Chengdu J-7 Aircraft

The Chengdu Jian-7 (export versions F-7) is a People's Republic of China-built version of the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21. Though production ceased in 2008 it continues to serve, mostly as an interceptor, in several air forces. In the 1950s and early 1960s, the Soviet Union shared most of its conventional weapons technology with the People's Republic of China. One of these was the limited cooperation between the two countries in the early stage development of the famous MiG-21 short-range interceptor-fighter aircraft. Powered by a single engine and designed on a simple airframe, these fighters were inexpensive but fast, suiting the strategy of forming large groups of 'people's fighters' to overcome the technological advantages of Western aircraft.

General characteristics

* Crew: 1
* Length: 14.885 m (48 ft 10 in)
* Wingspan: 8.32 m (27 ft 4 in)
* Height: 4.10 m (13 ft 5 in)
* Wing area: Greater than 23 m² (247.5 ft²)
* Empty weight: 5,292 kg (11,667 lb)
* Loaded weight: 7,540 kg (16,620 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 9,100 kg (20,000 lb)
* Powerplant: 1× Liyang Wopen-13F (R-13-300) [26] afterburning turbojet
o Dry thrust: 44.1 kN dry (9,914 lbf)
o Thrust with afterburner: 65.17 kN (14,650 lbf [5])

Performance

* Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 limited [6] (2120 km/h)
* Combat range: 850 km (528 miles)
* Ferry range: 2,230 km [7] (1,380 miles)
* Service ceiling: 18,800 m (61,700 ft)
* Rate of climb: 11,700 meters/min (38,400 ft/min)
* Wing loading: Greater than 379 kg/m² (77.8 lb/ft²)

Armament

* Guns: 2× 30 mm Type 30-1 cannon, 60 rounds per gun
* Hardpoints: 5 in total - 4× under-wing, 1× centreline under-fuselage with a capacity of 2000 kg maximum (up to 500 kg each) [27]
* Rockets: 55 mm rocket pod (12 rounds), 90 mm rocket pod (7 rounds)
* Missiles:
o Air-to-air missiles: PL-2, PL-5, PL-7, PL-8, PL-9, Magic R.550, AIM-9
* Bombs: 50 kg to 500 kg unguided bombs