JH-7A (Flounder) Chinese Fighter/Bomber

JH-7A

Spotted an error? Sign in to suggest an edit.

Basic Information

Name

JH-7A (Flounder) Chinese Fighter/Bomber

Designation

JH-7A

Alternate Designation

—

Equipment Type

—

Manufacturer

Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation

Date of Introduction

1994

Description

When the PLA examined the future role of air forces, it identified a need for precision air-to-surface capability. An improved JH-7, the JH-7A, was designed to meet this requirement. The JH-7A's general and deputy general designers were Tang Changhong (唐长红) and Wu Jieqin (吴介琴) respectively. The JH-7A had a lighter and stronger airframe than the JH-7, allowing the newer aircraft to carry a maximum ordnance load of 9,000 kg. In PLANAF, this allowed four YJ-82 anti-ship missiles to be carried, compared to the two on the JH-7. The JH-7A is equipped with domestic Chinese helmet mounted sight (HMS) for evaluation, and this HMS currently being tested is developed by Xi'an Optronics Group (Xi Guang Ji Tuan 西光集团), a member of Northern Electro-Optic Co. Ltd (北方光电股份有限公司), the wholly owned subsidiary of Norinco, and the HMS on JH-7A was developed from the helicopter HMS manufactured by the same company, thus both share many common components. HMS tested on JH-7A is compatible with air-to-air/surface missiles, and it is also compatible with airborne sensors such as radars and electro-optics so that the sensors are slaved to HMS, enabling the fast tracking and aiming of the weaponry. The cockpit of JH-7A still retains some traditional single function dial indicators, but there are two large color liquid crystal display multi-function displays which can be monochrome if pilots choose. Other avionic upgrades of JH-7 include: replacing Type 960-2 noise jammer with BM/KJ-8605, replacing Type 265A radar altimeter with Type 271 radar altimeter, fully digitized fly-by-wire flight control system, and in addition, Type 232H airborne radar is replaced by JL-10A pulse-Doppler radar, enabling JH-7A to fire laser-guided bombs and Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles. The existing JH-7s were upgraded with JH-7A electronics. Two additional hardpoints increased the total to 6 from the original 4, and one-piece windscreen replaced the original three-piece windscreen. The JH-7A was the first Chinese aircraft to use paperless design, and the software used was CATIA V5.

Air & Air Defense Specifications

Crew 2

Engine licensed Rolls Royce Spey Mk 202

Cruise Speed 903.0 km/h

Range 3100.0 km

Wingspan 12.80 m

Variants

JH-7 Initial production version of the PLANAF anti-shipping fighter-bomber.

JH-7A Later production utilising composite structure to reduce weight, improved flying control system and improved avionics including the JL10A Shan Ying J-band pulse-Doppler radar. Weapon loads increased by the addition of two more wing hardpoints and two hardpoints under the intake trunking for mission pods such as targeting pods.

JH-7E Possibly export variant, shown at 2018 Zhuhai Airshow.

FBC-1 Flying Leopard Export version of the JH-7.

FBC-1A Flying Leopard II Export version of the JH-7A.

System

Alternate Designation(s) JH-7A; FBC-1 Flying Leopard II

Primary Function / Type Fighter-Bomber

Manufacturer Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation

Crew 2

Number of Engines 2

Number of Hard Points 11 in total (8× under-wing, 2× wing-tip, 1× under-fuselage) with a capacity of 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) external fuel and ordnance,

Dimensions

Length 21.00 m

Height 6.22 m

Wingspan 12.80 m

Wing Area 52.3 m sq

Wheel Base 7.80 m

Wheel Track 3.06 m

Empty Weight INA

Takeoff Weight 27,415 kg

Automotive

Engine Name 2 x Xian WS9 turbofan

Number of Engines 2

Engine Type licensed Rolls Royce Spey Mk 202

Engine Power, Dry 55.83 kN each

Engine Power, Afterburner 91.26 kN each

Maximum Speed at Altitude 1,808 km/h at 1,000 m max

Cruise Speed 903 km/h

Maximum Range 3,100 km w/full internal fuel, full external fuel, no weapons

Radius 900 km

Ceiling 16,000 m

Takeoff Roll 920 m

Landing Roll 1,050 m

Main Gun System

System

Name Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23

Type Autocannon

Caliber 23mm

Length 1,537 mm

Barrel Length 1,000 mm

Weight 50 kg

Barrels 2

Action Gast principle

Rate of Fire 3,400–3,600 rounds/min

Muzzle Velocity 715 m/s

Ammunition

Type Autocannon

Caliber 23mm

Cartridge 23x115 mm

Basic Load 1,500 Rounds

Main Missile Systems

Air-to-Air Missiles (Options) PL-5; PL-8' PL-9; PL-12

Anti-Ship Missiles (Options) Yingji-8K; Yingji-82K

Air-to-Surface Missiles (Options) CM-802A; KD-88; C-705; C-704

Anti-Radiation Missiles (Options) Yingji-91; LD-10; CM-102

Main Missile System #1

Name C-802

Type Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

Manufacturer China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation

Length INA

Diameter INA

Weight INA

Warhead 190 kg high-explosive fragmentation

Engine French TRI 60-2 turbojet

Operational Range 125 km

Maximum Speed Mach 0.9

Guidance System Inertial navigation/active radar homing terminal guidance

Main Missile System #2

Name C-801

Type Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

Length 5.81 m

Diameter INA

Weight 815 kg

Warhead Weight 165 kg

Engine Rocket

Propellant solid rocket

Operational Range 42 km

Flight Altitude 5-7 m

Maximum Speed Mach 0.9

Guidance System Inertial navigation/active radar homing terminal guidance

Bomb Weapon Systems

Laser Guided Bombs (Options) GB1; GB5

Satellite Guided Bombs LS-6; FT-12; GB6; FT-2; FT-3; FT-6

Fire Control / Avionics

Radar L-10A multi-mode pulse-Doppler radar

Fire Control Radar Upgraded Fire Control Radar System, name: INA.

Laser Desingator INA

Autopilot triplex digital-analog

Air Data Computer Type 8145

Radio Altimeter WG-5A

Navigation the Blue Sky low-altitude navigational pod (similar to LANTIRN)

EW Radar Warning RW1045 receiver

Active Jamming 960-2 noise system

Passive Jamming 914-4G system

Fly-By-Wire Controls digital fly-by-wire (FBW) controls

Combat Avionics Detection Range The combat avionics can reportedly detect targets at a range of 54 nm (62 mi, 100 km), simultaneously track 14 targets and attack four to six.

Note A laser designation pod may be under the port engine intake to pain targets for LGBs.

Protection

Stealth Properties INA

Heat Signature Reduction INA

Add on Armor INA

NBC Protection Yes

EW Counter Measures INA

Chaffs/Flares INA

Image Sources

Notes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi'an_JH-7; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xian_JH-7A.jpg; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Xian_JH-7A_at_Shagol.jpg;

Details

Country of Origin China

Category Multirole Aircraft

Air > Multirole Aircraft

Classification

Domain

Air & Air Defense

Equipment Status

Active

Dimensions

Length

21 m

Width

—

Height

6.22 m

Weight

27415 kg

Operators (1)

China

Something went wrong. Please reload the page. Reload