JH-7 Flying Leopard - An offensive weapon for strategic defense

[below_freezing]

The PLANAF variant was for an all-weather, two-seat tandem, strike and reconnaissance aircraft. Six prototypes were built by December 1988 and a small batch of 12 to 18 JH-7s were delivered to the PLANAF in the early 1990s for evaluation. The first JH-7s used imported Rolls-Royce Spey Mk.202 engines. Later, they were replaced by two, license-built, Spey Mk.202s named WoShan-9 (WS-9). These first batch of JH-7 used the Type 243H multifunction radar, with maximum range of 175 km against ships and 75 km against MiG-21 size aerial targets. The original JH-7 was designed purely as an anti-shipping fighter-bomber platform, though this concept changed as China restructured its air force to deal with possible future conflict. Its new requirement for the JH-7 was to have air-to-surface precision strike capability, with the new aircraft being designated as the JH-7A. JH-7A is the first aircraft in China to incorporate the concept of paperless design, using CAD/CAM CATIA V.5 software,[citation needed] and it is also the first aircraft in the world to be designed by using CATIA V5.[citation needed] The general designer of JH-7A is Mr. Tang Changhong (唐长&#32418, and the deputy general designer is Mr. Wu Jieqin (吴介&#29748. JH-7A is in full production and all current JH-7 in service have been upgraded with JH-7A electronics.

It is our insurance against nuclear enrichment by countries such as South Korea and Japan and our best conventional defense against US carriers. Thanks to the designers of this aircraft, China remains the only country in East Asia with a credible bomber force.

General characteristics:

Crew: 2: pilot, weapons operator
Payload: 9,000 kg [4][5] (19,842 lb) of weapons
Length: 22.32 m (73 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 12.8 m (41 ft 7 in)
Height: 6.22 m (20 ft 4 in)
Wing area: m² (ft&#178
Empty weight: 14,500 kg [6] (31,900 lb)
Loaded weight: kg (lb)
Max takeoff weight: 28,475 kg (62,720 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Xian WS9 (a license-built Spey Mk202) afterburning turbofans
Dry thrust: 54.29 kN (12,250 lbf) each
Thrust with afterburner: 91.26 kN (20,515 lbf) each
Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 1.75 (1,808 km/h, 1,122 mph)
Combat radius: 1,759 km (890 nm, 1,093 mi)
Ferry range: 3,700 km (1,970 nm, 2,299 mi)
Service ceiling: 16,000 m (51,180 ft)
Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft&#178

Armament


Guns: 1× 23mm twin-barrel GSh-23L autocannon, 300 rounds
Hardpoints: 9 in total (6× under-wing, 2× wing-tip, 1× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 9,000 kg (8,000 lb) external fuel and ordnance
Rockets: 57mm/90mm unguided rocket pods
Missiles: ** Air-to-air missiles:

PL-5 [7]
PL-8
PL-9
Anti-ship missiles:
Yingji-8K [8]
Yingji-82K [9]
Anti-radiation missiles:
Yingji-91 [10]
Bombs: ** Unguided bombs
Laser-guided bombs
Avionics
JL-10A radar

Xian JH-7 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Brotherhood]

A public view of a PLAAF JH-7A was photographed at the 2008 Zhuhai International Airshow. It belongs to the first batch JH-7As which entered the service with PLAAF (serial # 30x9x, 11x6x, 20x2x) in late 2004. Unlike the naval JH-7As (serial # 83x9x, 82x5x) which entered the service earlier in 2004, it wears a medium-blue color scheme and has the serial number painted under the side of cockpit. First revealed as a full-scale mockup, this improved variant of JH-7 was seen carrying a full range of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapon load, relecting its enhanced capability of launching precision strikes using anti-radiaton missiles and LGBs. The precision strike capability is believed to be a major requirement JH-7A has to meet in order to attract orders from PLAAF. This capability is thought to be achieved by the JL-10A (AG?) multi-mode PD radar integrated into a new fire-control system, plus a new digital FBW system giving the aircraft a true terrian-following capability. The aircraft also features a one-piece windshield and a tandem glass cockpit (front/rear) and HOTAS. It also has new wings and horizontal stabilizers which incorporate composite materials and have the 1950 style wing fences removed. As the result, a few hundred kilograms of weight has been eliminated. The engines are the indigenous WS-9 Qinling turbofans (certified in July 2003) replacing the original R&R Spey MK202s. The aircarft has a total of 11 hardpoints, 6 underwing, 2 wingtip, 2 under the engine intakes and 1 under the fuselage. They can carry PL-5, PL-8 and YJ-91/Kh-31P, YJ-83K, LGB as well as unguided 250kg and 500kg bombs. A datalink pod (Russian AKR-8 copy) carried underneath the engine intake will provide enemy radar emission parameters to the Kh-31P ARM. Similarly a laser designation pod (K/JDC01?) can be carried to paint targets for the LGBs. 4 prototypes were built (#811-814?), with the first JH-7A prototype taking off on July 1, 2002. Currently PLAAF JH-7As are equipped with LT-2 LGB and KD-88 TV guided ASM. Recent images indicated that it can carry two large EW pods similar to those carried by JH-7. Those pods appear slightly different from each other in terms of antenna shapes (covering different frequencies). Howerver it is still unclear if the aircraft is able to carry any anti-radiation missiles at the same time. Since 2009 some JH-7As have been upgraded with a new datalink antenna behind the cockpit. The latest rumor claimed a much improved variant with stealth features and DSI (JH-7B?) has been under development at 603 but no further information is available.
Chinese Military Aviation | China Air Force

 

[Brotherhood]

 

[file12345]

I wanted to ask that what is the cost of them and do they fit in Pakistani Doctrine?

 

[somebozo]

They are air superiority bombers like F14 and F14 and they dont fit into Pakistani doctrine because Pak relies on missles and dog fights. We dont have to travels thousands of KM our adversary lives nextdoor.

 

[Urbanized Greyhound]

what are the defenses on these strike and reconnaissance fighters against SAM s and other ground based defenses ? As they are strike aircraft they are not expected to be specialized for dogfights....but for ground attack...as I understand....

 

[BelligerentPacifist]

They do fit in with the PN in the ASh role, being able to carry twice the number of AShMs than the Mirage or the JFT.

However, instead of a new type, PN could be given more of the JFTs.

 

[Nav]

Good Aircraft for PlANAF, but can be fit in pakistan Arsnel , as Pakistan Navy's Maritime Strike Aircraft..what u guys think?

 

[muse]

They are air superiority bombers like F14 and F14 and they dont fit into Pakistani doctrine because Pak relies on missles and dog fights. We dont have to travels thousands of KM our adversary lives nextdoor.

Delivery of significant volumes of precison munitions certainly is a requirement of all Air Forces, Armies and Navies - these aircrafts primary mission is NOT to "travel thousands of Km", it is to deliver with precision, munitions upon the enemy -- JFT, it is claimed is a multirole aircraft, but this claim should be treated with circumspection and we should tax this claim - JH7A's payload is awesome, especially in comparison with that of the JFT in a attack mission - we seem to be short on details on it's avionics package, however, if it can be fitted with the kind of radar and avionics that PAF requires for attack and CAS missions, I think, in a general, superfical way, that PAF might show interest in this aricraft and the kinds of capablities it may offer.

Can this aricraft be fitted with the same Chinese engines as the JFT? And why isn't aerial refueling an option for this aircraft?

 

[ao333]

It is our insurance against nuclear enrichment by countries such as South Korea and Japan and our best conventional defense against US carriers. Thanks to the designers of this aircraft, China remains the only country in East Asia with a credible bomber force.

No need to be so modest... You guys do have the most effective bomber force in Asia. Though, globally, you guys are behind all the other permenant members of the UNSC or #5 in the world. It is also noteworthy that non-permanent members are generally not allowed to produce offensive weapons. So, you guys are pretty behind for a country that's allowed to produce them.

 

[muse]

The Indian navy is many times the size of the Pakistan navy and will continue to grow, Pakistan navy, it seems to me, will have liitle choice but to hunt the Indian Navy and deminish it's offensive capablity - the Indina Navy, is a blue water navy and Pakistan Navy, I cannot believe, would rely on a single engine platform with a rather limited payload, operating in high temperatures, as anything more than a coastal capablity - The Arabian sea resources and the protection of the EEZ require the kind of capablities the JH7A offer.

China's defense is best served by a regime of alliances agianst those who would ally with hostile non-Asian powers and it's true security is not in the production of large numbers of weapons for itself, but in the creation of prosperity for it's people and all neighbors that seek a peaceful and prosperous Asia.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

PN should seriously consider forming a fighter wing instead of just depending on PAF!

Induct JFTs and J-11B in future if possiable!

 

[Patriot]

It would definitely be a good choice and PN should try to ask Air Force to acquire at least one squadron of used F16's through EDA and run them through MLU and use F16's to provide escort to JH7 - We could also use J10 for escort though.

 

[muse]

A single engine such as the JFT, I think, is not a suitable candidate, it does not have the payload nor the endurance required.

The Indian Navy is a "Blue Water" navy, it's effort to blockade cargo bound for Pakistani ports will not start at or be limited to 200nm off the Pakistani coast.

If there were to be hostilities, PN would have to deny IN space for operations along the Red Sea, all of the Arabian sea, even as far south as Lanka would have to be made hostile to IN operations, JFT is not the platform to do it, it's a light fighter, first and foremost, it's naval role, given it's short legs, even with aerial refueling, given the temperatures it will be operating in and the possible payload it will carry, limit it to a coastal role.

 

[siegecrossbow]

what are the defenses on these strike and reconnaissance fighters against SAM s and other ground based defenses ? As they are strike aircraft they are not expected to be specialized for dogfights....but for ground attack...as I understand....

JH-7 is a "fighter-bomber" much like the F-111 and the Su-34. It is a dedicated strike aircraft that is primarily but not exclusively used for naval strikes. The "fighter" part of the fighter-bomber name comes from the fact that the JH-7 could carry short-range AA missiles for self-defense.

The JH-7 is primarily used by the PLANAF because although the PLAAF was, at first, behind the development of this aircraft, they lost interest in it very quickly. The Chinese navy funded the plane and now the PLAAF wants a piece of the pie since the JH-7 is mature technology .