JH-7B [Jianhong Fighter-Bomber]
Due to the lack of prior publicity, some people doubt how important this update is. In early 2010, there were rumors that an improved JH-7B was never realized. Flying Leopard was also exported as FBC-1 and in 2018 as JH-7E. However, the proposed upgrade of the aircraft may shift to JH-7X, such as the improved WS-9A turbofan engine, which generates approximately 10-15% additional thrust. Another useful upgrade will be the flight refueling capability, which will greatly increase the JH-7X's range.
China is also developing supersonic YJ-12 anti-ship missiles, and claims that JH-7X will carry such missiles. This will prove to be more difficult to defend than the YJ-83, as it will be able to run to four times the speed of sound and attack ships 250 miles away. However, although the YJ-12 has been tested on the H-6 bomber and deployed on the launch platform of the Spratly Islands, there are no photos of it installed on the Flying Leopard.
Jane’s noted that a rumored JH-7B had appeared around 2013 that ostensibly included in-flight refueling capabilities and better engines and radar. "Images of a prototype JH-7B appeared around 2013, and changes including the capability for in-flight refueling, upgraded engines, and a new radar were anticipated." However, the JH-7B turned out to be just that - a rumor.
A new model of "Flying Leopard" test flight appeared on the Internet, the machine is considered to be the JH-7B, judging from the three-digit machine number, at least two JN-7B were undergoing flight test. From the appearance, the aerodynamic structural design of the JH-7B was almost the same as that of the JH-7A, and the size of the fighter has not changed. The prototype had not been officially painted, and the overall shape has not changed. The changes that can be observed mainly include the installation of a telescopic air refueling device on the left side of the machine head, and multiple electronic device antennas are added to each position of the fuselage. Two JHB-7B bomber prototypes are undergoing flight test, one is all yellow primer, number 821; the other front fuselage is yellow primer, and the rear half fuselage is gray coated like the active JH-7A The No. 822. 822 prototype was improved with the active JH-7A fighter-bomber, which means that the Air Force's active JH-7 series aircraft can be modified according to the JH-7B standard.
In the flight control system, the JH-7B is upgraded to the full-featured all-digital telex flight control of the third-generation machine, which greatly improves the handling performance of the fighter and reduces the operational burden of the pilot.
The JH-7B is therefore able to achieve a more flexible and versatile weapon mount without a significant increase in engine thrust. According to previous reports from the official media, the new flying leopard can "install a device, add extra large external objects and ensure that the performance of the aircraft platform is not reduced." The JH-7B combat capability with the new Eagle Strike-12 anti-ship missile will be further enhanced and the operational flexibility will continue to increase. In addition, the Eagle-91 missile will continue to be equipped as a standard anti-radiation/medium-range supersonic anti-ship missile. In addition, the weapons that can be carried after the improvement of the JB-7B include long-sword-10, large-caliber guided bombs and other weapons.
After the improvement, the JH-7B was supposed to use a large number of composite materials.
A Xian JH-7B that reportedly carried out test flights in 2014 was said to be powered by the LM6 turbofan engine designed specifically for the aircraft which boasts more powerful thrust than the country's latest WS-10A engine. The LM6's air intake was designed to be less visible and its exterior is coated with materials that can absorb electromagnetic waves. The engine was undergoing fine-tuning in preparation for mass production and the fighter bomber will be installed with new avionics and may use an active phased array radar.
The JH-7B was designed to improve the use of naval air, has mainly improved the wing structure to enable it to mount the Eagle-12 anti-ship missile. It is reported in 2015 that the "YJ-12" will be launched from the H-6 strategic bomber and a new type JH-7B fighter bomber of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The JH-7B fighter bomber is essentially a low-visibility type FeiBao (fighter bomber) equipped with the "YJ-12" so as to strike air and sea targets simultaneously.
The highlight of the "YJ-12" is not its range but speed. It can reach "Double Three" or "Double Four", namely a range of 300 kilometers at Mach 3 (1.02 kilometers per second) or a range of 400 kilometers at Mach 4 (1.36 kilometers per second). When the missile is launched at low altitude at the terminal attack stage and carries out hide-and-defense penetration at high speed, the enemy can barely response within a period of time. In addition, the missile can carry a warhead of 400-500 kilograms. It will give a heavy strike to large surface vessels. And an operational range between 300-400 kilometers has reached the maximum air-defense range of the surface vessels. The formidable anti-ship ability of the "YJ-12" is the major concern of the United States.
It had been reported that the designers were trying to launch a big change of the JH-7B, but the arrival of the stealth era, especially J-16, basically blocked the improved JH-7B. Some artwork appeared depicting a JB-7 fuselage with a radically altered double delta wing, more pronounced than seen on the F-16, but less pronounced than on the F-16XL. The air inlets were also radically altered, given stealth features reminiscent of the stealth upgrades on the F/A-18EF Super Hornet.
The key to the problem is that after these big changes, the JH-7B solved all the existing Leopard problems in a package. But it also eliminated the biggest advantage of the active JB 7 fighters, the cheap and reliable features. Therefore, in the foreseeable future, it seemed that the Leopard would gradually be replaced by the newer and stronger J-16, a modification of Russia’s Sukhoi-30MKK. The Chinese navy and air force would also usher in a stronger ground-to-sea strike capability.
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