Chengdu J-7

'F-7P’ Newly built Skybolt for the Pakistani Air Force (PAF).

A total of 60 were built. Starting with this model, F-7s in the Pakistani service began to be upgraded with the Italian FIAR Grifo-Mk-II radar license assembled by the ISO - 9002 certified Kamra avionics, Electronics and Radar Factory of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).

In comparison to the Grifo-7, the new radar only weighs an extra 1 kg (56 kg total), but the sector of scan was increased to ±20 degrees from the original ±10 degrees of Grifo-7.

The newer radar also had improved ECM and look-down and shoot-down capability, and can track 4 targets simultaneously while engage one of four target tracked.

F-7PG Export variant of the J-7PG, with the single piece windshield replacing the 3-piece windshield of the J-7PG.

Pakistan ordered a total of 80 in two batches, with 50 and 30 respectively in each. According to the Pakistan Air Force, the performance at high altitude of the F-7PG has increased more than 83% in comparison to the F-7P/MP.

Just like the earlier Italian FIAR Grifo-Mk-II radar on F-7MP/P, the Italian FIAR Grifo-MG radar of F-7PG will be assembled under license by the ISO - 9002 certified Kamra avionics, Electronics and Radar Factory of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).

Super-7 did away with British upgrades to the F-7M in the mid-1980s.

After a successful deal with Chinese in the early 1980s resulting in the F-7M, the United Kingdom offered a further upgrade to improve the performance of the F-7M by adopting either General Electric F404 or Pratt & Whitney PW 1120 turbofan engines.

The radar options would include the Red Fox, a repackaged version of the Blue Fox radar used on Sea Harrier FRS Mk 1, or the Emerson AN/APG-69.

Although radar tests were successful, the upgrade was rejected before any engine tests, because a single radar or a single engine had cost more than a new J-7 (2 million United States Dollars, 1984 price).

The name, Super-7, however, was retained to be used for the FC-1 / JF-17 light-weight fighter.

F-7S Saber II Replacement for the Super-7.

Re-designed F-7M by Grumman Corporation for the Pakistan Air Force. Side intakes replaced the nose intake and a General Electric AN/APG-67 radar on F-20 Tigershark would have been adopted.

The program was terminated due to the Tiananmen Square protest of 1989.

Operators

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Air Force: 23× F-7MB/BG remained in service (As of February 2011).

China

People's Liberation Army Air Force: 290× J-7 plus 40× JJ-7 trainers remained in service (As of February 2011).

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force: 30× J-7D/E remained in service (As of February 2011).

Egypt

Egyptian Air Force: 74 F-7 in service, to be retired by 2010

Iran

Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force: 21 F-7 in service.

Myanmar

Myanmar Air Force: 25× F-7M and 6× FT-7 trainers remained in service (As of February 2011).

Namibia

Namibian Air Force: Six F-7 and two FT-7 in service, 8 F-7NG on order.

Nigeria

Nigerian Air Force: 12 F-7 and 2 FT-7.[2

Bangladesh

The Bangladeshi Air Force, currently operates F-7MB Airguards, and F-7BG/Gs interceptors.
The F-7MBs will be replaced by 16 F-7BGI fighters by 2014. BAF has also upgraded all of its F-7MBs and F-7BGs to fire Chinese built LS-6 and LT-2 ground attack munitions, giving them a potent strike capability.

Pakistan

Pakistan is currently the largest non-Chinese F-7 operator, with ~120 F-7P and ~60 F-7PG.
The Pakistan Air Force is to replace its entire fleet of F-7 with the JF-17 multirole fighter, all F-7P are planned to be retired and replaced with JF-17 Thunder aircraft by 2015.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Air Force used three F-7BS and for ground attack missions against the LTTE and three FT-7 trainer. Due to the lack of endurance and payload, SLAF some times uses their F-7s for pilot training purposes.
Early 2008 the air force received six more advanced F-7Gs, these will be primarily used as interceptors.
All The F-7G's, F-7BS's and FT-7s are flown by the No 5 Jet Squadron.
Sri Lankan officials reported that on 9 September 2008, three Sri Lankan Air Force F-7s were scrambled after two rebel flown Zlín-143 were detected by ground radar, two were sent to bomb two rebel airstrips at Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi areas, the government claims the third intercepting one ZLin-143 resulting in one LTTE Zlín-143 shot down by the chasing F-7G using air to air missiles while the rebel flown light aircraft was returning to its base at Mullaitivu after a bombing run against Vavuniya base.
There is no public evidence for shooting down LTTE flight.

F-7PG

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F-7 BS

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Tanzania

Tanzanian Air Force: 11 F-7 in service.

Yemen

Yemen Air Force: 18 F-7 in service

Zimbabwe

Air Force of Zimbabwe: 7 F-7 in service

Specifications (J-7MG)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 14.885 m (Overall) (48 ft 10 in)

Wingspan: 8.32 m (27 ft 3½ in)

Height: 4.11 m (13 ft 5½ in)

Wing area: 24.88 m² (267.8 ft²)

Aspect ratio: 2.8:1

Empty weight: 5,292 kg (11,667 lb)

Loaded weight: 7,540 kg (16,620 lb) (two PL-2 or PL-7 air-to-air missiles)

Max. takeoff weight: 9,100 kg (20,062 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × Liyang Wopen-13F afterburning turbojet

Dry thrust: 44.1 kN (9,921 lbf)

Thrust with afterburner: 64.7 kN (14,550 lbf)