The Chengdu J-7 (
Chinese: 歼-7; third generation
export
An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is a ...
version F-7;
NATO reporting name
NATO uses a system of code names, called reporting names, to denote military aircraft and other equipment used by post-Soviet states, former Warsaw Pact countries, China, and other countries. The system assists military communications by providi ...
: Fishcan
) is a
Chinese fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft (early on also ''pursuit aircraft'') are military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air supremacy, air superiority of the battlespace. Domina ...
. It is a
license-built version of the
Soviet
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, and thus shares many similarities with that
aircraft
An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...
. The aircraft is armed with short-range,
infrared homing
Infrared homing is a Missile guidance#Passive homing, passive weapon guidance system which uses the infrared (IR) light emission from a target to track and follow it seamlessly. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "he ...
air-to-air missiles and is mainly designed for short range air-to-air combat. The aircraft is also used for close air support.
On 30 March 1962, the Soviet Union and China signed a
technology transfer
Technology transfer (TT), also called transfer of technology (TOT), is the process of transferring (disseminating) technology from the person or organization that owns or holds it to another person or organization, in an attempt to transform invent ...
ence arrangement pertaining to the MiG-21. Allegedly, while various kits, components, completed aircraft and associated documents were delivered to the
Shenyang Aircraft Factory, the design
documentation
Documentation is any communicable material that is used to describe, explain or instruct regarding some attributes of an object, system or procedure, such as its parts, assembly, installation, maintenance, and use. As a form of knowledge managem ...
was incomplete, and Chinese designers made efforts to
reverse engineer the aircraft. While the two aircraft are greatly similar, areas of difference include the
hydraulic systems and internal fuel arrangements. During March 1964, domestic production of the J-7 reportedly commenced at the
Shenyang Aircraft Factory, but due to various factors including
the Cultural Revolution, mass production was only truly achieved during the 1980s. Numerous models of the J-7 were developed, featuring improvements in areas such as the armament,
avionics
Avionics (a portmanteau of ''aviation'' and ''electronics'') are the Electronics, electronic systems used on aircraft. Avionic systems include communications, Air navigation, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems, and the ...
, and wing design.
The aircraft was principally operated by the
People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force, also referred to as the Chinese Air Force () or the People's Air Force (), is the primary aerial warfare service of the People's Liberation Army. The PLAAF controls most of the PLA's air assets, includi ...
(PLAAF), but numerous international operators have bought their own J-7s. Outside of China, the largest operator of the J-7 is the
Pakistan Air Force. Later generation Chinese aircraft, such as the
Shenyang J-8 interceptor, were developed with the lessons learned from the J-7 programme. Several nations, including
Zimbabwe
file:Zimbabwe, relief map.jpg, upright=1.22, Zimbabwe, relief map
Zimbabwe, officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Bots ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...
, and
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
, deployed the type in offensive roles.
In 2013, production of the J-7 was terminated after the delivery of 16 F-7BGI to the
Bangladesh Air Force. Newer fighter aircraft, such as the
JF-17 Thunder,
Chengdu J-10, and
Shenyang J-35A multirole fighters, have succeeded it in the export market. To date, large numbers of J-7s remain in service with multiple export customers,
[Medeiros, Cliff, Crane and Mulvenon 2005, p. 162.] with PLAAF retired the fleet in 2023.
Design and development
Background
In the 1950s and early 1960s, the
Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
shared a large proportion of its conventional weapons technology with its neighbor,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
. One such example is the
MiG-19, which was locally produced by China as the
Shenyang J-6 from as early as 1958.
[Medeiros, Cliff, Crane and Mulvenon 2005, p. 160.] During the same decade, the even more capable
MiG-21 had been developed by the Soviets; this fighter, being inexpensive but fast, suited the strategy of forming large groups of 'people's fighters' to overcome the technological advantages of Western aircraft. However, the
Sino-Soviet split abruptly ended initial cooperation efforts; between 28 July and 1 September 1960, the Soviet Union withdrew its advisers from China, resulting in the J-7 project coming to a halt in China.
During February 1962, Soviet Premier
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (– 11 September 1971) was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and the Premier of the Soviet Union, Chai ...
unexpectedly wrote to
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong pronounced ; traditionally Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Mao Tse-tung. (26December 18939September 1976) was a Chinese politician, revolutionary, and political theorist who founded the People's Republic of China (PRC) in ...
to inform him that the Soviet Union was willing to transfer MiG-21 technology to China, and he asked the Chinese to promptly send their representatives to the Soviet Union to discuss arrangements. The Chinese viewed this offer as a Soviet gesture to make peace, while suspicious, they were nonetheless eager to take up the Soviet offer of an aircraft deal. A delegation headed by General
Liu Yalou, the commander-in-chief of the
People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force, also referred to as the Chinese Air Force () or the People's Air Force (), is the primary aerial warfare service of the People's Liberation Army. The PLAAF controls most of the PLA's air assets, includi ...
(PLAAF) and himself a Soviet military academy graduate, was dispatched to
Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
immediately; the Chinese delegation was given three days to visit the MiG-21's production facility, which was previously off-limits to foreigners. The visit's authorization was personally given by Nikita Khrushchev, and on 30 March 1962, the technology transfer deal was signed.
Establishing production
However, given the state of political relations between the two countries, the Chinese were not optimistic about gaining the technology, and allegedly made preparations to
reverse engineer the aircraft.
Russian sources state that several complete MiG-21s were sent to China, flown by Soviet pilots, while MiG-21Fs in kit form was also sent along with parts and technical documents. As the Chinese had expected, following the delivery of kits, parts and documents to
Shenyang Aircraft Factory five months after the deal was signed, it was discovered that some technical documents provided by the Soviets were incomplete and that several parts could not be used.
China set about to engineer the aircraft for local production; in doing so, they successfully solved 249 major issues and reproduced eight major technical documents that were not provided by the Soviet Union. One of the major flaws was with the
hydraulic systems, which grounded up to 70% of some squadron's aircraft until upgrades were made. Another major modification was to the fuel storage, increasing the aircraft's stability. The MiG-21 carries most of its fuel in the forward fuselage, causing the center of gravity to shift and become unstable after about 45 minutes of operation. The J-7 has redesigned fuel tanks and significantly larger
drop tanks in order to maintain a more stable center of gravity, and therefore better
longitudinal static stability. The cockpit was also revised to replace the Soviet ejection seat, which was deemed to be unacceptable. The forward opening canopy was replaced by a standard rear-hinged canopy, which was jettisoned prior to ejection. The re-engineering effort was largely successful, as the Chinese-built J-7 showed only minor differences in design and performance from the original MiG-21.
[Civil Airworthiness Certification: Former Military High-Performance Aircraft.]
During March 1964, domestic production of the J-7 reportedly commenced at the Shenyang Aircraft Factory. However, mass production efforts were severely hindered by an unexpected social and economic problem—
the Cultural Revolution—that resulted in poor initial quality and slow progress. Achieving full domestic production had involved not only the local assembly of the aircraft itself, but the production of its various components and systems, including its
turbojet
The turbojet is an airbreathing jet engine which is typically used in aircraft. It consists of a gas turbine with a propelling nozzle. The gas turbine has an air inlet which includes inlet guide vanes, a compressor, a combustion chamber, and ...
powerplant.
[Medeiros, Cliff, Crane and Mulvenon 2005, p. 170.] As a consequence, full-scale production of the J-7 was only truly achieved during the 1980s, by which time the original aircraft design was showing its age. By the 1980s, quantity production of the
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic Multirole combat aircraft, multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superio ...
fighter was well underway in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
; this relatively-affordable single-engined western fighter was considerably more agile than the J-7, even with the former carrying a greater payload.
[Medeiros, Cliff, Crane and Mulvenon 2005, pp. 160-161.]
Further development
In 1987, the J-7E was introduced, having a greatly improved wing, among other improvements. It was roughly 45% more maneuverable, and its takeoff and landing performance was greatly increased. It was also equipped with a helmet mounted sight, as well as being the first MiG-21 variant to be equipped with
HOTAS and a multipurpose display. Many of the electronic components were British in origin, such as the gun sight and the multi purpose display. The aircraft is capable of using
PL-8/Python 3 missiles with both the helmet mounted sight or the radar fire control, but the two are not connected. The pilot may use only one system at a time.
In the mid 1980s, Pakistan requested an aircraft with greater radar capabilities. Both the standard radar and the British Marconi radar were plagued by ground clutter, but China did not have any experience with air to ground radar at the time. In 1984, Pakistan provided assistance by having their American-trained F-16 pilots provide training on proper ground attack radar operation, which enabled the Chinese to develop the J-7M. In the late 1980s, the J-7MP and J-7PG introduced significant upgrades to the radar system by converting to an Italian
FIAR Grifo-7 radar, more than tripled the effective range of the radar, as well as greatly increased the maximum angle for target detection.
The J-7 only reached its Soviet-designed capabilities in the mid 1980s. Being relatively affordable, it was widely exported as the F-7, often with Western systems incorporated, such as to Pakistan. There are over 20 different export variants of the J-7, some of which are equipped to use European weaponry, such as French
R.550 Magic missiles. The Discovery Channel's ''Wings Over The Red Star'' series claims that the Chinese intercepted several Soviet MiG-21s en route to North Vietnam (during the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
), but these aircraft did not perform in a manner consistent with their original specifications, suggesting that the Chinese actually intercepted down-rated aircraft that were intended for export, rather than fully capable production aircraft. For this reason, the Chinese had to re-engineer the intercepted MiG-21 airframes in order to achieve their original capabilities. China later developed the
Shenyang J-8 based both on the expertise gained by the program, and by utilizing the incomplete technical information acquired from the Soviet
Ye-152 developmental jet.
During May 2013, production of the J-7 was permanently terminated, bringing to a close a period of manufacturing stretching almost 50 years.
At the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in 2018, a display showing the J-7 as an unmanned platform was shown.
Operational history
Africa
;Namibia
During August 2005, Namibia ordered 12 F-7NMs for its air force; Chinese sources reported the delivery in November 2006. The model procured is believed to be a variation of the F-7PG acquired by Pakistan with Grifo MG radar.
[Transfers of major conventional weapons. 1950 to 2011.](_blank)
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
;Nigeria
In early 2008, Nigeria procured 12 F-7NI fighters and three FT-7NI trainers to replace its existing inventory of MiG-21 fighters. On September 20, 2018, two Nigerian F-7Ni aircraft crashed into Katamkpehir, Abuja, killing one pilot after a mid-air collision during a rehearsal of an aerial display for the 58th anniversary of Nigeria's independence.
;Sudan
During the lengthy
Second Sudanese Civil War
The Second Sudanese Civil War was a conflict from 1983 to 2005 between the central Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, Sudan People's Liberation Army. It was largely a continuation of the First Sudanese Civil Wa ...
, Sudan procured a number of F-7s. In November 1993, it was reported that Iran had allegedly financed Sudan's purchase of around 20 Chinese ground-attack aircraft, having pledged $17 million in financial aid to the Sudanese government and arranged for $300 million in Chinese arms to be delivered to the Sudanese Army.
;Tanzania
The
Tanzanian Air Force deployed its F-7As during the
Uganda–Tanzania War against
Uganda
Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...
and
Libya
Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...
, fought between 1978 and 1979. Forming a major component of Tanzania's combat aircraft, the type facilitated the defeat of the nominally stronger
Uganda Army Air Force during the air campaign.
;Zimbabwe
Due to their very limited operational capabilities in the absence of ground support from radars, Zimbabwean F-7s were never used in combat operations during the
Second Congo War
The Second Congo War, also known as Africa's World War or the Great War of Africa, was a major conflict that began on 2 August 1998, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just over a year after the First Congo War. The war initially erupted ...
. Their only deployment in the DR Congo took place in January 2001, when four aircraft were to participate in the burial ceremony for the assassinated president,
Laurent-Désiré Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila (; 27 November 1939 – 16 January 2001) usually known as Laurent Kabila or Kabila the Father (American English, US: ), was a Congolese rebel and politician who served as the third president of the Democratic Republic of t ...
. During the journey from Zimbabwe to
Kinshasa
Kinshasa (; ; ), formerly named Léopoldville from 1881–1966 (), is the Capital city, capital and Cities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is one of the world's fastest-grow ...
, one of them crashed, with its pilot ejecting safely. Moreover, on the return trip, two aircraft were damaged on landing, although both were repaired and returned to service.
Europe
;Albania
The deployment of F-7As near the country's northern border successfully checked
Yugoslav incursions into
Albania
Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...
n airspace.
East and Southeast Asia
;China
Throughout the mid-1990s, the PLAAF began to replace its J-7B inventory with the substantially redesigned and improved J-7E variant. The wings of the J-7E have a new "double delta" design offering improved aerodynamics and increased fuel capacity, and the J-7E also features a more powerful engine and improved avionics. The newest version of the J-7, the J-7G, entered service with the PLAAF in 2003.
The principal role of the J-7 in Chinese service is to provide local air defense and tactical air superiority. Large numbers are to be employed to deter enemy air operations.
In June 2021, four J-7s participated in a combat drill conducted near Taiwan's air defense identification zone.
The decommissioning of the J-7 began in 2018, with the whole fleet set to retire in 2023. According to the
US Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
China Aerospace Studies Institute
The China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) is a United States Department of the Air Force think tank which examines all facets of the China, People's Republic of China and Chinese Communist Party's efforts to project power in the Aerial warfa ...
, the retirement of J-7 marked the PLAAF's transition to a fleet composed of only fourth-generation and fifth-generation aircraft. According to the Chinese media, PLAAF also considered turning J-7 into drones for training tools and aerial decoys.
;Myanmar
During the 1990s,
Myanmar
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...
reportedly established four squadrons of F-7s, which have been primarily used for air defense duties. Technical difficulties have reportedly plagued the fleet early on, and their ground-attack performance was not deemed sufficient.
[ Since then, Myanmar has improved the F-7 fleet's capabilities via a modernisation programme. A series of upgrades were allegedly performed by a combination of Chinese and ]Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
i enterprises; although confirmed details on the arrangements have remained sparse, changes reportedly include the adoption of various Israeli-built missiles.
Middle East
;Iran
During the 1980s, Iran procured a number of F-7s, despite Chinese officials issuing denials of directly supplying military equipment to the country at that time. Despite its use as a frontline fighter, the type has not been involved in any known combat actions. By the 21st century, it was largely relegated to use as a trainer aircraft. The F-7 has also been used as a flying test bed for various indigenous technologies. In the recent years, maintaining the fleet's operational status has reportedly become difficult. This is caused by the limited availability of spare parts, despite efforts by domestic industries to fill in, but also by the age of the airframes, which have accumulated excessive numbers of flight hours.
Iranian F-7s have featured in several movies, often portraying Iraqi MiG-21s during the Iran–Iraq War
The Iran–Iraq War, also known as the First Gulf War, was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. Active hostilities began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for nearly eight years, unti ...
. One tells the story of an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF; ) is the air force, aviation branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The present air force was created when the Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed in 1979 following the Iranian Revoluti ...
strike on the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak on 30 September 1980. Another one, "Attack on H3", tells the story of the 810 km-deep raid against Iraqi Air Force airfields on 4 April 1981, and other movies depicting the air combat in 1981 that resulted in the downing of around 70 Iraqi aircraft.
;Iraq
Iraqi F-7Bs were never used in combat, but only as advanced trainers.
South Asia
;Bangladesh
The Bangladeshi Air Force currently operates FT-7MB Airguards, and F-7BG and F-7BGI interceptors. The 16 F-7BGIs of the Bangladesh Air Force entered service in 2013. The F-7BGI is one of the most advanced variants, and the last production model of the F-7/J-7 family.
;Pakistan
During the 1980s, Pakistan launched Project Sabre II in an effort to increase the effectiveness of its F-7 fleet by redesigning and upgrading the airframe. The program produced to a design study which was drawn up by engineers from Northrop Grumman, China and Pakistan, but by 1989, the project was abandoned largely as a consequence of economic sanctions that the U.S. imposed on Pakistan. That same year, Grumman and China initiated a new design study in another attempt to redesign the F-7 but that effort was also abandoned when the U.S. placed sanctions on China in response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. In 1991, a third initiative involving the F-7 was launched; originally known as the Fighter China project, it led to the creation of the JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter. The aircraft satisfied a requirement issued by the Pakistani Air Force for an affordable and modern combat aircraft, and the country is in the process of replacing its entire F-7 fleet with JF-17s.
;Sri Lanka
In 1991, the Sri Lanka Air Force
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF; ; ) is the air force, air arm and the youngest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. It was founded in 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) with the assistance of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The SLAF played a major r ...
(SLAF) was looking for a jet attack aircraft
An attack aircraft, strike aircraft, or attack bomber is a tactical military aircraft that has a primary role of carrying out airstrikes with greater precision than bombers, and is prepared to encounter strong low-level air defenses while pr ...
to provide fast close air support to its army. With western countries refusing to sell attack aircraft, the Government of Sri Lanka approached China for the purchase of several Nanchang Q-5s, which had the range and payload capacity needed by the SLAF, and was already used by Pakistan and Bangladesh. Due to pressure from the west, China agreed to sell a small number of F-7BS fighters which allowed the SLAF to restore its capabilities that were lost a decade back. Due to the type's comparative lack of endurance and payload, the SLAF has periodically used its F-7s for pilot training purposes. Early in 2008, the air force received six more advanced F-7Gs, to use primarily as interceptors. All of the F-7Gs, F-7BS' and FT-7s are flown by the No 5 Jet Squadron.
The SLAF has repeatedly deployed its F-7BS to conduct ground-attack missions against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Sri Lankan officials reported that on 9 September 2008, three F-7s were scrambled after two rebel-flown Zlín-143s were detected by a ground radar. Two F-7s were sent to bomb two rebel airstrips in the Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi areas, while the third reportedly intercepted one Zlín-143. According to the Sri Lankan government, the rebel-flown aircraft was shot down by the chasing F-7G using an air-to-air missile, as it was returning to Mullaitivu after a bombing run against Vavuniya Airport.
Variants
Operators
Current
;
* Bangladesh Air Force: 20 aircraft delivered between 1989 and 1990, with an additional 20 aircraft delivered between 1999 and 2006. 16 F-7BGI delivered between 2012 and 2013. 36 F-7 fighters and 11 FT-7 trainers listed as active in 2023
;
* Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF; ) is the air force, aviation branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The present air force was created when the Imperial Iranian Air Force was renamed in 1979 following the Iranian Revoluti ...
: 17 F-7s and 1 FT-7 in service as of 2023.
;
* Myanmar Air Force: 64 aircraft were received between 1990 and 1999. 36 × F-7M and F-7IIK and 6 × FT-7 trainers remained in service ().
;
* Namibian Air Force: 6 × F-7NM and 2 × FT-7NM in active service. A total of 12 F/FT-7NM aircraft were delivered between 2006 and 2008.
;
* Nigerian Air Force: 12 × F-7 and 2 × FT-7.[''Flight International'' 14–20 December 2011, p. 44.]
;
* North Korean Air Force: , 180 × F-7 remained in service. However, reports of dire levels of serviceability suggest an airworthiness rate of less than 50%.
;
* Pakistan Air Force: , 48 × F7-PG (out of the original 60) plus 6 × FT-7 remained in service. Last few F7P retired from CCS Dashings squadron in 2021. 53 F-7PG still in service.
** No. 19 Squadron ''Sherdils'' – Operated F-7P/FT-7P from 1990 until April 2014. Replaced by F-16A/B Block 15 ADF.
;
* Sri Lankan Air Force: , 5 × F-7GS/BS and 1 × FT-7 trainer remained in service.
;
* Sudanese Air Force
The Sudanese Air Force () is the air force, aerial warfare branch of the Military of Sudan, Sudanese Armed Forces. It was established in 1956 following Sudan's independence earlier that year, and first saw action in the First Sudanese Civil War. ...
: 20 F-7 fighters in service as of October 2023.
;
* Tanzanian Air Force: Originally having had 11 × F-7 in service,[''Flight International'' 14–20 December 2010, p. 48.] Tanzania replaced them with 12 new J-7's (single-seat) under the designation ''J-7G'' and 2 dual-seat aircraft designated ''F-7TN'' in 2011. Originally ordered in 2009, the deliveries were completed and the aircraft are now fully operational at the air bases in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. The new aircraft are equipped with a KLJ-6E Falcon radar, thought to be developed from the Selex Galileo Grifo 7 radar. The J-7G's primary weapon is the Chinese PL-7A short-range infrared air-to-air missile.
;
* Air Force of Zimbabwe: 12 x F-7II/IIN and 2 x FT-7BZ delivered. , 7 × F-7 remained in service.
Former
;
* Albanian Air Force: Total 12 F-7A in service from 1969 through 2004, now retired.
;
* People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force, also referred to as the Chinese Air Force () or the People's Air Force (), is the primary aerial warfare service of the People's Liberation Army. The PLAAF controls most of the PLA's air assets, includi ...
: Significant sum in service from 1966 through 2023, now retired.
;
* Egyptian Air Force[Hacket 2010, p. 250]
;
* Iraqi Air Force: 100 × F-7B, retired after the 2003 invasion of Iraq
;
* United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
(Foreign Technology Evaluation: MiG-21F-13)
Specifications (J-7MG)
Accidents and incidents
* On April 8, 2008, Squadron Leader Morshed Hasan died when his F-7 of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) crashed in Ghatail Upazila of Tangail District. The pilot ejected from the aircraft but was critically injured when its parachute malfunctioned. He died at Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...
after he had been rescued from the scene.
* On May 6, 2010, a Chinese PLAAF J-7 crashed due to engine failure near Jinan, China.
* On April 13, 2011, a Chinese PLAAF J-7 crashed near Liujiang County
Liujiang District (; Standard Zhuang: ) is under the administration of Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, located on the southwest bank of the Liu River. It covers a land area of and had a population of 562,351 . The southernmost co ...
and Xincheng County, Liuzhou during a training flight.
* On January 25, 2012, a Pakistani Air Force (PAF) FT-7P crashed near Mianwali (Punjab, Pakistan
Punjab (, ) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. With a population of over 127 million, it is the Demographics of Pakistan, most populous province in Pakistan and the List of first-level administrative divisions by popu ...
) due to engine flameout following a bird hit. Flying Officer Fatima Tariq (now Flight Lt. F. Ali Naqvi) and instructor Wing Commander Waqar Ahmed both sustained minor injuries during ejection and/or landing.
* On December 4, 2012, a Chinese PLAAF J-7 crashed into a residential building in Shantou, Guangdong Province. 4 civilians were injured as a result of the crash.
* On June 29, 2015, Flight Lieutenant Tahmid (BAF) went missing when his F-7MB crashed into the Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal is the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. Geographically it is positioned between the Indian subcontinent and the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese peninsula, located below the Bengal region.
Many South Asian and Southe ...
. The aircraft took off around 10:27am from the Johurul Haque air base, lost contact with the control room around 11:10am, and crashed in the Bay of Bengal in Patenga around 11:30am.
* On 24 November 2015, flying officer Marium Mukhtiar—the first female fighter pilot in the PAF—died when a twin-seat FT-7PG crashed at PAF Base M.M. Alam near Kundian in Punjab Province on a training mission. Both pilots ejected, but she succumbed to injuries received on landing. She was occupying the rear seat for Instrument Flight Rules
In aviation, instrument flight rules (IFR) is one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other is visual flight rules (VFR).
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) ''Instrument Fl ...
training.
* On November 23, 2018, Wing Commander Arif Ahmed Dipu (BAF) died when his F-7BG crashed in Tangail's Madhupur Upazila on a training mission. The fuel tank reportedly caught fire once the aircraft used weaponry in the sky, leading the pilot to eject in low altitude.
*On 7 January 2020, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) FT-7 crashed while on a routine operational training mission near Mianwali. Both pilots lost their lives in the crash.
*On 15 October 2021 a Namibian Air Force F-7 crashed into the security fence at Ondangwa Airport after landing due to the failure of deploying a drag chute.
*On 24 May 2022, two Iranian pilots were killed when their FT-7 crashed near Anarak, 200 km (124 miles) east of the city of Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
.
*On 9 June 2022, a PLAAF J-7 crashed in a residential area in Hubei
Hubei is a province of China, province in Central China. It has the List of Chinese provincial-level divisions by GDP, seventh-largest economy among Chinese provinces, the second-largest within Central China, and the third-largest among inland ...
, China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
, destroying several houses and killing at least one person on the ground. The pilot ejected with minor injuries.
*On February 6, 2025, Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza of the Air Force of Zimbabwe died when the J-7 jet trainer he was piloting crashed during a solo training flight near Guinea Fowl, approximately 5 kilometers east of Gweru.
*On June 10, 2025, an F-7M fighter jet of the Myanmar Air Force crashed into a house in Sabarsae village in Pearl township during an air operation to assist defending of battle against Myanmar pro-Democracy Alliance Forces. It was reportedly shot down and the pilot died, as did six villagers.
See also
References
Citations
Bibliography
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* "World Air Forces". ''Flight International
''Flight International'', formerly ''Flight'', is a monthly magazine focused on aerospace. Published in the United Kingdom and founded in 1909 as "A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport", i ...
'', 14–20 December 2010. pp. 26–53.
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External links
F-7 Fighter Family
Sino Defense Today
{{USAF fighters
J-7
JJ-7
1960s Chinese fighter aircraft
JJ-07
Single-engined jet aircraft
China–Soviet Union relations
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
Aircraft first flown in 1966
Mid-wing aircraft
Second-generation jet fighters
Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear