Shenyang J-8DH - From the Shoreline to the Sky

Surbaissemaxxing · March 28, 2025, 10:32pm

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Suggestion No.70

G’day lads. I want to suggest a J-8D that has been upgraded to the H model, now being capable of carrying a more advanced radar and weapons :)

Description:

Spoiler

The Shenyang J-8DH is a modernized version of the J-8D, where it is now on par with the H variant. Building upon the J-8D platform, the J-8DH includes avionics upgrades, aligned with the advancements implemented in the J-8H program. Specifically, the J-8DH replaces the older 208A single-pulse fire-control radar with the improved 1491 model of the 1471 Doppler pulse fire-control radar. The J-8DH also supports the use of advanced air-to-air missiles, such as the PL-11, which is the Chinese-developed version of the Aspide missile, and thanks to the radar upgrade, it is now able to guide them much better. Of course it also features the known PL-5 and PL-8 missiles, including their upgraded versions featuring IRCCM. Something I found out very randomly, the J-8DH was also seen carrying R-77’s and YJ-91 ARM (will be shown in the armaments section). Something also important to note is that not every J-8DH has a aerial refueling probe, as some can be seen with and without them.

History:

Spoiler

There is not much history about this specific variant, as it’s hard to find, so this is all I have (some things will be repeated from the description). During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, China saw that their interceptors, the J-8’s, were slowly aging, therefore they needed to find some way to modernize them, one of which was the J-8D, which got upgraded to the J-8DH. The development of the J-8DH was closely linked to the successes of the J-8H and J-8F programs. To maximize the operational effectiveness of the J-8B and J-8D platforms, the Chinese Air Force and Navy initiated a large-scale upgrade program in collaboration with the 601 Institute. This program adhered to the principle of “achieving the goal in one step, implemented in stages,” resulting in the creation of four distinct sub-variants: the J-8BH, J-8DH, J-8DF, and J-8F.

The J-8DH emerged as a modernized version of the J-8D, bringing it up to the standards of the J-8H. Officially approved in December 1999, the J-8DH underwent significant avionics upgrades, including the installation of the improved 1491 radar system, an advancement over the 1471 Doppler pulse fire-control radar. The modernization allowed it to support advanced air-to-air missiles like the PL-11. The upgraded aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight on June 18, 2000, and finalized missile testing in August 2002. The program was officially concluded in January 2004.

The upgraded J-8DH retained the essential characteristics of the J-8H and J-8F. Features such as aerial refueling capability (although can be removed) and radar improvements were incorporated, though the aircraft still had only a single pair of wing fences, distinguishing it from newly manufactured variants. The Naval variant, the J-8BH, differed slightly in omitting optical equipment found in other models.

Armaments:

Spoiler

Type-23-3 23mm cannon

R-77 AAM (was flown with them, carrying YJ-91 ARM too)

PL-11 AAM

PL-8 AAM (up to A, unsure if up to B)

PL-5 AAM (up to E)

YJ-91 ARM

LS-6 (technically can carry it due to the J-8H also being able to have one)

250kg dumb bombs

Type 90-1 rockets

ECM pod

1491 radar (?) which is an improved 1471 radar. This radar can guide PL-12’s, but I don’t think I’ve seen any J-8BH/DH/H carry them.

Some images shown will be the normal D variant

Specifications:

Spoiler

One source says the J-8DH did not feature structural changes, meaning that it most likely is the same as the J-8H. Anyway, the Shenyang J-8DH has a length of approximately 21.6m, a wingspan of 9.34m, a height of about 5.41m and a wing area of 42.2 square meters. Its empty weight is roughly 9800kg and its MTOW is around 17800kg. The aircraft is powered by two Guizhou WP-13B afterburning turbojet engines, each delivering a dry thrust of 47.1kN and a thrust of 68.6kN with afterburner. This gives the J-8DH a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 and a service ceiling of approximately 18000m.