JH-7 [Jianhong Fighter-Bomber] - Background
Sniper bombers, also known as fighter-bombers, are mainly used to assault ground and surface targets in the depths of enemy battle tactics, and have the ability to defend themselves in air combat. The Soviet Union was equipped with the Su-7 single-single-single sniper bomber in 1959. Since then, the United States and the Soviet Union also developed the F-111 and Su-24 double-parallel two-seat rear-swept aircraft. The emergence of sniper bombers and the changes in air strike style after World War II are inseparable. With the development of self-propelled artillery and the emergence of new types of weapons such as anti-aircraft missiles, the risk of ordinary bombers, whether they are submerged or bombed, is steep. The sniper bomber can be used to implement low-altitude high-speed penetration with high maneuverability, gradually replacing the traditional light bomber.
With the continuous improvement of airborne electronic equipment and the widespread use of anti-ship missiles, the sniper bomber's combat capability against the sea has also been greatly improved, which is sufficient for the anti-ship mission in the middle and close range. In the face of the US aircraft carrier advantage, the Soviet Union has proposed a "saturation attack" tactic, that is, the use of surface ships, submarines and combat aircraft to carry anti-ship missiles, the use of large-density, continuous attack penetration methods, so that the enemy aircraft carrier formation air defense system In a short period of time, it is in an unattainable saturation state, thereby increasing the probability of anti-ship missile penetration.
In the 1982 Falklands War, Argentina used the Exocet air-to-ship missile to sink the British "Sheffield" destroyer and became a classic case of the anti-ship warfare of the missile era fighter. Affected by this, China also pays attention to "asymmetric warfare" and "offsets" the opponent's naval advantage by developing supersonic anti-ship missiles.
At the beginning of 1974, the Chinese Navy obtained a record of sinking a South China Navy escort gunship and wounding three destroyers in the Xisha naval battle, but it also revealed the lack of aviation air support. The fighters that were equipped at that time in China were basically not capable of attacking the sea. The H-5 range was short and too old and unbearable.
At the China Arms Development Conference in 1975, the Navy strongly requested the Ministry of Machinery Industry (the Ministry of Aviation Industry, referred to as the Ministry of Aircraft Industry) to develop a medium-range bomber to meet future operational needs. At the same time, the Air Force's H-5, H-6 speed is too slow to meet the requirements of modern high-intensity operations, while the supersonic strong-5 range is too short (only 1500 km), and the bomb load is only 2000 kg. Therefore, the Air Force is also eager to have a new type of aircraft that combines the performance of fighters and bombers.
According to the requirements of the navy and air force, the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense determined the tactical technical requirements for the new type of sniper bomber. It then requested the three-machine department to use one type of aircraft, equipped with the same kind of weapons and airborne equipment, to meet the needs of the navy and air force respectively. In the plan, the new features of the sea and air force are basically the same except for the weapons and equipment used in combat.
Although the main operational tasks of the Chinese Air Force are based on national air defense, considering the land and sea.
With the support of the battlefield, the Air Force’s ability to attack the ground is also highly valued. In the 1950s, China had the introduction of the former Soviet Union TU-16 (H-6 models Chinese imitation), Il-28 (Chinese imitation model H-5) bombers, became the first Chinese air force Support the combat aircraft on behalf of the ground. However, with the development of air defense systems, especially the emergence of air defense missiles, the operational effectiveness of these aircraft has rapidly declined. In view of the F-111 of the United States and the Su-24 of the former Soviet Union, the use of its relatively complete avionics system to implement low-altitude supersonic penetration has shown strong operational capabilities. China has clarified the development of the new type of sniper bomber, and decided to develop the low-altitude strike-type fighters urgently needed by the Navy, and then develop the Air Force-type low-altitude penetration fighters.
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