Improving the air defense system of the People's Republic of China against the background of strategic rivalry with the United States (part 4)
Currently, the most valuable part of the PLA Air Force's fighter fleet, which can be effectively used to gain air superiority and perform air defense tasks in the PLA Air Force, are Su-35SK, Su-30МК2, Su-30МКК aircraft, as well as unlicensed J-11 modifications. The Su-90SK, delivered by Russia at the beginning of the 27 of the last century, by virtue of outdated avionics can no longer be considered modern. In addition, these fighters are already very worn out, are in the final part of their life cycle and are actively being decommissioned. The same applies to the first series of fighters J-11, assembled at the aircraft factory in Shenyang from Russian components.
However, in addition to heavy fighters assembled in Russia and their Chinese clones, the PRC has its own production of combat aircraft. More recently, the PLA Air Force officially said goodbye to the J-6 fighter. The production of various versions of the Chinese copy of the MiG-19 was also carried out in Shenyang. This fighter became the most numerous in the PLA Air Force, in total, more than 80 were built before the early 3000s. In addition to the front-line fighter, several modifications of the air defense interceptor were built with on-board radar and missile weapons. However, in the 21st century, these machines could no longer compete with 4th generation fighters, and as the air regiments were saturated with modern aircraft, outdated fighters were written off. The official farewell to the J-6 fighter took place in 2010. Nevertheless, the J-6 is still in flight test centers, where they perform training flights and use them in research programs, saving the life of more modern fighters. Also, a significant number of J-6s have been converted into radio-controlled targets, which are actively used during testing of new anti-aircraft systems and during control and training launches of anti-aircraft and aviation rockets.
Shortly before the breakdown of military-technical cooperation in the PRC, a package of documentation was sent to the MiG-21F-13 fighter, as well as several ready-made airplanes and assembly kits. However, the mass production of the “Cultural Revolution” that started in China was stopped, and the China-made MiG-21 was able to bring to mind only by the beginning of the 80-s. Further improvement of the J-7 in the PRC was largely due to the outright theft of the Soviet MiG-21MF fighters delivered to the DRV through Chinese territory. In addition, as it is written in Western sources, in the 70-s several MiGs came to China from Egypt.
The J-7C fighter, which appeared in 1984, received a radar sight, a more powerful engine, and was armed with a 23-mm cannon and four missiles with a thermal homing PL-2 (copy of the Soviet K-13) or improved PL-5. The JL-7D fighter jet was equipped with a JL-7A radar with a Tu-16 bomber detection range near 30 km. Production of the J-7C / D continued until the 1996 year.
In the future, Chinese designers relied on Western assistance. So on the J-7E fighter that made the first flight in 1987, the British-developed air-defense system was used, the Israeli fire control system and the PL-8 missiles were largely copied from the Python 3 SD. Thanks to the changes made to the wing design, it was possible to significantly improve the take-off and landing characteristics.
In 2001, the flight tests of the latest and most advanced modification in the family of the twenty-first Chinese began - the J-7G fighter with the KLJ-6E Chinese-made airborne radar (a licensed copy of the Italian Pointer-2500 radar) with a range of air targets on the ground to 55 km
In the cockpit of the fighter J-7G installed ILS Type 956, which displays flight and target information. The official adoption of the J-7G took place in 2004 year. The pilot can target air-to-air missiles with a PL-8 TGS with a helmet-mounted target sight.
Production of the J-7 continued until the 2013 year. In total, about 2400 aircraft were built, approximately 300 machines were exported. The reason for the long longevity in the PLA Air Force of a clearly outdated fighter is its relatively low cost, ease of maintenance and low operating costs.
Although the Chinese designers managed to seriously tighten the combat characteristics of the latest modifications of the J-7, even in the close battle with fourth-generation foreign fighters, it is very difficult for them. The short range and the absence of medium-range missiles in the J-7 armament and the weak radar make it ineffective as an air defense interceptor. Nevertheless, the Chinese clone MiG-21 armed with several air regiments of the "second line". Also single J-7 and Sparky JJ-7 actively operated as training aircraft in the units armed with modern fighters.
Google Earth satellite image: J-7 fighter aircraft at the Mengzi airbase in the Honghe-Hani-Iya Autonomous Region
It is noteworthy that the J-7 fighters mostly remained in the air regiments stationed on the periphery or as a supplement placed at air bases where there are also modern fighters. Judging from satellite images, the number of J-7 in the PLA Air Force is rapidly decreasing. Over the past 3-4, more than half of the air units armed earlier with light J-7 fighters have switched to new J-10.
From the moment J-7 was adopted, it was clear that this very successful light front-line fighter was not very suitable for the role of the main air defense interceptor. This required an aircraft with a greater range, equipped with a powerful radar, automated guidance equipment from ground command posts and armed with medium-range missiles. The PLA Air Force leadership, fearing Soviet and American long-range bombers, demanded the creation of an interceptor fighter with a maximum speed of at least 2,2M and a speed of at least 200 m / s capable of reaching a height of 20000 m, having a combat radius of 750 km. Chinese designers did not "reinvent the wheel" and based on the well-developed aerodynamic configuration of a delta-winged aircraft, they created the J-8 interceptor. This aircraft looks very much like J-7 (MiG-21F-13), but it has two engines, and it is much bigger and heavier.
Satellite image of Google Earth: J-8 and J-7 62-iap fighters at Qiqihar airbase, near the city of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province. The size difference between J-8 and J-7 is clearly visible.
The interceptor was equipped with two WP-7A TRDFs (a copy of the R-11F turbofan engines) with an afterburner of 58,8 kN. The maximum take-off weight was 13700 kg. Thrust - 0,8. Maximum operating overload - 4 g. The combat radius is about 800 km.
The first flight of the J-8 fighter took place in July of the 1965 year, but due to the general decline in industrial production caused by the Cultural Revolution, production aircraft began to flow into combat units only at the start of the 80's. By that time, the fighter equipped with a very primitive radar sight and armed with two 30-mm cannons and four melee rockets with TGS PL-2 no longer met modern requirements. In addition, the technical reliability of the first J-8 was not very high. All this affected the volume of serial construction of interceptors of the first modification, according to Western data, they built a little more than 50 units.
In the second half of the 80-x, PLA Air Force began operation of the advanced interceptor J-8A. In addition to better assembly and the elimination of a significant part of “children's sores,” this model was distinguished by the presence of a Type 204 monopulse radar with an detection range of about 30 km. Instead of 30-mm guns, the 23-mm Type 23-III gun (a Chinese copy of the GSH-23) was introduced into the armament, and in addition to the PL-2 missiles, advanced missiles with TGS PL-5 could be used.
Despite the improvement in the combat characteristics of the upgraded J-8A, relatively few were built, and they entered the regiments, where interceptors of the first modification were already in use. Visually, the J-8 and J-8A can be distinguished by the cab light. On the first serial J-8, the flashlight tilts forward, and on the upgraded J-8A - back.
In the early 90s, in order to improve combat performance, a significant part of the J-8A was modernized by installing a radar capable of seeing targets against the background of the earth, a new fire control system and state identification, as well as a HUD, a radar exposure receiver and semi-automatic navigation equipment operating on radio beacon signals . The finalized interceptor is known as the J-8E. Despite the improvements, aviation experts rated the J-8E not highly. The main disadvantages of this fighter were considered the modest characteristics of the radar and the absence of medium-range radar-guided missiles in the armament. Although the J-8A / E no longer corresponded to the realities of the 21st century and their radars and communications could be easily suppressed by the onboard electronic warfare equipment of the Tu-95MS and V-52N bombers, and missiles with TGSN launched at a distance of no more than 8 km had low noise immunity to thermal traps, the operation of interceptors continued until 2010. There is information that some of the decommissioned obsolete interceptors have been converted into radio-controlled Drones.
Even before the start of mass production of the J-8, it was clear that the capabilities of the onboard radar would be very limited by the size of the air intake cone. Due to the inability to place a large and powerful radar on the interceptor in the late 70's, the design of the interceptor with side air intakes began. In the West, it is assumed that the layout of the front of the interceptor J-8II, which first took off in June 1984, was influenced by the familiarity of Chinese specialists with Soviet MiG-23 fighters received from Egypt. The SL-8A (Type 4) radar station with a detection range of up to 208 km is located in the cone-shaped bow of the J-40II. The dry weight of the J-8II increased by about 8 kg compared with the J-700A. The flight data of the aircraft was improved due to the installation of the engines WP-13А (copy Р-13-300) with the afterburner 65,9 kN and more advanced aerodynamics. In addition, the radically upgraded interceptor has become stronger. Thanks to the use of outboard fuel tanks, the combat radius remains the same.
Although a more powerful radar was installed on the J-8II, the combat capabilities of the new interceptor fighter compared to the J-8A / E increased not much. The reason for this was the absence of medium-range missiles in the armament, the arsenal of the J-8II remained the same: the 23-mm built-in cannon and melee missiles with TGS on four suspension nodes.
Realizing that the characteristics of the new interceptor still do not correspond to modern realities, the Chinese leadership took a nonstandard step. As part of Sino-US cooperation in 1986, a contract worth more than $ 500 million was signed for the modernization of the Chinese J-8II interceptors in the United States. Details of the secret program known as “Peace Pearl” have not been disclosed until now. But a number of sources say that Chinese radar AN / APG-66 (V), MIL-STD 1553B data communication buses, fire control computers, multifunction displays, the indicator on the windshield should have been installed on Chinese fighter-interceptors. modern navigation and communication equipment, ejection seat from the company Martin-Baker.
Satellite image of Google Earth: J-11, J-8 and J-7 fighters at the factory airfield in Shenyang
At the beginning of 1989, two J-8II fighter planes specially prepared in Shenyang were delivered to the US Air Force Flight Test Center Edwards Air Base. According to Western data in the People's Republic of China, they managed to prepare for the installation of an American interceptor 24 BREO. However, after the events on Tiananmen Square, the Americans curtailed military-technical cooperation with the PRC, and J-8II had to continue further improvement on its own.
However, the Chinese experts managed to pry the Americans not a little useful. After breaking the contract with the United States on the interceptor known as the J-8II Batch 02 (J-8IIB), an improved SL-8A BRLS with a detection range of 70 km, multi-functional displays and a modern at the time navigation equipment appeared. But before the option that was to be obtained in the framework of the Peace Pearl program, the interceptor did not fit. The capabilities of the fire control system were very modest, and the main weapons still remained melee missiles. However, this version was launched into mass production. After the upgrade, the installation of airborne refueling equipment and medium-range missiles PL-11 (a copy of AIM-7 Sparrow), the aircraft received the designation J-8IID (J-8D). The interceptor's standard armament was two medium-range PL-11 SDs with semi-active radar guidance and two PL-5 short-range melee missiles with a thermal homing head.
As part of the next upgrade from 2004, J-8IID interceptors equipped a Type 1492 BRLS, capable of seeing an air target with an 1 ESR, flying towards you at a distance of up to 100 km. The armament was introduced missiles PL-12 and PL-8. After installing a new radar, weapons control system, new navigation and communications equipment, the aircraft received the designation J-8IIDF.
The cancellation of the project “Peace Pearl” coincided with the normalization of relations with the USSR and the Soviet specialists turned out to be the Soviet X010 “Beetle-8-II” radar, which was specially adapted for installation on the F-8IIM interceptor. According to the brochures, the detection range of this station is 75 km. It also became possible to use Russian medium-range missiles P-27 with semi-active radar seeker.
However, the PLA Air Force commander after being familiarized with the heavy Su-27SK fighter was not impressed with the capabilities of the F-8IIM interceptor, and no orders were given for it.
Almost simultaneously with the F-8IIM, the J-8IIC was tested. This interceptor used the Israeli avionics: a multi-mode radar Elta EL / M 2035, a digital fire control system, a “glass cabin” with multi-functional displays, navigation equipment INS / GPS. To increase the range of flight on the aircraft installed equipment refueling in the air. Many of the insights gained from those who did not follow the F-8IIM and J-8IIC series were used to create the J-8IIH interceptor (J-8H). The main innovation introduced on this modification was the KLJ-1 radar with target detection range with 1 ESR ESR - 75 km. The composition of weapons introduced medium-range missiles: Russian P-27 and Chinese and PL-11. The J-8IIH interceptor was adopted in 2002 year as a temporary measure, until the end of the tests of the J-8IIF modification (J-8F).
Since 2004, PLA Air Force began supplying J-8IIF interceptors. This modification is equipped with a Type 1492 radar and PL-12 missiles with a launch range of up to 80 km. Two WP-13BII engines with a total load of 137,4 kN afterburner accelerated the interceptor at a high altitude up to 2300 km. Maximum take-off weight 18880 kg normal - 15200 kg. Thrust-to-0,98. Some interceptors equipped the WP-14 TRDF with a forcing after XSUMNK, which significantly improved the thrust-to-weight ratio and acceleration characteristics. However, the maximum speed for reasons of strength was limited to the same value, while the WP-75 engines themselves were not very reliable.
The combat radius of action without refueling in the air, with outboard tanks exceeds 900 km. Maximum operating overload - up to 8 g. The main means of defeating air targets are the PL-12 and PL-8 missiles with a maximum launch range of 80 and 20 km.
Although considerable resources were allocated for the creation of various modifications of J-8, by the Chinese standards, little was built up of two-engined triangular-wing interceptors. The construction of the new aircraft continued until the 2008 of the year, and the revision of the previously built aircraft to the level of the most advanced serial modification of the J-8IIF - to the 2012 of the year. According to American data, the Chinese aviation industry has built approximately 380 J-8 aircraft of all modifications, this number, in addition to interceptors, also included reconnaissance aircraft. In 2017, interceptors of J-8IIDF, J-8IIF and J-8IIH modifications in the PLA Air Force were equipped with 6 fighter regiments, another 1 regiment on J-8H was in naval aviation.
The most notorious incident involving J-8IID was a collision with an American aircraft of electronic intelligence. 1 April 2001 radar calculation YLC-4 located in the southeastern part of Hainan Island discovered an air target flying at an altitude of 6700 m at a speed of about 370 km / h along the border of Chinese territorial waters. Two interceptors from the 25 th Fighter Aviation Regiment included in the 9 Airborne Division took up an unidentified air target from the Lingshui airbase located on the east coast of the island.
Satellite image of Google Earth: J-8II fighter-interceptors in the parking lot of the Lingshui airbase, Hainan Island
Having approached, the pilots of Chinese interceptors identified the target as EP-3E ARIES II - an American electronic reconnaissance aircraft based on the anti-submarine P-3 Orion. During the maneuvers, the American aircraft dropped to 2400 m and slowed down.
J-8IID interceptor colliding with 1 on April 2001 of the year with the American EP-3E ARIES II electronic reconnaissance aircraft
During a close maneuvering, with the third overflight of the intruder, one of the interceptors collided with it and fell into the South China Sea. His pilot went missing and was subsequently found dead. The damaged aircraft of the RTR EP-3E ARIES II under the threat of the use of weapons was put on the Chinese airbase Lingshui. As a result, the Chinese military had at its disposal cryptographic and reconnaissance equipment, encryption keys, call signs and radio frequency lists of the US Navy, secret information regarding the operation of the radar posts of the PRC, Vietnam, the DPRK and Russia. The American crew from 24 man was released on April 11. Aircraft EP-3E ARIES II 3 July 2001, disassembled, returned to the United States aboard the Russian heavy transport aircraft An-124.
Despite modern avionics and long-range missiles, the in-service Chinese J-8II interceptor fighters look quite archaic and are a mixture of 60-70's aviation technology with a patch of modern avionics and weapons. In fact, in the People's Republic of China, the evolutionary path from Su-9 to Su-15 was repeated in the USSR 40 years ago. Like the Soviet fighter-interceptor C-9, Su-11 and Su-15, the entire line of Chinese J-8 was sharpened for high-speed interception of single targets flying at medium and high altitudes. The main emphasis was placed on acceleration characteristics, radar detection range and increasing the missile launch distance. In close combat maneuver, the J-8 interceptors of all modifications are hopelessly inferior to the MiG-21, and cannot compete with modern fighters. Despite the fact that the process of creating and refining airborne avionics and armament J-8II was unacceptably long, and 4 fighter jets began to enter the combat regiments of the PLA Air Force, the Chinese leadership found it necessary to continue work on creating new versions of the delta wing interceptor. Apparently, this decision was made due to the need to develop its own aviation design and scientific school and develop the necessary practical experience. At the same time on the latest modifications of the J-8II, the elements of the avionics that were used later on the heavy J-11 fighters were tested.
To be continued ...
Based on:
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=1052
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Fighters.html
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/j-7-variants.htm
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19725.0
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=212
https://sinodefence.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/shenyang-j8/
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/missile.htm
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/wp14.htm
However, in addition to heavy fighters assembled in Russia and their Chinese clones, the PRC has its own production of combat aircraft. More recently, the PLA Air Force officially said goodbye to the J-6 fighter. The production of various versions of the Chinese copy of the MiG-19 was also carried out in Shenyang. This fighter became the most numerous in the PLA Air Force, in total, more than 80 were built before the early 3000s. In addition to the front-line fighter, several modifications of the air defense interceptor were built with on-board radar and missile weapons. However, in the 21st century, these machines could no longer compete with 4th generation fighters, and as the air regiments were saturated with modern aircraft, outdated fighters were written off. The official farewell to the J-6 fighter took place in 2010. Nevertheless, the J-6 is still in flight test centers, where they perform training flights and use them in research programs, saving the life of more modern fighters. Also, a significant number of J-6s have been converted into radio-controlled targets, which are actively used during testing of new anti-aircraft systems and during control and training launches of anti-aircraft and aviation rockets.
Shortly before the breakdown of military-technical cooperation in the PRC, a package of documentation was sent to the MiG-21F-13 fighter, as well as several ready-made airplanes and assembly kits. However, the mass production of the “Cultural Revolution” that started in China was stopped, and the China-made MiG-21 was able to bring to mind only by the beginning of the 80-s. Further improvement of the J-7 in the PRC was largely due to the outright theft of the Soviet MiG-21MF fighters delivered to the DRV through Chinese territory. In addition, as it is written in Western sources, in the 70-s several MiGs came to China from Egypt.
Fighter J-7C
The J-7C fighter, which appeared in 1984, received a radar sight, a more powerful engine, and was armed with a 23-mm cannon and four missiles with a thermal homing PL-2 (copy of the Soviet K-13) or improved PL-5. The JL-7D fighter jet was equipped with a JL-7A radar with a Tu-16 bomber detection range near 30 km. Production of the J-7C / D continued until the 1996 year.
In the future, Chinese designers relied on Western assistance. So on the J-7E fighter that made the first flight in 1987, the British-developed air-defense system was used, the Israeli fire control system and the PL-8 missiles were largely copied from the Python 3 SD. Thanks to the changes made to the wing design, it was possible to significantly improve the take-off and landing characteristics.
In 2001, the flight tests of the latest and most advanced modification in the family of the twenty-first Chinese began - the J-7G fighter with the KLJ-6E Chinese-made airborne radar (a licensed copy of the Italian Pointer-2500 radar) with a range of air targets on the ground to 55 km
Fighter J-7G during maintenance of the radar
In the cockpit of the fighter J-7G installed ILS Type 956, which displays flight and target information. The official adoption of the J-7G took place in 2004 year. The pilot can target air-to-air missiles with a PL-8 TGS with a helmet-mounted target sight.
Production of the J-7 continued until the 2013 year. In total, about 2400 aircraft were built, approximately 300 machines were exported. The reason for the long longevity in the PLA Air Force of a clearly outdated fighter is its relatively low cost, ease of maintenance and low operating costs.
Although the Chinese designers managed to seriously tighten the combat characteristics of the latest modifications of the J-7, even in the close battle with fourth-generation foreign fighters, it is very difficult for them. The short range and the absence of medium-range missiles in the J-7 armament and the weak radar make it ineffective as an air defense interceptor. Nevertheless, the Chinese clone MiG-21 armed with several air regiments of the "second line". Also single J-7 and Sparky JJ-7 actively operated as training aircraft in the units armed with modern fighters.
Google Earth satellite image: J-7 fighter aircraft at the Mengzi airbase in the Honghe-Hani-Iya Autonomous Region
It is noteworthy that the J-7 fighters mostly remained in the air regiments stationed on the periphery or as a supplement placed at air bases where there are also modern fighters. Judging from satellite images, the number of J-7 in the PLA Air Force is rapidly decreasing. Over the past 3-4, more than half of the air units armed earlier with light J-7 fighters have switched to new J-10.
From the moment J-7 was adopted, it was clear that this very successful light front-line fighter was not very suitable for the role of the main air defense interceptor. This required an aircraft with a greater range, equipped with a powerful radar, automated guidance equipment from ground command posts and armed with medium-range missiles. The PLA Air Force leadership, fearing Soviet and American long-range bombers, demanded the creation of an interceptor fighter with a maximum speed of at least 2,2M and a speed of at least 200 m / s capable of reaching a height of 20000 m, having a combat radius of 750 km. Chinese designers did not "reinvent the wheel" and based on the well-developed aerodynamic configuration of a delta-winged aircraft, they created the J-8 interceptor. This aircraft looks very much like J-7 (MiG-21F-13), but it has two engines, and it is much bigger and heavier.
Satellite image of Google Earth: J-8 and J-7 62-iap fighters at Qiqihar airbase, near the city of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province. The size difference between J-8 and J-7 is clearly visible.
The interceptor was equipped with two WP-7A TRDFs (a copy of the R-11F turbofan engines) with an afterburner of 58,8 kN. The maximum take-off weight was 13700 kg. Thrust - 0,8. Maximum operating overload - 4 g. The combat radius is about 800 km.
J-8 Interceptor Fighter
The first flight of the J-8 fighter took place in July of the 1965 year, but due to the general decline in industrial production caused by the Cultural Revolution, production aircraft began to flow into combat units only at the start of the 80's. By that time, the fighter equipped with a very primitive radar sight and armed with two 30-mm cannons and four melee rockets with TGS PL-2 no longer met modern requirements. In addition, the technical reliability of the first J-8 was not very high. All this affected the volume of serial construction of interceptors of the first modification, according to Western data, they built a little more than 50 units.
In the second half of the 80-x, PLA Air Force began operation of the advanced interceptor J-8A. In addition to better assembly and the elimination of a significant part of “children's sores,” this model was distinguished by the presence of a Type 204 monopulse radar with an detection range of about 30 km. Instead of 30-mm guns, the 23-mm Type 23-III gun (a Chinese copy of the GSH-23) was introduced into the armament, and in addition to the PL-2 missiles, advanced missiles with TGS PL-5 could be used.
J-8 and J-8A interceptors at the home base
Despite the improvement in the combat characteristics of the upgraded J-8A, relatively few were built, and they entered the regiments, where interceptors of the first modification were already in use. Visually, the J-8 and J-8A can be distinguished by the cab light. On the first serial J-8, the flashlight tilts forward, and on the upgraded J-8A - back.
In the early 90s, in order to improve combat performance, a significant part of the J-8A was modernized by installing a radar capable of seeing targets against the background of the earth, a new fire control system and state identification, as well as a HUD, a radar exposure receiver and semi-automatic navigation equipment operating on radio beacon signals . The finalized interceptor is known as the J-8E. Despite the improvements, aviation experts rated the J-8E not highly. The main disadvantages of this fighter were considered the modest characteristics of the radar and the absence of medium-range radar-guided missiles in the armament. Although the J-8A / E no longer corresponded to the realities of the 21st century and their radars and communications could be easily suppressed by the onboard electronic warfare equipment of the Tu-95MS and V-52N bombers, and missiles with TGSN launched at a distance of no more than 8 km had low noise immunity to thermal traps, the operation of interceptors continued until 2010. There is information that some of the decommissioned obsolete interceptors have been converted into radio-controlled Drones.
Even before the start of mass production of the J-8, it was clear that the capabilities of the onboard radar would be very limited by the size of the air intake cone. Due to the inability to place a large and powerful radar on the interceptor in the late 70's, the design of the interceptor with side air intakes began. In the West, it is assumed that the layout of the front of the interceptor J-8II, which first took off in June 1984, was influenced by the familiarity of Chinese specialists with Soviet MiG-23 fighters received from Egypt. The SL-8A (Type 4) radar station with a detection range of up to 208 km is located in the cone-shaped bow of the J-40II. The dry weight of the J-8II increased by about 8 kg compared with the J-700A. The flight data of the aircraft was improved due to the installation of the engines WP-13А (copy Р-13-300) with the afterburner 65,9 kN and more advanced aerodynamics. In addition, the radically upgraded interceptor has become stronger. Thanks to the use of outboard fuel tanks, the combat radius remains the same.
J-8II interceptor
Although a more powerful radar was installed on the J-8II, the combat capabilities of the new interceptor fighter compared to the J-8A / E increased not much. The reason for this was the absence of medium-range missiles in the armament, the arsenal of the J-8II remained the same: the 23-mm built-in cannon and melee missiles with TGS on four suspension nodes.
Realizing that the characteristics of the new interceptor still do not correspond to modern realities, the Chinese leadership took a nonstandard step. As part of Sino-US cooperation in 1986, a contract worth more than $ 500 million was signed for the modernization of the Chinese J-8II interceptors in the United States. Details of the secret program known as “Peace Pearl” have not been disclosed until now. But a number of sources say that Chinese radar AN / APG-66 (V), MIL-STD 1553B data communication buses, fire control computers, multifunction displays, the indicator on the windshield should have been installed on Chinese fighter-interceptors. modern navigation and communication equipment, ejection seat from the company Martin-Baker.
Satellite image of Google Earth: J-11, J-8 and J-7 fighters at the factory airfield in Shenyang
At the beginning of 1989, two J-8II fighter planes specially prepared in Shenyang were delivered to the US Air Force Flight Test Center Edwards Air Base. According to Western data in the People's Republic of China, they managed to prepare for the installation of an American interceptor 24 BREO. However, after the events on Tiananmen Square, the Americans curtailed military-technical cooperation with the PRC, and J-8II had to continue further improvement on its own.
However, the Chinese experts managed to pry the Americans not a little useful. After breaking the contract with the United States on the interceptor known as the J-8II Batch 02 (J-8IIB), an improved SL-8A BRLS with a detection range of 70 km, multi-functional displays and a modern at the time navigation equipment appeared. But before the option that was to be obtained in the framework of the Peace Pearl program, the interceptor did not fit. The capabilities of the fire control system were very modest, and the main weapons still remained melee missiles. However, this version was launched into mass production. After the upgrade, the installation of airborne refueling equipment and medium-range missiles PL-11 (a copy of AIM-7 Sparrow), the aircraft received the designation J-8IID (J-8D). The interceptor's standard armament was two medium-range PL-11 SDs with semi-active radar guidance and two PL-5 short-range melee missiles with a thermal homing head.
Interceptor J-8IIB upgraded to the level of J-8IIDF
As part of the next upgrade from 2004, J-8IID interceptors equipped a Type 1492 BRLS, capable of seeing an air target with an 1 ESR, flying towards you at a distance of up to 100 km. The armament was introduced missiles PL-12 and PL-8. After installing a new radar, weapons control system, new navigation and communications equipment, the aircraft received the designation J-8IIDF.
The cancellation of the project “Peace Pearl” coincided with the normalization of relations with the USSR and the Soviet specialists turned out to be the Soviet X010 “Beetle-8-II” radar, which was specially adapted for installation on the F-8IIM interceptor. According to the brochures, the detection range of this station is 75 km. It also became possible to use Russian medium-range missiles P-27 with semi-active radar seeker.
F-8IIM interceptor with Russian-made P-27 and P-73 missiles
However, the PLA Air Force commander after being familiarized with the heavy Su-27SK fighter was not impressed with the capabilities of the F-8IIM interceptor, and no orders were given for it.
Almost simultaneously with the F-8IIM, the J-8IIC was tested. This interceptor used the Israeli avionics: a multi-mode radar Elta EL / M 2035, a digital fire control system, a “glass cabin” with multi-functional displays, navigation equipment INS / GPS. To increase the range of flight on the aircraft installed equipment refueling in the air. Many of the insights gained from those who did not follow the F-8IIM and J-8IIC series were used to create the J-8IIH interceptor (J-8H). The main innovation introduced on this modification was the KLJ-1 radar with target detection range with 1 ESR ESR - 75 km. The composition of weapons introduced medium-range missiles: Russian P-27 and Chinese and PL-11. The J-8IIH interceptor was adopted in 2002 year as a temporary measure, until the end of the tests of the J-8IIF modification (J-8F).
J-8H interceptor with PL-11 rocket and outboard fuel tank
Since 2004, PLA Air Force began supplying J-8IIF interceptors. This modification is equipped with a Type 1492 radar and PL-12 missiles with a launch range of up to 80 km. Two WP-13BII engines with a total load of 137,4 kN afterburner accelerated the interceptor at a high altitude up to 2300 km. Maximum take-off weight 18880 kg normal - 15200 kg. Thrust-to-0,98. Some interceptors equipped the WP-14 TRDF with a forcing after XSUMNK, which significantly improved the thrust-to-weight ratio and acceleration characteristics. However, the maximum speed for reasons of strength was limited to the same value, while the WP-75 engines themselves were not very reliable.
The combat radius of action without refueling in the air, with outboard tanks exceeds 900 km. Maximum operating overload - up to 8 g. The main means of defeating air targets are the PL-12 and PL-8 missiles with a maximum launch range of 80 and 20 km.
J-8IIF interceptor with PL-12 and PL-8 missiles
Although considerable resources were allocated for the creation of various modifications of J-8, by the Chinese standards, little was built up of two-engined triangular-wing interceptors. The construction of the new aircraft continued until the 2008 of the year, and the revision of the previously built aircraft to the level of the most advanced serial modification of the J-8IIF - to the 2012 of the year. According to American data, the Chinese aviation industry has built approximately 380 J-8 aircraft of all modifications, this number, in addition to interceptors, also included reconnaissance aircraft. In 2017, interceptors of J-8IIDF, J-8IIF and J-8IIH modifications in the PLA Air Force were equipped with 6 fighter regiments, another 1 regiment on J-8H was in naval aviation.
The most notorious incident involving J-8IID was a collision with an American aircraft of electronic intelligence. 1 April 2001 radar calculation YLC-4 located in the southeastern part of Hainan Island discovered an air target flying at an altitude of 6700 m at a speed of about 370 km / h along the border of Chinese territorial waters. Two interceptors from the 25 th Fighter Aviation Regiment included in the 9 Airborne Division took up an unidentified air target from the Lingshui airbase located on the east coast of the island.
Satellite image of Google Earth: J-8II fighter-interceptors in the parking lot of the Lingshui airbase, Hainan Island
Having approached, the pilots of Chinese interceptors identified the target as EP-3E ARIES II - an American electronic reconnaissance aircraft based on the anti-submarine P-3 Orion. During the maneuvers, the American aircraft dropped to 2400 m and slowed down.
J-8IID interceptor colliding with 1 on April 2001 of the year with the American EP-3E ARIES II electronic reconnaissance aircraft
During a close maneuvering, with the third overflight of the intruder, one of the interceptors collided with it and fell into the South China Sea. His pilot went missing and was subsequently found dead. The damaged aircraft of the RTR EP-3E ARIES II under the threat of the use of weapons was put on the Chinese airbase Lingshui. As a result, the Chinese military had at its disposal cryptographic and reconnaissance equipment, encryption keys, call signs and radio frequency lists of the US Navy, secret information regarding the operation of the radar posts of the PRC, Vietnam, the DPRK and Russia. The American crew from 24 man was released on April 11. Aircraft EP-3E ARIES II 3 July 2001, disassembled, returned to the United States aboard the Russian heavy transport aircraft An-124.
Despite modern avionics and long-range missiles, the in-service Chinese J-8II interceptor fighters look quite archaic and are a mixture of 60-70's aviation technology with a patch of modern avionics and weapons. In fact, in the People's Republic of China, the evolutionary path from Su-9 to Su-15 was repeated in the USSR 40 years ago. Like the Soviet fighter-interceptor C-9, Su-11 and Su-15, the entire line of Chinese J-8 was sharpened for high-speed interception of single targets flying at medium and high altitudes. The main emphasis was placed on acceleration characteristics, radar detection range and increasing the missile launch distance. In close combat maneuver, the J-8 interceptors of all modifications are hopelessly inferior to the MiG-21, and cannot compete with modern fighters. Despite the fact that the process of creating and refining airborne avionics and armament J-8II was unacceptably long, and 4 fighter jets began to enter the combat regiments of the PLA Air Force, the Chinese leadership found it necessary to continue work on creating new versions of the delta wing interceptor. Apparently, this decision was made due to the need to develop its own aviation design and scientific school and develop the necessary practical experience. At the same time on the latest modifications of the J-8II, the elements of the avionics that were used later on the heavy J-11 fighters were tested.
To be continued ...
Based on:
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=1052
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Fighters.html
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/j-7-variants.htm
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19725.0
https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=212
https://sinodefence.wordpress.com/2016/11/28/shenyang-j8/
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/missile.htm
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/wp14.htm
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