Shenyang J-8
| J-8 / J-8B | |
|---|---|
| Shenyang J-8F | |
| General information | |
| Type | Interceptor |
| National origin | China |
| Manufacturer | Shenyang Aircraft Corporation |
| Designer | Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
| Number built | At least 408 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1980 |
| First flight | J-8: 5 July 1969 J-8B: 12 June 1984 |
The Shenyang J-8 (Chinese: 歼-8; NATO reporting name: Finback) is a family of interceptor aircraft developed by the 601 Institute (Shenyang) in the People's Republic of China (PRC). It was conceived in the early 1960s as a low-risk program based on enlarging the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F, a version of which the PRC was producing as the Chengdu J-7. The original J-8 experienced protracted development due to disruption from the Cultural Revolution; the prototypes first flew in 1969 but the design was not finalized until 1979 with the aircraft entering service in 1980.
The J-8II/J-8B (NATO reporting name: Finback-B) was a major development of the J-8 and was essentially a new aircraft. The J-8II replaced the distinctive nose air intake with a conventional radome and side air intakes to create room for a modern fire-control radar, and used more powerful engines. The aircraft started development in 1982, and was cleared for production and service in 1988. The J-8II was the basis for all later major additions to the J-8 family.