In 1961 China acquired a licence to build the MiG-21F-13 (Fishbed C) and the Tumansky R-11F-300 turbojet. after the severing of ties between Russia and China, the Chinese were forced to reverse engineer the aircraft with the first Chinese built aircraft flying in January 1966. In 1975 work began on an improved version the J-7II which introduced a more powerful engine, it was exported to Egypt and Iraq in the early 1980's. The F-7M Airguard features a GEC-Marconi HUDWAC, ranging radar, radar altimeter, IFF and improved engine. This was exported to Pakistan with a few modifications including AIM-9 compatibility and a Martin Baker ejection seat. Other variants include the J-7E, J-7III ( about equivalent to the MiG-21MF ) and J-7MG

 

Country of origin: China
Constructor: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Company [CAIC]
Type: Fighter
Crew: one (two in JJ-7/FT-7)
Length: 45ft 9in / 13.95m
Height: 13ft 6in / 4.10m
Wing span: 23ft 6in / 7.15m
Wing area: 247.6 sq. ft / 23.0m²
Max t-o weight: 8888kg / 19,577lb
Powerplants: One Liyang WP7BM afterburning turbojet, rated 14,550lb
Max. speed: 2175km/h
Ceiling: 59,700ft
Range: 650km
Armament: Two Type 30-1 30mm cannons; 2205lb / 1000kg on four hardpoints, including PL-2 AAM, PL-7 AAM, Matra Magic AAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM, rockets and iron bombs