^[4] Some Chinese sources claim this is the equivalent of the early F-18A/B.

Operators

;

★ People's Liberation Army Air Force

★ People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

Specifications (J-8B/D)

References

1. [1]
2. [2]
3. [3]
4. [5]

External links

★ China J-8 fighter photo collection

★ China J-8B J-8C J-8D J-8F fighter photo collection

★ China-defense.com

★ Sino Defense J-8-A/B

★ Sino Defense J-8-II

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