Xi'an JH-7, History, Performance & Discussion

The PL-5 series is universal, but considering that the JH-7 only has unguided bombs and rockets, unless developers equip the JH-7 with guided weapons, I believe it would be better to use the PL-5B to keep it at a lower BR.
Yes, it can carry the YJ-81 long range anti ship missile, but it is useless in WT and does not have a ground attack variant.

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You guess dev might consider add 2nd IR AAM PL-5E on JH-7 basic ?

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So it’s basically another Tornado IDS situation. Thats why devs should add separate BRs for attackers and bombers

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Yes, I am worried that they will use PL-5E as a gimmick for JH-7 and create the second Tornado tragedy.

At present, they will not do so, so it is important to use appropriate AAM to keep JH-7 at a lower BR.

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JH-7

JH-7A

Weapons of JH-7 and JH-7A

The third image mentions that JH-7 has a later version that can use more guided weapons, but I do not have any other sources to confirm.

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This is a JH-7A model with PL-12, released by official media.

Previously, there was another image of JH-7A using composite pylon to mount PL-12, but I seem to have lost it, sad :(

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JH-7A & JH-7A2 carry all-aspect IR AAM PL-5EII & ARH PL-12 but not sure equipped SARH PL-11 ?

I guess JH-7 basic equivalent Tornado IDS early (germany) & Tornado GR.1 early (UK)

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image
Found it.

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I’m not surpriced JH-7A carry medium-range ARH BVRAAM PL-12 but mounted BVR SARH PL-11 ?

There is no enough information.

I think one of the most difficult things for an English speaker like me is finding good sources for Chinese vehicles that give me useful details. My main interest around future Chinese aircraft is what potential advanced CAS options could they receive later? The Americans and Russians get too enjoy a large arsenal of air too ground weapons, and this is something china currently lacks.

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Try to use a vpn that has chinese server.By doing that you will get more chinese websites in your search result.That should help you to find some sources.

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What are those other missiles on that pylon? Seems like this plane could be very good if it can carry 2x Pl-12’s, and 6x IR missiles.

It could be PL-5 with a cover on it’s seeker

JH-7AII carrying PL-5DE and PL-8B trainer missiles.

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I might expect gaijin consider JH-7 basic and JH-7A next month or december this year because currently china tech tree no CAS aircraft toptier

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They can get Mirage 2000-5, A2G for F-16MLU, or air to ground for J-8F.

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I hope gaijin consider add GBU-10 & GBU-12 Paveway II LGB, AGM-65G Maverick and LANTIRN (AN/AAQ-14 Sharpshooter targeting pod & AN/AAQ-20 Pathfinder navigation pod) next month it’s enough and improve CAS & ground attack, but Mirage 2000-5EI without ground pounding ordinance

I think maybe Shenyang J-8H fired GPS guided bomb

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The upgraded F-16 would be the quickest and probably most competitive short term way to boost Chinese CAS. Frankly I’m surprised such an option wasn’t added with the most recent update, it hopefully a new F-16 comes and soon other CAS options for the PLA line too, as they have many interesting platforms

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The Chinese weapon documents are very confusing, you can find that most of the documents say the JH7 doesn’t have any GBU or AGMs, but the GBU weapon introduction says that any JH7 could carry it( even like J-7s or Q5s), but we don’t have any photos to prove this, like Q5L, it could bring more 250kg gbu bombs, but there is no photo to prove that.

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