People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force - Fighters

Fighters

For fighter missions the PLANAF operates the J-7E and J-8II. The J-7E is a much improved design based on the original Soviet MiG-21. With new double delta wings and the PL-8 AAM, the J-7E is quite an effective dogfighter. The J-8II is an indigenous fighter with a nose mounted radar and capable of high speed high altitude interceptions. A small number of these fighters are in service, and are capable of being inflight refuelled by the navy's own H-6DU tankers, modified from former navy H-6D missile bombers. The navy's air defense squadrons can always be complemented by the PLAAF, that operates more advanced combat aircraft including the J-11B and J-10 fighters.

Strike and anti-ship attacks are carried out by the Q-5, JH-7, Su-30MKK and H-6. The Q-5 was a design based on the J-6, but with provision for a nose radar. It has become the premiere light nuclear attack aircraft of the Chinese air force since the 1970s. Around 40 Q-5s are in service with the PLANAF. These are believed to be of the modified model that has a modified nose. These nuclear naval strike variants carried a search radar. Main armament were air dropped torpedoes and rockets, though it was believed these special Q-5s were capable of carrying one YJ8 air launched anti-ship missile. The JH-7 was an indigenous, supersonic, heavy nuclear attack aircraft with a crew of two. Its general performance and weapons delivery capability is thought to be comparable to early models of Panavia Tornado. The JH-7 was subsequently improved to the JH-7A, capable of carrying a variety of advanced Chinese and Russian precision munitions as well as anti-ship missiles. The JH-7 can be armed with the YJ82 improved air launched missile, or the Russian KH-31 ram jet anti-ship missile. The most recent acquisition of the PLANAF were a batch of 24 Su-30MK2. These aircraft are highly advanced and improved variants of the Su-30MKK. The primary difference between the naval variant and the air force one, is that the MK2 has a longer range search radar that could detect and attack surface ship targets with advanced long range missiles. The H-6 is a design based on the 1950s Soviet Tu-16 Badger. Though based on an old design, it has been built in new air frames and vastly improved models (similar to the upgrades given to the US B52s). Chinese H-6 variants in the navy include the H-6D, that specializes in carrying two anti-ship missiles. The PLANAF is believed to operate a much improved model, capable of launching the more advanced YJ-62 and YJ-8 series anti-ship missiles.