Non-Subscriber Extract
SHENYANG AIRCRAFT CORPORATION J-8 I and II
- Article Tools
| 02 April 2001 |
Chinese
name: Jianjiji-8 (Fighter aircraft 8)Westernised designation: F-8
NATO reporting name: Finback Day/night, twin-engined, attack/reconnaissance fighter.
Type
Single-seat twin-engined air superiority fighter, with secondary capability for ground attack.
Programme
Development started 1964; first flight of first of two prototypes 5 July 1969; flight trials (but no other J-8 activity) permitted to continue during 1966-76 cultural revolution, totalling 663 hours in 1,025 flights by prototypes; initial production authorised July 1979; three prototypes of J-8 I then built (one lost before flight testing); first flight 24 April 1981 by second aircraft; production go-ahead for this version given July 1985. This preceded 12 June 1984 by first flight of first of four prototypes of much redesigned J-8 II; J-8/J-8 I production ended 1987; Peace Pearl programme (see 1990-91 Jane's), to upgrade J-8 II with Western avionics, embargoed by US government mid-1989 and cancelled by China 1990; two prototypes supplied to Grumman for Peace Pearl returned to China 1993. Alternative domestic (F-8 IIM) upgrade programme now in progress (see separate entry). Trials with some parts of structure covered in Xikai SF18 radar-absorbent material were reported in early 1999.
Customers
PLA Air Force operates regiments within the 1st Air Army/Shenyang Military Region (J-8 I/II), 7th AA/Guangzhou MR (J-8 II), 8th AA/Nanjing MR (J-8 II) and 10th AA/Beijing MR (J-8 I/II). Unconfirmed report of service with People's Naval Air Force.
Armament
One 23 mm Type 23-3 twin-barrel cannon, with 200 rounds, in underfuselage pack immediately aft of nosewheel doors. Seven external stations (one under fuselage and three under each wing) for a variety of stores which can include PL-2B IR air-to-air missiles, PL-7 medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles, Qingan HF-16B 12-round pods of 57 mm Type 57-2 unguided air-to-air rockets, launchers for 90 mm air-to-surface rockets, bombs, or (centreline and outboard underwing stations only) auxiliary fuel tanks.
| Height (m): | 5.41 |
| Length (m): | 21.59 |
| Max Rate Climb (m/min): | 12000 |
| Max T-O Weight (kg): | 17800 |
| Service Ceiling (m): | 20200 |
| T-O Run (m): | 670 |
| Landing Run (m): | 1000 |
| Wing Span (m): | 9.345 |
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| SAC
J-8 II single-seat multirole fighters (International Aviation) |
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| J-8
II version of the `Finback' twin-jet fighter (Dennis Punnett/Jane's) |