J-8II Fighter Aircraft
F-8IIM
As a result of the fast improving Sino-Russia relation in the early 1990s, the SAC was able to improve its J-8II fighter with Russian technologies. In 1996, the SAC introduced the F-8IIM fighter intended for the export market. The aircraft featured a Russian Phazotron Zhuk-8II pulse-Doppler fire-control radar specially tailored for the J-8II fighter, coupled with the Vympel R-27R1 (NATO codename: AA-10 Alamo-A) semi-active radar-homing MRAAM. This package provided the J-8II with ‘real’ BVR combat capability for the first time.
The first F-8IIM built from the J-8II prototype '57' flew successfully on 31 March 1996. The aircraft made its debut during the first Zhuhai Air Show in November 1996. According to the introduction of Shenyang, the F-8IIM featured the following improvements:
- Russian Phazotron Zhuk-8II coherent pulse-Doppler fire-control radar (X-band)
- An Type 563B integrated INS/GPS navigation system
- New cockpit with a coloured multifunction display
- New fire-control system with MIL-STD-1553B data bus and MIL-STD-1760A weapon bus
- New electronic countermeasures suite (with active jamming and all-aspect RWR)
- Type 125 IFF
- Two Russian-made PGD-40-2K 15kW alternators
- Two improved WP-13B turbojet engine each rated at 4,800kg dry and 7,000kg with afterburning
The X-band Phazotron Zhuk-8II coherent pulse-Doppler fire-control radar has a maximum detecting range of 75km against airborne targets and 100km against sea surface targets. When in the air-to-air mode, the radar can track up to ten airborne targets and attack two of them simultaneously. With its 14 operating modes, the radar can guide a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons including R-27R1 (AA-10 Alamo-A) MRAAM and Kh-31A (AS-17 Krypton-A) supersonic anti-ship missile.
The SAC sponsored the F-8IIM project using its own funding with no PLA support. The aircraft mainly targeted foreign customers but the SAC hoped that the PLA would also be attracted to this design. However, so far the aircraft failed to receive any order from either international or domestic customers, partially due to the complexity of aircraft maintenance involving both Chinese and Russian manufacturers.
In 2004, Shenyang introduced a revised F-8IIM design featuring purely Chinese developed avionics, possibly based on the design of the J-8F fighter deployed by the PLAAF. The new 2004 version F-8IIM is fitted with a Chinese indigenous JL-10A (or Type 1492) pulse-Doppler fire-control radar with both air-to-air and enhanced air-to-surface capabilities. As well as the R-27R1 (AA-10A) semi-active radar-homing MRAAM and Kh-31A anti-ship missile, the new F-8IIM is also capable of firing the Chinese indigenous PL-12 (SD-10) active radar-homing ‘fire-and-forget’ MRAAM and laser guided bombs.
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| The F-8IIM carrying the Russian Vympel R-27R1 (AA-10 Alamo-A) MRAAM and the indigenous PL-5 SRAAM under the wing (Source: Chinese Internet) |
J-8H
The J-8H was reported to be an improved variant developed from the J-8D fighter. The aircraft features a new KLJ-1(?) pulse-Doppler fire-control radar (with ‘look-down/shoot-down’ capability) which can be used to fire the PL-11 semi-active radar-homing medium-range air-to-air missile (MRAAM). Other improvements include modestly improved cockpit avionics, two wing fences on each wing (in contrast to one on previous variants) for better aerodynamic performance and the stiffened nose radome.
The H model was reportedly developed in the late 1990s and received its design certificate in 1999. The fighter has been serving with the PLAAF in a small number since 2002. The production of the J-8H may have stopped after the delivery of a small number, and been replaced by the more capable J-8F. Older J-8D fighters are also being upgraded to the J-8H standard.
J-8F
The J-8F is an improved variant partially based on the technologies of the unsuccessful J-8C. The F model is regarded as the first true ‘multirole’ fighter and also the most capable variant in the J-8II family. New features to the J-8F include a new fire-control radar (JL-10 or Type 1492?) capable of firing the PL-12 (SD-10) active radar-homing medium-range air-to-air missile (MRAAM), a ‘glass’ cockpit, and more powerful WP-13BII turbojets (each rated at ~7,000kg with afterburning). In addition, the aircraft features enhanced air-to-surface/ship strike capability. Like the J-8D variant, the J-8F could also be fitted with a fixed in-flight refuelling probe.
The J-8F is generally similar to the early variants of the J-8II family in appearance. The most recognisable features are two wing fences on each wing (in contrast to one on previous variants) and the stiffened nose radome. The new fire-control radar has a radio command transmitter to provide mid-course correction for the PL-12 MRAAM during the 'beyond-visual-range' (BVR) attack. If necessary, the radar could also guide Russian-made MRAAM such as R-27 (AA-10) and R-77 (AA-12). The radar also has enhanced air-to-ground and air-to-sea modes to fire a range of precision guided armaments including laser or satellite guided bombs, and the Russian Kh-31 anti-ship missile.
Although the J-8F has yet approached the capabilities of advanced fighter aircraft such as Su-27 or Su-30, it provides a relatively inexpensive supplement to PLAAF’s existing third-generation fighter fleet. The aircraft first flew in 2000 and the first successful test fire of the PL-12 MRAAM took place in spring 2004. The fighter entered PLAAF service in 2003, with the production possibly still continuing.
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| The J-8F with aerial refuelling probe carries the indigenous PL-12 active radar-homing MRAAM and PL-9 IR-homing SRAAM (Source: SAC brochure) |
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| The J-8F multirole fighter '11128' of the PLAAF 1st Air Division based at Chifeng AB, Inner Mongolia (Source: Chinese Internet) |
JZ-8F
The JZ-8F is a reconnaissance variant based on the J-8F fighter. The aircraft features an internal camera compartment replacing the twin-23mm cannon. With a small and a large window, the compartment possibly accommodates both day-light and night-vision cameras.
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| A JZ-8F reconnaissance aircraft flying over at low altitude. The camera compartment wings are clearly visible (Source: Chinese Internet) |
J-8IIACT
The J-8II ACT (Active Control Technology) is the technology demonstration aircraft designed for studying and testing the ‘fly-by-wire’ (FBW) technology. The aircraft was based on the J-8II airframe, with a shorter fuselage and an pair of front canards being added to the front fuselage just behind the air inlets. The J-8II ACT was introduced in the 1990s to replace the older FBW demonstrators based on the JJ-6 (known as BW-1) and J-8 (known as J-8 ACT). The J-8II ACT played an important role in the PRC’s third-generation fighters programme.
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| The J-8IIACT technology demonstration aircraft played an important role in developing the 'fly-by-wire' technology for the PRC's third-generation fighter (Source: Chinese Internet) |
J-8G SEAD?
A modified variant of the J-8II tasked with the suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) mission was said to have been developed by the SAC in 2000s, but this cannot be confirmed. The aircraft, reportedly designated J-8G, was said to be capable of carrying two indigenous YJ-91 (Copy of the Russian Kh-31P) anti-radiation missile and electronic warfare suite to attack enemy radar stations. No detail is available at this moment.
Armaments
The fixed weapon on the J-8II includes a twin-barrel Type 23-III (a copy of the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23L) 23mm cannon with 200 rounds in a ventral installation. The aircraft has seven hardpoints (one under fuselage and six under wings). The centre fuselage hardpoint has a GDJ-4 pylon integrated dispenser system, which can carry up to six 250kg low-drag free-fall bombs, or a 1,400 litre drop tank. The under-wing hardpoints can carry up to six air-to-air missiles, or unguided rocket launchers, or 250kg free-fall bombs. The two outboard wing hardpoints are also pumped to carry 800 litre drop tanks.
While early variants (J-8B/D) could only carry IR-homing short-range air-to-air missiles (SRAAM) such as PL-5 and PL-8, later variants (F-8IIM/J-8F/H) are capable of firing semi-active or active radar-homing medium-range air-to-air missile (MRAAM) such as R-27 (AA-10), R-77 (AA-12), PL-11, or PL-12 (SD-10) for ‘beyond-visual-range’ (BVR) combat. Later variants also have enhanced ground attack capabilities.
For a typical interception mission, the fighter carries four air-to-air missiles (two SRAAM and two MRAAM) under the inboard and middle wing hardpoints, two 800 litre drop tanks under the outboard wing hardpoints, and a 1,400 litre drop tanks under the centre fuselage hardpoint.
For a typical ground attack mission, the fighter carries six 250kg low-drag free-fall bombs using the integrated dispense pylon under the centre fuselage hardpoint. The under wing hardpoints could each carry a 250kg bomb or a unguided rocket launcher pod carrying twelve 57mm or seven 90mm unguided rockets.
Later variants of the J-8II fighter are also configured to fire the Russian-made Kh-31A anti-ship missile or precision guided weapons such as the LT-2 laser guided bomb (LGB) or LS-6 satellite guided bomb.
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| A J-8II fighter demonstrating its air-to-air weapons, including the PL-8 (middle wing station) and PL-5 (inbound wing station) IR-homing SRAAM, and the PL-11 semi-active radar-homing MRAAM (mounted on the weapon loading trolley) (Source: Chinese Internet) |
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| A J-8D fighter carrying a GDJ-4 pylon integrated dispenser system on its centreline station, mounting six 250kg low-drag bombs. Two additional bombs and rocket launcher pods are carried on the wing stations (Source: Chinese Internet) |
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| A J-8F fighter carrying a LS-6 satellite-guidance bomb and two R-73 (AA-11) SRAAM (Source: Chinese Internet) |
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