As the basic variant JH-7 did not meet the requirements of the PLA, an improved variant with enhanced surface attack and precision strike capabilities was proposed in the mid-1990s, with the full-scale development commencing in 1999. The design was fully embraced by both the Navy and Air Force as the pressure to find a replacement for the ageing H-5 bomber and Q-5 attacker fleets grew. The JH-7 was the first Chinese indigenous combat aircraft to be designed entirely on computer, with over 24,000 components and parts created on a 3D software known as CATIA. This allowed a virtual JH-7A to be assembled in simulation before any the costly physical prototypes were manufactured.
The JH-7 features an improved ‘glass cockpit’, with a head-up display (HUD) and two large LCD multi-functional displays (MFD). The original three-segment windscreen was replaced by a single-piece curving windscreen for better visibility. In order to give the weapon operator a better field of view, the seatback of the pilot was lowered by 30mm, while the seat of the weapon operator was raised by 30mm.
Modifications on the airframe included removing the over-wing fences, and replacing the single large under-fuselage stabilising fin with two smaller fins. By using composite and alloy materials, the aircraft’s empty weight was reduced by 400kg, while the maximum take-off weight was increased by 10%.
JH-7A is fitted with a JL-10A pulse-Doppler multi-functional fire-control radar with 11 working modes including medium-range interception, close-range air combat, surface/sea attack, navigation, etc. The X-band radar has a maximum detection range of 80km and tracking range of 40km, with the “look-down, shoot-down” capability. The original analogue FBW on the JH-7 has also been replaced by a dual-redundancy digital FBW system, which is correlated with the aircraft’s radar to enable the terrain-following capability over the land and the ability to deliver the precision strike weapons.
JH-7A fighter-bomber '30599' of the PLAAF 28th Air Division (Source: Chinese Internet)
The front seat of the JH-7A cockpit (Source: Chinese Internet)
The number of the external stores stations on the JH-7A has been increased from 7 to 11: six under wings, two on wingtips, one under-fuselage centreline, and two forward under-fuselage located near the air intakes. The aircraft is able to deliver a range of precision strike ammunitions, including the YJ-91 (Kh-31P copy) anti-radiation missile, the KD-88 TV-guided air-to-surface missile, and the 250kg laser-guided bomb (LGB). The two forward under-fuselage stations can carry various navigation and targeting pods for all-weather, day/night operations.
The JH-7A is powered by two indigenous WS-9 Qinling (Spey Mk202 copy) turbofan jet engines, each rated at 54.29kN (5,536kg, 12,250 lbs) dry or 91.26kN (9,305kg, 20,515 lbs) with afterburning. The engine has been manufactured by the Xi’an Aero Engine Factory (XAE) since 2004.
About 40 examples of the JH-7A have been delivered to the PLAAF and PLA Naval Aviation so far, with more expected in the future.
JH-7A prototype '813' carrying two 250kg laser-guided bombs under the wings (Source: Chinese Internet)
A JH-7A carrying two KD-88 TV-guided air-to-surface missiles and a targeting pod (Source: Chinese Internet)
A close up of the targeting pod carried under the fuselage of the JH-7A (Source: Chinese Internet)
The JH-7A prototype '814' firing a YJ-91/Kh-31P anti-radiation missile (Source: Chinese Internet)
A JH-7A carrying two electronic warfare pods under the wings (Source: Chinese Internet)
