- Yes
- No
Brief History:J7 BGI is an upgraded variant of J 7 BG. It was bought as a stop gap solution for BAF until a modern single engine fighter jet comes in service of BAF. It was modified to meet the needs of Bangladesh Airforce. It is operated by ThunderCat squadron of BAF. It is primarily intended for interception but currently it is used as a multirole fighter jet. J/F-7 BGI is the most modern version of J-7. The jet also received Electronic Warfare capability as well. J-7 BGI is also the last production variant of J-7. The last fighter was delivered on 2013. Nato code name:Fishcan.
Specifications:
Cockpit:3 MFDs were added and it also received a HOTAS.It also received a new HUD. Helmet mounted sight and night vision equipments were also added. The plane uses Martin Baker Mk.10 ejection seat(https://martin-baker.com/news_events_post/martin-baker-constructs-new-bangladeshi-centre-of-excellence-for-aircrew-safety/).
Note:Most sites including various local news sites claim(Claim is based on a speech of Air chief Marshal. He said that this plane has 3 MFDs.) that this plane has 3 MFDs but only 2 MFDs can be seen in most pictures. So either those pictures are from F-7BG(BG version uses 2 MFDs) or maybe F-7 BGI doesnt have 3 MFDs. F-7 BG is an improved variant of F-7 MB. Source:
Spoiler
I know Gaijin doesn’t consider Janes as a valid source but in this case it’s quoting a official statement. Because of that we can consider this as a valid source.
Radar: SY-80 Pulse Doppler Radar,Range:30 Km+ and it has RWS,STT,ACM,AGR,BIT modes. Scanning area: ±30°.The radar can slave IR missiles such as PL-9C. The radar can also range and lock ground targets.It is worth mentioning SY-80 is actually same as KLJ-6E radar.So KLJ-6F could be a improved SY-80.SY-80 is also known as JL-10GJ radar.
SY-80:
Spoiler
Instruments:Probably most instruments are same as F-7 BG. A new HUD (made by the Xian Sicong Group) in the F-7BG provides pilot with displays for instrument flying, with air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon aiming symbols integrated with flight-instrument symbology. It can store 32 weapon parameter functions, allowing for both current and future weapon variants. In air-to-air combat its four modes (missiles, conventional gunnery, snapshoot gunnery, dogfight) and standby aiming reticule allow for all eventualities. VCR and infrared cockpit lighting on the F-7BG is to be used with a Chinese (Cigong Group) Helmet Mounted Sight (HMS) slaved to the PL-9 AAM. The new air data computer coupled with the new HUD in the air-to-ground mode is capable of projecting both Constantly Computed Impact Points (CCIP) and Constantly Computed Release Points (CCRP) - which will use internal GPS and INS.
F-7BGI’s instruments: BGW-3E radar altimeter. This is the only instrument I have managed to find so far. As I said before rest of the instruments might be same as F-7BG(apart from the MFDs)
Defensive equipments: Most equipments are probaby same as F-7BG or they might have been upgraded. F-7BG’s self defense equipments: South-West China Research Institute of Electronic Equipment KG-8602 RWR interfaced with the South-West China Research Institute of Electronic Equipment KG-8605 internal radar noise jammer and China National Import and Export Corporation GT-1 chaff/flare dispenser, and Type 602 ‘Odd Rods’ IFF.
The F-7BG also comes with SE-2 Airborne Missile Approach Warning (MAW) Sensors located at the rear and port and starboard sides.(中国SE-2型机载导弹逼近告警系统_SE-2 Airborne Missile Approach Warning System_GlobalMil-环球防务网)
Note:These things are probably changed in the BGI version or maybe it’s unchanged. Since BGI version is nearly identical to BG version apart from a different radar and some instruments and because of that reason we can assume that it’s defensive equipments are also same as the BG version.
Airframe:The airframe is most likely inherited from F-7BG. It has double delta wings.
Fuel Capacity:4165 Kg(It’s for F-7BG but I think it’s probably same for F-7BGI, since BGI version is based on BG version). It can use 3 drop tanks for additional fuel.
Combat Radius: 850 Km.
G-Limit:+8/-3
Climb Rate:195 m/s
Turn Rate: 18 degree/s (Sustained) (source: Victory day parade 2016. Narrator(Airforce personnel) said it)
Service Ceiling:17500 m(Approximately)
HardPoints:The aircraft has 5 hard points to carry air to air missile, laser guided bombs, GBUs and drop tanks for additional fuel. It can carry up to 3000 Kgs (Based on the speech of narrator in 2016 Victory day parade) of suspended armaments. Most of the time only 3 of the hardpoints are used because other 2 hard points are usually occupied by drop tanks but during interception missions the plane usually carrys 4 aams.
Gun:2×Type 30-1 or maybe 1×Type 30-1(I dont know if it has 2 or 1 gun but in the pictures it looked like it had only 1 gun)
Source for Type 30-1 gun:
Spoiler
Suspended Armaments:
AAMs:
- PL-5EII(PL-5 - Wikipedia)(Proof:Tender)
- PL-7(Maybe)
- PL-9C(https://www.deagel.com/Defensive Weapons/PL-9/a002626,(proof:HUD view)
Electronic warfare:
- 2×KG300G (A) EW pod (Supposedly). EW pods are installed on wingtip pylons.(Claimed by a site, explained in the reply section)
Rockets and Bombs:
- 90mm,57mm unguided rockets
- TYPE-200A bomb(Proof: Tender.).Not sure about the quantity.
- 250-3 Anti tank Bomb(Proof:Tender)
- LS-6. 5×LS-6 (500lb). Some sources have claimed that it can only carry 2 bombs on the wings and 1 on the center line pylon but as far as I’m aware LS-6s should be compatible with any pylon.
- LS-6 (IR seeker)
- FT-2(Claimed by various sources)
- TEBER guidance kit Mk 81,Mk 82.(Needs to be designated by a separate vehicle untill the targeting pod is added)
- 500kg and 250(FAB-250/Mk 81 etc.) kg bombs
It can also use an unknown 3000lb(1360kg) bomb (In a recent victory day parade, the F-7 was doing its aerobatics where the announcer said that the plane can carry a 3000lb bomb for ground attacking role or maybe he meant this jet can carry upto 3000lb of suspended armaments.)
LS-6 uses the plane’s internal GPS and INS system for guidance. Back then Bangladesh did not have any drones or anything similar that can designate the target for LS-6 so it definitely has a internal GPS, INS and maybe laser as well. Otherwise it would have been impossible to use LS-6 back then.[Check the 5th source]
Also Some sources have mentioned that it can carry SD-10 Air to Air missile. It should not be in the game since Bangladesh didn’t buy any BVR missiles for J 7 BGI. If the devs want they can add this missile for balancing purpose.
Typical AAM loadout:
- 4×PL 5EII
- 4×PL 9C
(This is loadout is mentioned by a Narrator during victory day parade 2017,so there is no way this loadout is fake)
Proof:
Recent Upgrades:Recently the plane got a few upgrades. One of the upgrade includes TEBER guidence kit which is made by Turkey’s Rocketsan. Which allows the plane to carry Mk 81 and Mk 82 laser guided bombs. The plane is supposed to receive a reconnaissance pod alongside new bombs. Older guidance system might have been modified to work with TEBER guidance kit Mk. 81 and Mk. 82 bombs. The upgradation has only began recently that’s why images aren’t available. (Edit:images of new TEBER guidance kit bombs are added below)(Roketsan - TEBER Guidance Kit)
Engine:It uses a improved version of WP-13F engine.WP-13F1 I think. The engine can produce 82Kn of thrust but some say it can only produce 62Kn of thrust. I guess 82kn is the static thrust of this engine. Max speed Mach 2.2. WP-13F1 is also known as WP-14C. Proof:
Spoiler
In the picture you can see the last two engines have P-13F1 serial number. Which could indicate it’s engine model or maybe they are just WP-13F1.
NOTE:BGI’s ‘I’ is actually 1. It’s not a alphabet but it’s actually a number.
Wiki:List of Chengdu J-7 variants - Wikipedia
Sources:
1.*Bangladesh military: F-7BG of Bangladesh Air Force
2.Source for Type 200A bomb:
Spoiler
Declassified tender.
3.Source for 250-3 Anti tank Bomb:
Spoiler
Declassified tender.
4.Source for SY-80 radar:
Picture was taken at Bangabandhu Military Museum.
5.LS-6 Guidance
Spoiler
CENTRAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) ESTABLISHMENT FOR BANGLADESH AIR FORCE (BAF): A STEP AHEAD TO ENHANCE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Volume 24, Issue 27
Wing Commander Mahfooz Ur Rahman, Engineering
the F-7BG1 is facilitated with LS-6 INS aided bomb but F7BG does not have. A local modification was done in the pylon and electrical system of F-7BG and the same bomb carrying provision was incorporated in F-7BG aircraft. Now the bomb which was purchased for 16 aircraft fleet but now can be planned for 32 aircraft fleet. This has enhanced the operational flexibility for the BAF planners. This will definitely enhance the operational capability of BAF fighter aircraft as well as pilots. (Wing Commander Masud in an interview on 26 November 2017).
https://esadhin.com/courses/engine-f-7-bg/(This was an official website,this website had every necessary information about this aircraft.The website also had the flight manuals of this plane but sadly the website’s domain expired.If anyone can gather some information from this website then please share it with us.)
Pictures:
Spoiler
(The bomb looks like FAB-250)
F-7 BGI carrying LS-6:
LS-6 at Bangabandhu Military Museum:
LS-6:
F-7BGI carrying rocket pods:
Hardpoints:
F-7BGI’s cockpit(Possibly). With the help of @ice-muff I was able to verify that it’s not F-7BG’s cockpit. But this cockpit lacks the third MFD, so there’s some confusion.
Picture of HUD(it’s from F-7BG but it’s most likely also same in F-7BGI):
Another picture but im 100% sure that it’s F-7 BGI’s HUD view.
Some Armaments:
F-7 BGI carrying AAMs:
(↑training version of PL-9C)
Training PL-9C missile:
Wings:
PL-9C firing:https://youtu.be/6Ij9Bvi4t2
