Jian-8II Interceptor Fighter

The Jian-8II (J-8II) is a single-set, twin-engine, supersonic fighter aircraft developed by Shenyang-based 601 Aircraft Design Institute and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). The aircraft was developed from the Jian-8 (J-8 Finback-A) fighter, with a redesigned forward fuselage and upgraded avionics. It was originally developed from an interceptor fighter to counter Soviet bombers that fly at high altitudes, and has involved into an all-weather multirole fighter with both air-to-air combat and surface attack capabilities. A range of variants have been introduced since the maiden flight of the aircraft, with gradually improved performance and capabilities.

J-8II

As the J-8 fighter could not meet the requirements of the PLA, the SAC was asked in the early 1980s to develop a new fighter with radical improvements. Rather than simply pursuing high-speed, high-altitude performance, the new fighter was required have decent aerodynamic performance at transonic speeds and in medium-low altitudes. The PLA also demanded the ‘beyond-visual-range’ (BVR) air combat capability using the radar-homing medium-range air-to-air missile (MRAAM), and the secondary capability for ground attack.

The SAC soon began to develop an improved variant of the J-8. In order to achieve the design targets, the aircraft received extensive structural and system modifications. The delta wing remained substantially unchanged, but the forward fuselage was completely redesigned, with the original nose air inlet moved to the sides of the fore fuselage to provide space for a lager-size radar. The original two underpowered WP-7 turbojet engines were replaced by the new WP-13AII. The fighter was given a new fire-control radar with extended range coupled with an interception fire-control computer, and could carry semi-active radar-homing MRAAM and air-to-ground rockets. An autopilot was also added for all-weather interception and ground attack abilities.

Basic variant J-8II (Chinese Internet)

The J-8II entered full-scale development in September 1980. The first J-8II prototype was completed in March 1984, and was test flown for the first time on 12 June. The aircraft was certified for design finalisation in October 1988 after completing its test flights. However, the initial operational capability was delayed due to the aircraft’s trouble-prone avionics and the slow progress in the development of the semi-active radar-homing MRAAM.

Compared to the previous J-8 models, the J-8II has modestly improved its manoeuvrability. Test results showed that the J-8II’s intake efficiency was the same as the J-8 at high speeds and 6% higher at lower speeds. An electrically controlled differential horizontal tailplane resulted in the J-8II being 45% more efficient in roll control compared to the J-8 at subsonic speeds. The initial J-8II variant had the indigenous Type 208 mono-pulse fire-control radar with a detection range of only 40km. Due to the incapability of the Chinese weapon industry to produce a suitable MRAAM, the basic variant J-8II could only carry the infrared-homing short-range AAM for visual range combat.

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.

‘Peace Pearl’ J-8II Modernisation Project

One of the two J-8II fighters that have received to the U.S. for modernisation refit (Chinese Internet)

In 1986 the Regan administration approved to help the PLAAF modernise its J-8II fighter under the ‘Peace Pearl’ Sino-U.S. cooperation programme, which aimed to jointly counter the threat of the Soviet Union. Under the agreement, American company Grumman would help the SAC to upgrade 55 J-8II fighters with a US$502 million modernisation package including the Westinghouse AN/APG-66(V) radar, 1553B MIL-STD data bus, fire-control computer, head-up display (HUD), cockpit multifunctional displays (MFD), navigation system, and ejection seat.

In early 1989, the SAC handed over two examples of the J-8II to the U.S. for modernisation refit and tests in early 1989. The aircraft were flown by the USAF Air Force Test Centre at the Edwards Air Force Base. However, the project was cancelled as a result of the arms embargo imposed on the PRC by the US in the aftermath of the June 1989 Tiananmen Square incident.

J-8II Block-02 (J-8B)

J-8II Block-02 (Chinese Internet)

The J-8II Block-02, also known as J-8B, was the first variant that have entered operational service. Making first flight in November 1989, the J-8II Batch-02 featured a number of improvements in the avionics, including the Type 208A mono-pulse fire-control radar, HK-13E head-up display, Type 563B integrated INS/GPS, and JD-3II TACAN. Later production variant of the J-8B was also fitted with the KLJ-1 pulse-Doppler fire-control radar and KJ-8602A all-aspect radar warning receiver (RWR). Despite these improvements, the J-8B still lacked the BVR combat capability because of its incapable fire-control radar. The aircraft was certified for design finalisation in December 1995.

J-8C (J-8III)

Following the cancellation of the “Peace Pearl” modernisation upgrade project, the SAC continued to upgrade the J-8II, possibly under the assistance of Israel or Russia. In the early 1990s, Shenyang proposed a radically upgraded variant known as J-8C (also known as J-8III) featuring new avionics and powerplant, which would eventually bring the fighter into the same league as modern Russian and Western fighters such as MiG-29 and Mirage 2000-5. The J-8C programme entered full scale development around 1991 and the aircraft first flew successfully in 1993.

J-8C prototype '511' (Chinese Internet)

Compared to the J-8II, the J-8C had a number of improvements including a new multi-mode pulse Doppler radar which was reportedly based on the Israeli Elta EL/M 2035 radar technology. The aircraft was also equipped with a digital fire-control system and a new ‘glass’ cockpit with multifunctional displays (MFD). The aircraft’s original WP-13AII turbojet engine was replaced by the more powerful WP-14 turbojet then being developed by Shenyang Liming Aero-Engine Company.

A total of two J-8C prototypes were identified, carrying bort number ‘8301’ and ‘551’. Prototype ‘551’ was also fitted with an in-flight refuelling probe. The J-8C development programme was cancelled in the late 1990s by the PLAAF in favour of the more capable Su-27/J-11 fighter. The J-8C technologies were late used to develop the J-8F variant first introduced in 2000.

J-8D

The SAC began to study the possibility of adding the aerial refuelling ability to the J-8II fighter in the late 1980s. An experimentally modified J-8II fitted with a fixed refuelling probe made its first flight on 21 November 1990. The first successful in-flight refuelling from a H-6 tanker possibly took place in 1992/93. The aircraft entered the PLAAF and PLA Naval Aviation service in 1996 as the J-8D, and made its first public debut on 1 October 1999, during the flypast in Beijing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the PRC.

The J-8D has a fixed, non-retractable refuelling probe installed on the starboard side of the cockpit. Chinese newspaper reported that the early J-8D design suffered from high volume of noise caused by the air passing around the fixed refuelling probe in high-speed flight. Such noise would cause serious disruption to the pilot inside the cockpit. The problem was solved later by modifying the probe design. Furthermore, only a small number of PLA pilots are capable of performing the dangerous rendezvous with H-6 tanker.

Apart from its refuelling probe, the J-8D appeared to be identical to the J-8B in avionics and weapon configuration. The aircraft is deployed in limited numbers by the PLAAF and PLA Navy in central and southern China regions. With one refuelling, the aircraft’s combat radius can be extended from 800km to 1,200km, enabling it to reach the remote islands in the South China Sea.

F-8IIM

F-8IIM (Chinese Internet)

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.

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.

J-8F (Chinese Internet)

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.

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.

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.

J-8H

J-8H (Chinese Internet)

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-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.

Last update: 25 December 2008