SHENYANG (CHENGDU) J-7 (MIG-21 FISHBED)
MANUFACTURED BY: SHENYANG AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA
CHENGDU AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIAL CORP.
TYPE - FIGHTER
CREW - ONE PILOT OFFICER
ARM - FOUR HARD POINTS - TWO ON EACH WING, ONE BELLY HARD POINT
TWO 30 MM CANNON
RANGE - 400 MILES
WING SPAN - 23.5 FT.
LENGTH - 45.7 FT.
HEIGHT - 13.4 FT.
WEIGHT - 19,580 POUNDS TAKE OFF
ENGINE - ONE AFTERBURNING WP7B(BM)
GUIDANCE - GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMIN
SPEED - 1500 MPH OR MACH 2.1 AT ALTITUDE
The Chinese made J-7 is an advanced version of the formidable MiG-21
FISHBED. J-7 design improvements include a cranked-arrow wing for better low and
high speed performance, two extra hard points on each wing for weapons, improved
avionics and upgraded weapons systems. J-7 fighters are considered to be capable
dog-fighters and can press close in air combat with the best western aircraft.
The J-7 is not the front-line fighter that the PLAAF would prefer to
replace its aging fleet of J-6 FARMER jets. However, nearly 500 J-7 fighters are
in service with the PLAAF and the PLAN. Both export and domestic J-7 jets are
fitted with a wide variety of western avionics including a GEC-Marconi Avionics
HUDWAC (head-up display and weapon aiming computer) and GARMIN GPS bombing
navigation systems.
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