Shenyang J-8

The Shenyang J-8 or Jian-8 (Chinese nickname Apollo or Handsome man; NATO reporting name Finback) is a People's Republic of China-built single-seat fighter aircraft. Its main role is to serve as an interceptor. It has two Liyang (LMC) Wopen turbojet engines, and a maximum speed of Mach 2.2. The aircraft is armed with a 23-mm twin-barreled cannon and seven hardpoints for missiles, bombs, rockets or fuel tanks. Weapons carried include The PL-2, PL-5, and PL-8 short-range air-to-air missiles as well as the PL-11 medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missile. Unguided bombs and rockets can also be carried.

There are currently about 300 J-8s of all types serving in the People's Liberation Army Air Force and People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force; that number is expected to grow in limited numbers in the next ten years. The J-8 is expected to be exceded by modern J-10 and J-11 variants in the coming year.

Design

Shenyang J-8B

The plane's design began in 1964 and was the first Chinese plane to be designed and built indigenously. Despite the early beginnings, it was not first produced until 1979 and entered service in 1980. Its basic configuration is an enlargement of the delta-wing MiG-21 'Fishbed' with two Wopen-7A engines. Despite entering service relatively recently, it remained very unmaneuverable, and comparable to many older Soviet aircraft. The original combat avionics package was soon replaced with an all-weather capability in aircraft designated J-8I. The later J-8E featured improved electronic warfare systems. In 1982 work began to replace the unimpressive J-8 (Finback-A) type with a new design known as the J-8II.

The J-8II (Finback-B) series appear quite different from the original J-8, with a new forward fuselage, intakes and nose structure more reminiscent of the Su-15 'Flagon'. J-8IIs are powered by Wopen-13A engines. It was hoped to equip the production J-8B with an American AN/APG-66(V) radar, but this proved politically impossible after 1989. At least 30 J-8Bs have been converted by the PLA Navy to J-8D standard, with an in-flight refuelling probe for use with Xian H-6DU 'Badger' tankers.

The J-8IIM, first flown in 1996, is a further improved version, and is considered by some comparable to early versions of F/A-18A Hornet and Mirage 2000C. One major improvement over the J-8II is the capable Russian-made Zhuk-8II coherent pulse doppler radar. The J-8IIM has had no orders from China or the export market, where it is offered as the F-8IIM. However the experience gained has been applied by Shenyang Aircraft Company to the later J-8H/F upgrades. For comparison, please see this pic of the J-8D cockpit, to the J-8IIM cockpit.

The J-8H configuration features WP-13B turbojet engines and the KLJ-1 (Type-1471) Pulse Doppler fire control radar. With the radar upgrade comes the ability to fire the PL-12/SD-10 MRAAM employing an Active Radar Homing (ARH) seeker. The J-8F, featuring a glass cockpit and enhanced air-to-ground capability using the AS-17 'Krypton' anti-radar missile, has also been demonstrated. New build J-8H/Fs have an improved "Type-02" airframe with additional wing fences. The Type-02 is heavier than the original airframe, but can tolerate higher G-loadings.

The J-8III/J-8C advanced variant with digital fly-by-wire flight controls was apparently cancelled during the development stage. In 1988, one airframe was converted into the J-8ACT an experimental fly-by-wire testbed for the J-10 program. To date, no plans for a twin-seat J-8 design have been announced.

Versions

J-8 (Finback-A) Series

• J-8: First flew on July 5, 1969. Initial day fighter variant, resembles an enlarged MiG-21. Equipped with 2 x WP-7A turbojet engines, SR-4 ranging radar 2 x Type 30-I 30mm cannon (200 rounds each), and 2 x PL-2 IR-guided AAMs. Limited production. [1]
• J-8I: First flew in April 24, 1981. Improved all-weather version with SL-7A fire-control radar (40 km range), twin-barrel Type 23-III 23 mm cannon, & up to 4 AAMs (or rockets/bombs). Limited production.
• J-8E: Mid-life upgrade for J-8I
• JZ-8 (J-8R): Reconnaissance version of J-8 or J-8I
• J-8ACT: First flew on June 24, 1990, fly-by-wire testbed aircraft

J-8II (Finback-B) Series

• J-8II (Finback-B): First flew on June 12, 1984. Improved J-8I prototype with redesigned nose/front section and fuselage. Replaced nose air inlet with solid nose (like F-4 Phantom). Equipped with Type 208 (SL-4A) monopulse radar (40 km range). During the Sino-US coorporation era, up to 50 J-8IIs was to be delivered to the US for upgrades and installation of AN/APG-66(v) radar and fire control system for US$500 million. However the project was cancelled and only ~24 J-8II was produced. [2]
• J-8II Batch 02 (J-8IIB): First flew in Nov 1989, improved J-8II with SL-8A (Type 208?) PD radar (70 km range). Powered by 2 x WP-13AII turbojet engines. Armed with twin-barrel 23mm Type 23-III cannon (copy of GSh-23L) and up to 4 PL-5 or PL-8 AAMs (or rockets/bombs). No BVR capability.
• J-8IIACT (J-8II-BW2): First flew in 1988, fly-by-wire testbed and technology demonstrator.
• J-8IID (J-8D): First flew on November 21, 1990, modified J-8B with fixed refuelling probe and TAKAN navigation system.
• J-8IIM (F-8IIM): Unveiled in 1996, export version of J-8B with Russian Phazotron Zhuk-8II PD radar (70 km range), R-27R1 (AA-10) AAM and Kh-31A (AS-17) anti-ship missile. Failed to attract export customers. [3]
• J-8III: (J-8C): Upgraded J-8II with FBW system and 2 x WP-14 powerplants. Development halted.
• J-8IIH (J-8H): First flew in Dec 1998, upgraded J-8II with new glass cockpit, WP-13B power plant, Type 1471 (KLJ-1) PD radar (75 km range) with look-down, shoot-down capability. Can use medium-range R-27 (AA-10), PL-11 AAMs, and YJ-91 anti-radiation ASMs.
• J-8IIF (J-8F): First flew in 2000, J-8H with WP-13BII powerplant, in-flight refueling probe, and Type 1492 PD radar. Successfully test-fired PL-12/SD-10 AAM in 2004. [4]

April 2001 incident

Main article: Hainan Island incident

On April 1st, 2001, a Chinese J-8D fighter jet collided with a U.S. EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft flying over international waters about 70 miles south of China. The EP-3 crew was forced to make an emergency landing on China's Hainan Island; the pilot of the J-8D, Wang Wei, ejected but was never found and is presumed dead. American reconnaissance crews had been intercepted several times by Wang, who in some instances flew as close as ten meters away from the stronger-built American surveillance aircraft.

The crew of 24 Americans was detained for 11 days, eventually be allowed to return home on April 11. The American aircraft was not returned for another 3 months. It was suspected that the Chinese government used this period of time to try to study the EP-3, though such aircraft are fitted with systems that allow sensitive components to be destroyed quickly and it is unlikely any vital instruments were left intact to be examined.

The incident resulted in increased tensions between the two countries, which had an already stressed relationship.

Specifications (J-8B/D)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1

Performance

• Thrust/weight: ?

Operators

• China.
  • People's Liberation Army Air Force
  • People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

Related content

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• F-4 Phantom II
• Sukhoi Su-15
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23
• Mirage III

External links

• China-defense.com
• Sino Defense J-8-A/B
• Sino Defense J-8-II