Chinese Fighters

J-8 Finback

Notes: Beginning as a variant of the J-7 (the Chinese version of the MiG-21 Fishbed), the J-8 was first designed as an enlarged and upgraded MiG-21 and then was further modified by placing a more powerful engine in it, moving the air intakes to the sides, and enlarging the nose and upgrading the radar and avionics. The J-8IID uses leading edge flaps for improved maneuverability, a more powerful engine than the standard J-8II, titanium surfaces and frame in high-stress areas, and more powerful radar and better avionics. This aircraft had a very long development time and was almost cancelled several times before the designers finally got it right and production was authorized; however, until the introduction of the J-8IIM/D, the Finback was considered by most analysts to be a sub-par aircraft for its day and age. Only the J-8IIM and J-8IID are capable of aerial refueling.

Vehicle	Price	Fuel Type	Load	Veh Wt	Crew	Mnt	Night Vision	Radiological
J-8	$502,920	AvG	4.5 tons	16.58 tons	1	24	None	Enclosed
J-8I	$1,896,705	AvG	4.5 tons	17.58 tons	1	26	Radar	Enclosed
J-8E	$3,563,476	AvG	4.5 tons	17.58 tons	1	26	Radar	Enclosed
J-8II	$3,389,450	AvG	4.5 tons	17.8 tons	1	28	Radar	Enclosed
J-8IIM	$3,694,447	AvG	4.5 tons	19.6 tons	1	30	Radar	Enclosed
J-8II Block 2	$3,421,326	AvG	4.5 tons	17.7 tons	1	28	Radar	Enclosed
J-8IID	$3,755,788	AvG	4.5 tons	19.6 tons	1	30	Radar	Enclosed

Vehicle	Tr Mov	Com Mov	Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn	Fuel Cap	Fuel Cons	Ceiling
J-8/J-8I/J-8E	4664	1166 (125)	NA 292 6/4 60/40	5770	7776	20800
J-8II	4676	1169 (120)	NA 292 7/4 70/40	5290	5568	20200
J-8IIM	5138	1284 (125)	NA 321 6/4 60/40	5290	7419	20200
J-8II Block II	4676	1169 (120)	NA 292 7/4 70/40	5290	5568	20200
J-8IID	5138	1284 (120)	NA 321 7/5 70/50	5290	7419	20000

Vehicle	Combat Equipment	Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone	RF	Armament	Ammo
J-8	Flare/Chaff Dispensers	800/575m Hardened Runway	+1	2xType 23-III Autocannons, 5 Hardpoints	200x23mm
J-8I	RWR, Flare/Chaff Dispensers	800/575m Hardened Runway	+1	2xType 23-III Autocannons, 5 Hardpoints	200x23mm
J-8E	RWR, Flare/Chaff Dispensers, HUD	800/575m Hardened Runway	+2	2xType 23-III Autocannons, 5 Hardpoints	200x23mm
J-8II	RWR, Flare/Chaff Dispensers	755/540m Hardened Runway	+1	2xType 23-III Autocannons, 5 Hardpoints	200x23mm
J-8IIM	RWR, Flare/Chaff Dispenser, ECM, HUD Interface, Multitarget (2), Look-Down Radar	755/540m Hardened Runway	+3	2xType 23-III Autocannons, 7 Hardpoints	200x23mm
J-8II Block 2	RWR, Flare/Chaff Dispensers, ECM, HUD	755/540m Hardened Runway	+2	2xType 23-III Autocannons, 5 Hardpoints	200x23mm
J-8IID	RWR, Flare/Chaff Dispensers, HUD Interface, ECM, Auto Track, IR Uncage, Target ID, Multitarget (2)	725/515m; Hardened Runway	+3	2xType 23-III Autocannons, 7 Hardpoints	200x23mm

J-9

Notes: The J-9 is also known by several other designations, including FC-1, Super-7, and JF-17. This Chinese fighter-bomber is based on the design of the MiG-33, which was rejected by the Russian Air Force. It was designed to replace the J-7 (MiG-21) Fishbed and also provide a more useful air-to-ground capability than that aircraft. The J-9 has maneuverability similar to the US F-16, though it is smaller than the F-16. Doppler pulse radar equips the aircraft. The J-9 has a computer system that makes it easy to switch from air-to-air to air-to-ground modes. The J-9 also carried out many air strikes against Russian forces during its conflict with that country. The two wingtip hardpoints may only be used for air-to-air missiles or electronics pods.

Twilight 2000 Notes: This aircraft is also used by Pakistan, and was a standout in combat against the Indians during the Twilight War.

Price	Fuel Type	Load	Veh Wt	Crew	Mnt	Night Vision	Radiological
$3,318,109	AvG	3.8 tons	12.7 tons	1	22	Radar	Enclosed

Tr Mov	Com Mov	Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn	Fuel Cap	Fuel Cons	Ceiling
3818	955 (120)	NA 239 10/5 100/50	2320	3225	16500

Combat Equipment	Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone	RF	Armament	Ammo
All-Weather Flight, Flare/Chaff Dispensers, Radar Warning Receiver, ECM, Auto Track, HUD, IR Uncage, Look-Down Radar, Track While Scan, Target ID, Laser Designator	700/500m Hardened Runway	+4	1xGSh-23-2 23mm Autocannon, 9 Hardpoints	400x23mm

Q-5 Fantan

Notes: This aircraft is a Chinese modification of the Russian MiG-19 of the 1950s. It has a totally redesigned forward fuselage and air intakes. Export versions can use US-made air-to-air missiles. Four of the ten hardpoints may be used for drop tanks or stores. It has been marketed overseas as a less-expensive alternative to other countries' planes. The aircraft has an ejection seat, but is not capable of in-flight refueling. This aircraft is used by China, Bangladesh, North Korea, Burma, and Pakistan. Chinese versions of this aircraft are capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

The Q-5 is the basic model; it has a small bomb bay in the fuselage (1 ton capacity). The Q-5A has been modified to carry the large and heavy atomic bombs that the Chinese possessed in the 1970s, and is radiologically shielded, but can also be used for conventional attack. The Q-5I deletes the bomb bay, replacing it with additional fuel tanks, and also uses more powerful engines. The Q-5IA adds a better gunsight and two more underfuselage hardpoints. The Q-5II adds a radar warning receiver.

The Q-5B, built for the Chinese Navy, has a Doppler radar and the ability to carry heavy antiship missiles. It also has an autopilot. The Q-5III, known as the A-5C in export form, has an improved ejection seat, updated avionics, and hardpoints conversion lugs that allow it to carry Western weapons.

The Q-5K has greatly upgraded electronics and avionics, most of which are French-made. The Q-5M has further upgraded avionics, as well as two additional hardpoints under the wings. The Q-5E/F (also known as the A-5M) has a more powerful engine than the Q-5K and even better fire control.

	Price	Fuel Type	Load	Veh Wt	Crew	Mnt	Night Vision	Radiological
Q-5	$2,606,323	AvG	1.5 tons	11.3 tons	1	20	Radar	Enclosed
Q-5A	$2,606,323	AvG	1.5 tons	11.3 tons	1	20	Radar	Shielded
Q-5I	$2,628,878	AvG	2 tons	11.83 tons	1	24	Radar	Enclosed
Q-5IA	$2,708,541	AvG	2 tons	11.88 tons	1	24	Radar	Enclosed
Q-5II/B	$2,788,204	AvG	2 tons	11.88 tons	1	24	Radar	Enclosed
Q-5III	$2,892,035	AvG	2 tons	11.4 tons	1	24	Radar	Enclosed
Q-5K	$3,347,781	AvG	2 tons	12 tons	1	26	Radar, Image Intensification	Enclosed
Q-5M	$3,671,532	AvG	2 tons	12 tons	1	26	Radar, Image Intensification	Enclosed
Q-5E/F	$3,793,541	AvG	2 tons	12.2 tons	1	28	Radar, Image Intensification	Enclosed

	Tr Mov	Com Mov	Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn	Fuel Cap	Fuel Cons	Ceiling
Q-5/Q-5A	2380	595 (90)	NA 149 4/2 40/20	1008	2715	16000
Q-5I/IA/B/II	2420	605 (90)	NA 151 4/2 40/20	1714	4970	16000
Q-5III/K/M	2420	605 (90)	NA 151 5/3 50/30	1714	4970	16000
Q-E/F	2440	610 (90)	NA 153 6/4 60/40	1714	4825	16000

Vehicle	Combat Equipment	Minimum Landing/Takeoff Zone	RF	Armament	Ammo
Q-5/Q-5A	Flare/Chaff Dispensers	760/500m Primitive Runway	None	2xType 23-2K Autocannons, 6 Hardpoints, 1 Bomb Bay	200x23mm
Q-5I	Flare/Chaff Dispensers	760/500m Primitive Runway	None	2xType 23-2K Autocannons, 6 Hardpoints	200x23mm
Q-5IA	Flare/Chaff Dispensers	760/500m Primitive Runway	+1	2xType 23-2K Autocannons, 8 Hardpoints	200x23mm
Q-5II/B	Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR	760/500m Primitive Runway	+1	2xType 23-2K Autocannons, 8 Hardpoints	200x23mm
Q-5III	Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR	760/500m Primitive Runway	+2	2xType 23-2K Autocannons, 8 Hardpoints	200x23mm
Q-5K	Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR, HUD	760/500m Primitive Runway	+3	2xType 23-2K Autocannons, 8 Hardpoints	200x23mm
Q-5M	Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR, HUD, IR Uncage, ECM	760/500m Primitive Runway	+3	2xType 23-2K Autocannons, 10 Hardpoints	200x23mm
Q-5E/F	Flare/Chaff Dispensers, RWR, HUD, IR Uncage, ECM, Laser Rangefinder	760/500m Primitive Runway	+4	2xType 23-2K Autocannons, 12 Hardpoints	200x23mm