‘Peace Pearl’ cancelled by China following US sanctions over Tiananmen Square massacre.įirst flight of the J-8-IIM export variantĮngines: Two Liyang (LMC) Wopen 7B turbojets each rated at 9,700 lb st (43.15 kN) dry and 13,448 lb st (59.82 kN) with afterburning ‘Peace Pearl’ contract with Grumman in the USA for the supply of avionics systems upgrade kits for installation in the J-8-II Second prototype J-8-I makes maiden flight PLAAF requirement for fighter superior to MiG-21įirst prototype J-8-I completed but destroyed in a fire Revised export version with Russian rather than US avionics equipment.

Projected (?) export version of J-8-II with WP-13B engines, pulse-Doppler look-down radar and digital avionics, with HUD and ‘glass’ cockpit. 70% of the airframe changed with respect to the original J-8. Cannon replaced by 23 mm twin-barrelled 23-III cannon.įurther development with large solid nose radome and MiG-23 type side intakes. Armed with single 30 mm cannon and four PL-2 missiles.Īll weather fighter derivative with SR-4 radar in enlarged intake centrebody, small wing fences and relocated airbrakes. Initial development version with small ranging radar in intake centrebody. Manufacturers Designation: Not known Development History: New WP-13B engines power the aircraft and it has greatly improved low-altitude manoeuvrability. The high-altitude high-speed performance of the J-8-IIM is superior to the F-16A/C, F/A-18 and Mirage 2000 and its radar and electronic equipment are better than the F-16A and similar to the F-16C, F/A-18 and Mirage 2000-5. This aircraft has upgraded electronic systems, it is claimed to survive damage better that the single-engined F-16A/C and the Mirage 2000. The Jian-8-IIM upgrade was developed by both China and Russia, (“M” stands for export only aircraft), this model has now become a new-generation fighter. The improved aircraft was comparable in aerodynamic performance to the Soviet Su-15 “Flagon”. The J-8-II has a completely new front end with much larger radar and ventral inlets, along with other less obvious improvements. It also incorporates technology gleaned from the Soviet MiG-23 variable geometry aircraft.ĭesign work on the improved J-8-II began in 1980, with production beginning in the late 1980s. The J-8 is a delta-wing aircraft with vertical tail surfaces similar to late-production MiG-21s. Production began in December 1979, with about 100 aircraft of the first configuration entering service. Although it resembled Mikoyan’s experimental Ye-152A, contrary to some reports, it was not based on that aircraft. The overall configuration is a straightforward enlargement of the MiG-21/J-7 layout to accommodate two engines. The J-8 was the first PLAAF aircraft of domestic design. The J-8 (Chinese name Jianjiji-8 (Fighter Aircraft 8 or Jian-8) was the subject of an advanced fighter programme that started in China in the late 1960s.

F 22 lightning 3 drawing