Shenyang J-8 Finback
The J-8II fighter was developed as a result of a deep modernization of the J-1970I fighter-interceptor created in China at the end of 8, the design of which was largely based on the Soviet MiG-21 fighter, which at that time was manufactured in Celestial under license. Initially, this fighter had a frontal air intake, which over time was replaced by the 2 side air intake, which allowed designers to mount a more powerful and sophisticated radar on the aircraft. The aerodynamic layout of the Chinese fighter is close to the Soviet MiG-23 and to the American F-4 with the deltoid wing from the Soviet Su-15.
We have to admit that the creation and further modernization of the J-8II fighter can be called, perhaps, the largest and most successful program of the PRC in the field of creating combat aircraft. Originally designed as an interceptor fighter, which was supposed to solve problems in the interests of China’s air defense, the J-8II aircraft eventually managed to transform into a full-fledged multi-role fighter, which in a number of parameters approached the American and Russian 4 fighters. At the same time, the airframe design, aerodynamics, a number of onboard systems of the Chinese aircraft correspond to the level of the 1960-ies, i.e. 2-th and 3-th aircraft. In general, the latest version of this aircraft J-8IIM quite well and fully describes the Chinese aircraft manufacturing industry, which is able to combine the Soviet 1960-s technology with the “grafted” elements of modern Russian and Western avionics and weapons.
Work on shaping the appearance of a new fighter was started in April 1981, and next year at the Research Institute aviation engineering in the city of Shenyang, under the leadership of chief designer Gu Songfeng, work began on the design of the J-8II Finback. The team of Chinese designers was faced with the task of developing a fighter for gaining superiority in the air, which could strike at ground targets, as well as be used in any weather conditions. The defining element in the appearance of the J-8II fighter was the new side air intakes. A monopulse radar with a large antenna was mounted under the nasal radio-transparent fairing, which in its characteristics was close to the Soviet Orel radar.
In the Western media it was reported that the PRC received from Egypt a certain number of MiG-23 fighters, a number of technical solutions from which they were introduced into the new Chinese fighter. For example, the air intakes of the J-8II are very similar in design to those of the MiG-23. Also, the 2 of the ventral keel was replaced with the folding 1 - the solution was most likely also borrowed from the creators of the MiG-23. On the new fighter, the 2 TRDF WP-1ЗA was installed, which had a forcing force at the 6730 kgf level (the Chinese version of the P-13-300 engine, which was installed on the MiG-21 MF fighter). In general, about 70% of the original J-8I version has undergone modernization.
The design of the J-8II Finback fighter is a fully metallic monoplane with a mid-winged delta wing (sweep angle on the leading edge is 60 °). The aircraft has a single fin tail and is equipped with a full turning stabilizer. The wing of the fighter has two-section flaps and ailerons, on its upper part there are aerodynamic ridges. To increase the track stability of the vehicle under the fuselage, an additional folding vertical keel was mounted. The chassis of the fighter was made according to the classic tricycle scheme. In this case, the front landing gear during the flight was removed by turning forward, and the main struts were hidden in the wing of the aircraft.
To reduce the path length during landing fighter can use a brake parachute, the container for which is under the vertical tail. The 4 aerodynamic brakes installed under the fuselage of the fighter can be used to solve the same problem. You can download that light titanium and aluminum alloys, as well as special steel grades, are widely used in the construction of the airframe. In particular, titanium alloys are used in those areas of the fuselage that are exposed to heat from 2-x operating turbojet engines. The cockpit is in the front of the fuselage just behind the radome radome.
An ejection seat is mounted in the cockpit, and it is also equipped with an air conditioning system. Electronic equipment of the fighter includes a navigation system, monopulse radar, warning system about the exposure of the enemy fighter radar, communications equipment. In addition, the fighter can be equipped with EW. All information necessary for the pilot is displayed on the display system on the cockpit windshield. In an effort to maximize the quality of the electronic equipment of the fighter, the PLA Air Force commanders conducted work on its modernization with the involvement of Israeli and American companies.
In August 1987 of the year with the Grumman and Westinghouse companies an agreement was signed to reequip the J50II fighter jets with American BREO, while the fighter received the Americanized designation F-8II (in the literature, the aircraft is still often called F-8) . The signed contract provided for the installation on the Chinese fighters of the pulse-Doppler radar "Westinghouse" APG-8 (they were also put on the F-66A / B fighter), which was able to detect the target against the background of the earth's surface. The architecture of the new on-board electronics of the aircraft was built around the digital data transmission bus of the NATO standard 16В. In addition, it was supposed to upgrade the aiming-navigation complex, which included the Litton LN-1553 inertial navigation system. At the same time, an indicator was placed in the cockpit against the background of the windshield, the power of the air conditioning system and power supply of the fighter was increased.
At first, Sino-US cooperation was quite successful; in March 1989, the 2 Chinese fighters were delivered to the United States at the Edward Test Center, where workers began installing new onboard equipment on them. But in the same year 1989, the United States imposed economic sanctions against China and all work on the joint modification of J-8II was closed.
As a result, China had to deal with the modernization of the avionics of the machine. The experience of working with foreign engineers from Westinghouse and Grumman was not a gift for Chinese specialists. The plane still received a pulse-Doppler radar, and it was succeeded to integrate the helmet-mounted sights of the pilots into its aim-navigation complex. In addition, engine thrust was increased by 4%, another innovation was the installation of an air-to-air refueling device on the F-8II. The upgraded version of the fighter was intended primarily for export deliveries. It was first demonstrated at an exhibition in Singapore, which took place in 1992 year.
The next version of the fighter was the J-8II Block 02, which in the Chinese Air Force is designated J-8B Block-02. Work on this project began in the 1980s. The J-8B Block-02 is an upgrade of the previous J-8 II (J-8B) model. On this plane, the standard Type 208 radar was replaced with a much more advanced KLJ-1, which was created with the participation of Russian engineers. The new radar allowed the aircraft to use the new Chinese air-to-air guided missiles PL-8 and PL-11.
In addition, the fighter was installed a new set of avionics, which included navigation and communication systems, on-board computer. In the cockpit of the pilot was mounted indicator on the windshield (HUD) of Chinese production. Also in the avionics of the machine was included special equipment for the formulation of active interference. The J-8B Block-02 aircraft version was developed as a kind of intermediate option between the J-8 II and J-8 IIM. The first aircraft that were upgraded to the project Block-02, were put into service with the Chinese Air Force 1994 year.
In 1995, the year was built, and 19 on April 1996 performed its first flight, the J-8IIM, which, in fact, became the first Chinese modern multi-role fighter. The aircraft can be used for intercepting air targets, escorting strike aircraft, fighting for air supremacy, patrolling, attacking surface and ground targets. Acceleration characteristics and maneuverability were enhanced by the use of maneuverable slats, as well as more powerful engines WP13B.
The main difference between the new version of the fighter was the use of the multifunctional pulse-Doppler radar Zhuk-8II, which was created by the Russian association Phazotron and belongs to the large domestic family of the Zhuk radar, which is intended for installation on the Su-27 and MiG fighter jets -29. According to its characteristics, “Beetle-8II” is slightly inferior to the Russian “Beetle-27”, which is proposed to be installed on the upgraded Su-27 from the Chinese Air Force. At the same time, both radars have a significant technical community, which should reduce the cost and facilitate the operation of the fleet of "heavy" Chinese fighters.
The J-8IIM fighter has significantly expanded the arsenal of weapons used, which included modern short-range medium-range air-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles capable of hitting the target to a squadron inclusive, NAR and free-fall bombs.
Flight performance of the J-8II Finback:
Dimensions: wingspan - 9,34 m., Length - 21,59 m., Height - 5,41 m.
Wing area - 42,2 square. m
Aircraft normal take-off weight - 14 300 kg.
Fuel stock in internal tanks - 5400 l.
Engine type - two TRDF 13А II, unforced traction - 2х42,66 kN, forced - 2х65,9
The maximum speed is 2300 km / h.
The range is at an altitude of 800 km, with 1200 km refueling.
Practical range - 1 500 km.
Practical ceiling - 19 000 m.
Crew - 1 man.
Armament: one 23-mm gun Type 23-3 (ammunition 200 shells).
Combat load: 4500 kg., 7 suspension points, air-to-air, NURS.
Airshow China 2012. J-8DF - a new version of the fighter Shenyang J-8 II Finback
Information sources:
-http: //www.airwar.ru/enc/fighter/j8-2.html
-http: //military-informer.narod.ru/ist-j8.html
-http: //ru-aviation.livejournal.com/2528458.html
-http: //ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenyang_J-8
Information