J-8F
| This page is about the Chinese jet fighter J-8F. For the other version, see J-8B. |
Contents
Description
The J-8F (Chinese: 歼-8F型歼击机; unified NATO codename: Finback 长须鲸) was the final combat variant of the J-8 series interceptors, built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC, 沈飞) from remaining J-8II airframes or by upgrading previous J-8Ds in the mid-2000s. The project traces back to the J-8C (or J-8III) project for domestic avionic upgrades for J-8II: although the unreliable WP-14 engine ruined the whole project, the radar systems were tested rather successfully and marked the completion of a domestic pulse-Doppler radar. By the end of 20th century, the plans for Project 12 (PL-12) were also on schedule for domestic ARH AAM; thus the placeholder aircraft, J-8H, with a new radar joined the PLAAF with PL-11 SARH, while the J-8F with a modified radar based on the former radar and new NATO-equivalent FCS main bus was finalised by 2005 and became a cornerstone of the PLAAF until new interceptors replaced them from June 2022.
Introduced in Update "La Royale", the J-8F is the first domestic Chinese jet with a pulse-Doppler-capable radar, featuring new powerful PL-8 AAMs and the ability to mount missiles on all wing pylons. The jet is also upgraded with new engines with higher thrust, and the J-8II's signature differential elevators for better roll rate. While it is still unable to equip PL-11 SARH missiles due to incompatible radar equipment, the new PL-8 missile and avionics will not disappoint players.
General info
Flight performance
Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.
| Characteristics | Max speed (km/h at _,___ m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | ___ | ___ | 16000 | __._ | __._ | __._ | __._ | 750 |
| Upgraded | ___ | ___ | __._ | __._ | __._ | __._ | ||
Details
| Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
| X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 0 | 500 | ___ | ___ | ___ | ~__ | ~__ |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < ___ | < ___ | < ___ | - |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Basic mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | |||
| Shenyang Liming WP-13B-II | 2 | _,___ kg | ___ kg/m2 | |||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Gross Weight | ||||
| Weight (each) | Type | _m fuel | __m fuel | __m fuel | ||
| ___ kg | ___ | _,___ kg | _,___ kg | _,___ kg | _,___ kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP) | |||||
| Condition | 100% | ___%/WEP | _m fuel | __m fuel | __m fuel | MGW |
| Stationary | ___ kgf | ___ kgf | _.__ | _.__ | _.__ | _.__ |
| Optimal | ___ kgf (_ km/h) |
___ kgf (_ km/h) |
_.__ | _.__ | _.__ | _.__ |
Survivability and armour
Like most jets of its era, J-8F still retained certain degree of extra protection due to its late introduction at early 2000s on a rather obsolete airframe; meanwhile some standard equipment like self-sealing tanks are still present.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
| Ballistic Computer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) | Lead indicator |
 |
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 |
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Offensive armament
The J-8F is armed with:
- A choice between two presets:
- 1 x 23 mm Type 23-3 cannon, belly-mounted (200 rpg)
- 1 x 23 mm Type 23-3 cannon + 64 x large calibre countermeasures
Suspended armament
The J-8F can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 kg 250-3 bombs | 1 | 6 | 1 | |||||
| 250 kg 250-4 bombs | 1 | 6 | 1 | |||||
| 500 kg 500-3 bombs | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| 500 kg 500-4 bombs | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| Type 90-1 rockets | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||
| PL-5B missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| PL-8 missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Default weapon presets | |
|---|---|
| |
For players who are very familiar with the loadouts on the J-8B, 85% (6 out of 7) of its available weaponries are identical on both jets, with the PL-8 (licensed Rafael Python-3) being the exception. Due to the lack of radar-guided missiles, some players might find this a huge drawback that they will have to get close enough to enemy jets to even launch IR AAMs at the first place. However, the PL-8 is a game-changer for the J-8F; with not only the best all-aspect locking range among NATO equivalents, J-8F is also equipped with HMD for off-bore launches. A full loadout of 6 x PL-8 can be a nightmare for the enemy team if utilized carefully. The old faithful PL-5B still serves as its stock missiles - although it might be somewhat obsolete at the BR, launches on careless targets can still earn some quick victories.
The ground-attack loadout is totally identical to the J-8B though, with varieties of bombs and rockets at its disposal. Although neither the calibre nor explosive content of the Type 90-1 HEAT rocket is effective for hunting enemy MBTs even with a precise hit, they can still serve as an extra card on hand alongside the -3 series low drag GP bombs or -4 series drag chute retarded bombs. The bombs will certainly be more effective against more valuable targets such as MBTs, while saving rockets for vulnerable SPAA systems and light tanks.
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Rather high overall engine thrust
- Equips pulse-Doppler radar with sufficient detection capabilities
- Equipped with HMD for off-bore launches
- 6 powerful PL-8s with very long lock-on range and high overload
- Sufficient payload for occasional ground-attack operations
- Retained the same, if not better manoeuvrability from J-8B
- High top speed
Cons:
- Lacks any form of radar-guided weaponries
- Rather large target due to its long airframe
- Relatively small ammo pool
- Delta wing design and its size bleeds speed severely in manoeuvres
History
Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the series of the aircraft;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
| China jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | J-2 · J-4 · J-6A · J-7II · J-7D · J-7E · J-8B · J-8F · J-10A · J-11 · J-11A |
| Strike aircraft | Q-5 early · Q-5A · Q-5L · JH-7A |
| Bombers | H-5 |
| France | ␗Mirage 2000-5Ei |
| USA | ␗F-84G-21-RE · ␗F-84G-31-RE · ␗F-86F-30 · ␗F-86F-40 · ␗F-100A · ␗F-100F · ␗F-104A · ␗F-104G · ␗F-5A · ␗F-5E · ␗F-16A MLU |
| USSR | ␗MiG-9 · ␗MiG-9 (l) |
| North Korea | Shenyang F-5 |
| Pakistan | A-5C · JF-17 |
