The Chinese Air Force’s JH-7 “Flying Leopard” aircraft received missiles not even on the J-20

In China, they noticed another option with the upgrade of the JH-7 Feibao fighter-bomber. As the Chinese authors write, the military itself probably already lost track of what kind of modernization of the aircraft it was.

What is the upgrade of the JH-7?

In China, it is noted that the JH-7 ("Flying Leopard") received the longest-range air-to-air missiles used in the PLA air force.

On this basis, the Chinese blogosphere is asking why long-range air-to-air missiles are used on an airplane, which is unlikely to be able to oppose modern combat means aviation? It should be noted Chinese maximalism. After all, the JH-7 took to the skies in 1992, and its modernization of the JH-7A - in 2004. And they decided to compare it with planes of the 5th generation, actually referring to the "obsolete" ones.

At the same time, it is assumed that such aircraft can be deployed to the Indian border, where recently there has been an intense military “revival” on both sides. Previously, satellite images were published in India, showing the creation by China of an updated military base in the highland border zone of Ladakh (Aksaychin).

The Sohu publication notes that those air-to-air missiles that are mounted on the JH-7 Feibao were not even installed on the new generation J-20 fighters. From Sohu Material:

Although the maneuverability of the Flying Leopard at low altitudes is not very good, not to mention full-fledged aerial combat, it now has the ability to launch an off-horizon missile attack. This allows him to make new air-to-air missiles.

In China itself, they say that the new modernization of the JH-7 may indicate a lack of a truly universal (including assault) combat aircraft for the implementation of the national defense program, which was adopted until 2025.

Earlier, the PLA JH-7A Air Force was actively used during the Aviadarts contest.

Comments

[svp67]

The installation of such missiles in our country would be equivalent to the installation on the Su-24. And for what? And I see there is only one answer. The rocket came out large and heavy, and the main types of fighters can take them in small numbers, and they will be needed in battles at medium and short distances, and in order to clear the sky for them, there was such a need to install these missiles on an aircraft that was multiplied in hundreds of copies , is able to take on board a significant load and as a fighter in close combat, almost complete "zero"

[NIKN]

Quote: svp67

The installation of such missiles with us would be equivalent to the installation on the Su-24. And for what?

Forced problem ....

... the weapon control system of the Su-ZOMKK and Su-30MK2 multi-functional aircraft purchased in Russia was technically incompatible with Chinese missile systems, as the Chinese simply did not provide Russian OSB developers with information about them. As a result, the JH-7 remained the only carrier in its class to significantly cheaper and more massive Chinese aircraft strike weapons. This probably contributed to keeping the JH-7 program afloat, despite the fact that the Chinese aircraft was noticeably inferior in terms of combat capabilities to the Su-Z0MKK

[Cyril G ...]

This patam that the license for the Su-27, the Chinese did not buy. We decided to do with cloning. And now they whine.

[APASUS]

China also has a lack of a system. The type of aircraft rolls over, constant innovation, modernization, and as a result, the old man JH-7 was thrown to the border in India

[KVU-NSVD]

Quote: APASUS

.Aircraft diversity goes off scale,

threw to the border in India

So two varieties will test each other

[Thrifty]

As always, having no analogues in the Chinese world, super-rocket weapons, from the name of which the enemy will have a heart attack, stroke, and clouding of the whole organism. ... already weary of beautiful fairy tales, liars

[V.I.P.]

As I understand it, an airplane’s radar allows you to detect a target at such a distance ..... Well, they looked at the MiG-31 which is also zero in close combat and decided to adapt their existing aircraft to long-range interception.

[Thrifty]

VIP, please tell us why should the high-altitude interceptor MiG31 conduct close air combat? And why is he in
this battle as you wrote, zero?

[V.I.P.]

I wrote, in response to those who write that the Chinese aircraft can’t conduct a maneuvering battle, so this rocket was put on it. Mig also does not conduct close combat, what is wrong with the Chinese idea? What do not make a new plane?)))

[Insurgent]

Quote: V.I.P.

they looked at the MiG-31 which in melee is also zero

Is the MiG-31, this is not a specialized fighter-interceptor, which was not created for such tasks, where fighters of another class operate?

[V.I.P.]

So the Chinese simply adapted their existing aircraft for long-range interception, and did not begin to make an analogue of the Mig-31. Smart and budget solution

[Insurgent]

Quote: V.I.P.

So the Chinese simply adapted their existing aircraft for long-range interception, and did not begin to make an analogue of the Mig-31. Smart and budget solution

Smart? Maybe... Just like very budget, greatly inferior in capabilities to a specialized platform.

[dauria]

they simply adapted the existing aircraft for long-range interception, and did not begin to make an analogue of the Mig-31.

I agree. Moreover, your opponents forget that the MiG -31 is also adapted so as not to throw out the MiG-25 that turned out to be unnecessary. A unique aircraft, and stratospheric high-speed interception was useless to anyone. So they adapted it under a barrage interceptor with a heavy serious locator with a headlamp and a second pilot-operator. Do not throw away an excellent platform.
The Chinese simply repeated the clever decision of the USSR of the late seventies, and they laugh at them.

[Rusticolus]

And now the 31st is also adapted for the Daggers. And it would seem a highly specialized and little-needed, but unique and with great potential aircraft, and in many other places it came in handy besides what it was originally created for. And then there are many for special platforms for each specific task advocate. Then, under the daggers, it would be necessary to return the "weaving" in general, they would stand on it like relatives.

[Ravil_Asnafovich]

MIG 31, were created for other tasks, and then it still needs to be caught up.

[V.I.P.]

They work in oncoming courses)) Why catch up with him?

[Doccor18]

Heavy platform with acceptable avionics for a heavy bd rocket. The plane lacks stars from heaven, but has long been mastered. The usual current work of the PRC Air Force.

[rotmistr60]

the military itself probably already lost track of what kind of modernization of the aircraft it was.

They probably act in the old proven way - trial and error, but with Chinese flavor (they upgraded to the troops until the next modernization).

[Pavel57]

The bomber and interceptor can be built on the basis of one platform. The main requirements are load capacity, range and / or speed. Maneuverability is optional.
Examples are MiG-25, MiG-31.

[Wolf]

There is no information on how many kilometers a missile can hit the target with other characteristics, but flying a C300 would not be bad.

[Gray-haired]

Already scary !!! It remains to understand and understand this text, and why so, you can not try.!

[Mavrikiy]

Although the maneuverability of the Flying Leopard at low altitudes is not very good, not to mention full-fledged aerial combat, it now has the ability to launch an off-horizon missile attack. This allows him to make new air-to-air missiles.

In general, thinking at the level of "I hope you too "Fly at low altitudes to create the horizon?
2. I remember well the "flying monkeys", thanks to Volkov, but the flying leopard is a complete for only a diaper can remain from the leopard in the air, since it will jump out of it.

[Sarkazm]

Quote: V.I.P.

As I understand it, an airplane’s radar allows you to detect a target at such a distance ..... Well, they looked at the MiG-31 which is also zero in close combat and decided to adapt their existing aircraft to long-range interception.

I don’t know what they were for, but the same thoughts came - the author of the article piled everything in a heap, and if all the rubbish is weeded out, everything really looks like the Chinese are creating a long-range interceptor based on the original domestic fighter-bomber. Only the ideology here is more likely not the MiG-31, but closer to the British ADV Tornado. Most likely there will also be a radar with AFAR and with remarkable characteristics to the missile, and some of the local EWs.
A fighter-bomber has a greater carrying capacity, so the most it is for a large radar, heavy long-range missiles, a large fuel supply. The fact that the photo is most likely a test, both our MiG and the Tornado have semi-conformal rockets under the fuselage, the Chinese most likely will not invent a bicycle either.
China almost solved the problems of its aircraft engine, began to install it both on its "original Lavi" J-10C and on unlicensed versions of the Su-27 family, the Chinese made it clear that they would no longer buy such equipment abroad, especially since all these new machines come with AFAR and new missile weapons, so the appearance of a long-range all-weather interceptor based on the original JH-7 is quite a logical version.

[Tuzik]

Quote: Sarkazm

everything looks like the Chinese are creating a long-range interceptor

The interceptor must be fast, and the distant one must also fly far away, here it is more likely a "support-cover aircraft", the name is more appropriate.