User:Sakaban_Sharkigu

Myself

A Chinese-Macau citizen who is now studying in a certain city somewhere on the shore of Taiwan Strait, speaking both Cantonese and Mandarin, as well as fluent English and some Japanese and German; mains on US,DE,RU,UK,JP,CN tech trees; a 8 year player of this game. Enthusiastic on IKEA's Blahaj the shark doll.

PLA Naming System

As we might know, PLAGF- People's Liberation Army Ground Forces has a "fax-machine like" naming system, according to PhlyDaily's title of his ZTZ96 video, but there is actually a pattern and standards. Known as the 《全军武器装备命名规则》(Standard Nomenclature Details of Armored Vehicles) since 1987 and the later 《中国人民解放军装备命名规定》(lit. PLA's Regulations on Equipment Naming) from 2012 (classified for now), instead of the very political naming in the early 1960s and the well-known Type XX of certain vehicle (as far as I can dig up from known documentations).

WZ-numbers means Wujibu-Zhuangjia 五机部-装甲 (5th Ministry of Machine Building-Armored Vehicle) code from factory issued by 5th Ministry of Machine Building (第五机械工业部，currently NORINCO and CSGC) such as WZ123 in ZTZ99 case.

The following table will give you a speculation of (usual) vehicles naming and how it works, capitalized character is the first letter of its pinyin.

(Note: Strikethroughs need further clarification from Chinese documents under current naming standards)

1st Letter	2nd Letter	3rd Letter	Number	Example
Z-Zhuangjia cheliang装甲车辆 AFV	B-Bubing zhanche 步兵战车 IFV	D-lüDai 履带 Tracked L-Lunshi 轮式 Wheeled	1900-2099 (The first 2 digits can be ignored in normal use)	ZBD86
	G-Gongcheng baozhang cheliang工程保障车辆 Engineering vehicle	Q-jiaQiao 架桥 Bridge layer L-sao(bu)Lei 扫（布）雷 Mine sweeping/laying G-Gongcheng 工程（作业车）Engineering operation		ZGG84 ZGQ84 (based on ZTZ79)
	S-zhuangjia Shusongche 装甲输送车 APC	D-lüDai 履带 Tracked L-Lunshi 轮式 Wheeled		ZSL92 (WZ551)
	T-Tanke 坦克 Tank	D-lüDai 履带 Tracked L-Lunshi 轮式 Wheeled Q-Qingxing 轻型 Light Z-Zhuzhan/Zhongxing 主战/中型坦克 MBT S-Shuilu 水陆 lit.water and land Amphibious		ZTQ62 **ZTS63 ZTZ99 ZTD05 ZTL11
	Z-Zhandou qinwu cheliang 战斗勤务车辆 Combat service vehicles	Z-Zhihui 指挥 Commanding C-zhenCha 侦察 Scoution T-Tongxin 通信 Communication D-Dianziduikang 电子对抗 ECM M-Miyaojiazhu 密匙加注 Battlefield code encryption F-Fangbao 防爆车- Anti-explosives X-zongheXinxi 综合信息 Intergraded information (of battlefield)		N/A
P-Pao 炮 Artillery	G-Gaoshe 高射炮 AA gun	L-Lunshi 轮式 Wheeled Z-Zizou 自走 Self-Propelled		PGZ04A PGZ09
	H-Huojiandan 火箭弹 Rocket			PHZ89 PHL03
	***L-Liudan 榴弹炮 Howitzer			PLL05 PLZ05
	T-Tuji 突击炮 Assault gun			PTL97 *PTL02

*Note: In early 2000s wheeled assault guns were counted as artillery, while after 2016 they were for heavy composite armored brigades. 

** The only ZTS among all PLA equipment

***Gun-mortars (迫榴炮) and howitzers are both counted as 榴彈砲 in this case.

Misconceptions on ZTZ99 Series

ZTZ99, being one of the most iconic PLAGF equipment to western players and the fist of elite armored brigades, has been in deep mystery in terms of its naming due to the relatively lack of information from PLAGF. From this video by Bilibili content creator 院长今天又划水 https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1SM4y1g7mC, the naming for ZTZ99 series become more clear as follows:

Italic- Not introduced in game

Bold- Introduced in game

*The naming in Chinese and in-wiki English is different, where the second one should be instead called- Stage I Modified.

** Was ZTZ10 but rumor suggested to avoid duplicated name to JGSDF's Hitomaru (Type 10), it was renamed to ZTZ99A.

In-game name	Unified name	WZ Number	PLAGF naming	*Commonly know as	Major appearance differences	Certificated date	First publicly shown	Chief designer	Note
ZTZ99-I ZTZ99（一类）	ZTZ(19)99 Main Battle Tank	WZ123	ZTZ99式 一类定型状态	99一期 99 Stage I	No ERA blocks and applique armor; V-shaped breakwater; bulged at the middle of the turret.	1999	1999/10/1	Zhu Yusheng 祝榆生 (1918-2014)	Erroneously known as Type 98 or by its project number "9910"; the model used in Battlefield™ 2
ZTZ99-II ZTZ99（二类）			ZTZ99式 二类定型状态	99一期改 99 Stage II	ERA blocks on UFP and applique armor on the front and sides of turret based on former.	c. 2003	N/A		Erroneously known as Type 99G; the model used in Battlefield™ 4.
ZTZ99-III ZTZ99（三类）		WZ123B	ZTZ99式 三类定型状态	99二期 99 Stage III	New welded turret with extended side applique armor and revise of turret front applique blocks; repositioned ERA blocks on UFP with a horizontal breakwater.	2004	2009/10/1		Erroneously known as Type 99A1; basis of NORINCO VT-3 export MBT.
ZTZ99A	**ZTZ(20)10 Main Battle Tank	WZ1001	ZTZ99A式	99A	Completely redesigned tank with a shorter chassis, increased UFP area and new turret; bulged rear chassis for new engine pack.	2010	2015/9/3	Mao Ming 毛明 (1962-)	Erroneously known as Type 99A2; has NO RELATIONSHIP with previous ZTZ99s other than the name.

J-8- The People's Republic Decade Old Legend

(Based on CCTV-7's 4-part “Chinese Fighters- The Soaring J-8 中国战机·歼八奋飞" and two-part "Gu Songfen 顾诵芬" documentary with comprised information from Wikipedia and Baidu Baike; as well as some of my own opinion.)

(My all time favorite and the most deserved jet for CN air TT)

Prologue

Across the Chinese skies, before the 1960s, it was still ruled by imported Soviet jets and its domestic (un)licensed builds, J-4/5/6/7; although it was fairly an achievement that an agriculture country for centuries could built some of the latest jets of the era, but those were still non-indigenous design. The dream of all Mainland Chinese aircraft designers were building a totally indigenous Chinese jet (in terms of overall design), which was still rather difficult due to lack of experience; the dawn of this idea was from a obsolete yet sufficient design of JJ-1 歼教-1, designed and built by Factory 112 (today's AVIC Shenyang). The now -inspired team of designers included a legendary designer in China, Mr. Gu Songfen 顾诵芬 （1932/2/4-）, CAS and CAE member, recipient of 2021 Highest Science and Technology Award 最高科学技术奖. The design that was led by him was the legendary (for the Chinese) J-8 歼-8 (NATO: Finback 长须鲸).

The Inspiration

In 1962, the ROCAF ganged up with CIA for high-altitude recon mission over Mainland China for its defense facilities and most of all, the nuclear weapon program, the infamous 34th "Black Cat" Squadron; although PLAAF scored 5 kills over their state-of-the-art U-2 with SAMs, most of the time PLAAF would need to send J-6 and the new comer J-7 for fruitless interception of those 20km-high recon planes. A quote from Gu Songfen, "The biggest flaw of J-7 was its short flight time; it could only stay at high-altitude for around 2-3 minutes and it climbs slowly." Aircraft designers in Mainland were furious yet they could do nothing to those U-2s. With the test flights of XB-70 that was aimed to launch sudden strikes on Mainland's nuclear facilities (also Soviet ones as well), PLAAF was in dire for a new high-altitude interceptor. Two of the chief designers of JJ-1, Xu Shunshou 徐舜寿 （1917/8/21-1968/1/6, died during the 10-year havoc of Cultural Revolution) and Huang Zhiqian 黄志千 (1914/1/24-1965/5/20, died with all 121 passenger and crew of PIA 705 AP-AMH at Cairo) went for the design of a new interceptor, 22 schemes single or twin engine designs. For the Chinese at that time, "If we can build an atomic bomb, how hard could it be making a jet engine?" So the early design of new interceptor was a single-engine design while Huang Zhiqian kept on the alternative twin-engine design in view of a new jet engine could stall the development for decades. On the theorize meeting of the new interceptor, the pro-single engine designers couldn't ensure how long it takes to develop a new engine; so the model brought by Huang Zhiqian, aka "Roast Duck 烤鸭" with twin WP-7 engine became the go-to design for the interceptor before the single engine version could ever be build.

On 1965/5/17, the Central Military Commission has given the green light to the twin engine version of the interceptor; the J-8.

Development

J-8I (J-8 "Daytime"; J-8A and J-8E)

The plan for J-8 was a twin-jet with a low aspect-ratio, delta wings and came with a nose intake that could flew at 20 km at M2.25 based of the earlier aerodynamic design of MiG-21F-13/J-7 (J-8I series). For this jet, 10 thousand of new parts have to be made and many of these parts were brand new parts. Surprisingly, J-8I's prototype was assembled in one-take albeit the inexperienced assemble crew; on 1968/6/23, J-8I's prototype rolled of the production line of SAC Dongling Airfield. Although some minor incidents, the 1st prototype made its maiden flight at 1969/7/5 while the second static test airframe was also built for ground tests. A major problem was found during the static tests of the 2nd prototype- during a pressure test of the airframe, when the overall structural pressure has reached 92%, the airframe broke into two half; Sun Shaokong (孙绍孔), chief test-flight manager mentioned that "The passing standard was 95%; but when the gauge hit 92%, no one clapped for the 'success' and we were felt rather sad for that." While the 2nd airframe suffer total structural loss, the airworthy 1st airframe was also affected by severe vibration during ground tests; the structural problem of the static test airframe was proved to be installation problem (3.5 mm bolts instead of the planned 4 mm bolts; fewer installed bolts than the required 64 bolts at read airframe), and vibration of airworthy one was due to landing gear.

While manufacture flaws have been solved, the maiden flight has been delayed for a year until the late June in 1969, where Cao Lihuai (曹里怀, PLAAF second-in command) has been persuaded that the design of J-8I was safe for test flights. He was then later given the green light for the maiden flight at midnight of 1969/7/5, Yun Yuhuan (尹玉焕) was the chief test pilot of the jet (thus numbered J-8I 69705, this jet is now at SAC's main factory at Shenyang for outdoor exhibition) . With the successful test flight on that date, it started its 15 year long journey before it could enter PLAAF service.

At the 9th test flight conducted by the vice test pilot, 鹿鸣东 (Lu Mingdong) reported "...at 8000m, mach 0.86; my plane has experienced severe vibration," a rather ridiculous problem for a supersonic jet, "like riding on a fishing rod" as described by the test pilot. With the question opinion within Factory 112, the J-8 team kept on finding out the culprit of the vibration. Gu Songfen then used a rod and some ropes which proved that the rear part of J-8 has some aerodynamic flaws; it was then installed a fairing which fixed the vibration (the iconic long exhaust tail of J-8 series; but it couldn't go supersonic in this case). "It was a improvised idea to test flow separation at the rear, yet it did gave him (Gu Songfen) an impression that the culprit was there and it's severe during the ignition process," as mentioned by Jiang Zuofan (姜作范), another test flight manager of J-8. In later flights, J-8 could reach M 0.96; albeit very embarrassing for a supersonic jet.

Later, the exhaust tail (aka the fairing aforementioned, the skirt as called by the developers) was reduced by 260 mm; at 10:00 am, 1970/3/10, J-8 has finally passed the supersonic barrier and reached M 1.2 at 10:04:05; the prototype was then transferred to Yanliang, Xi'an for tests in 1970/6/24. Due to the political turmoil and economical reform, it was until the late 1970s when J-8 could went for extensive tests; where it has faced engine stalls and fire alarms. For the designers, fortunately, both prototypes in deep trouble were managed to recovered/saved from catastrophic loss; although the vibration at higher speed still persist. So SAC has brought 100kg of wool yarn for flow separation tests; where Gu Songfen has rode onto a JJ-6 歼教-6 3 times lying to his wife (the couple made a promise not to board planes due to the demise of Huang Zhiqian) and he eventually found the culprit was the triangular area formed by the vertical stabilizator and the fairing. The revised design of this area eventually helped J-8 passed the M 2.0 barrier and met the requirements of PLAAF.

J-8I was then certificated in 1979/12/31, the day before 1980; and little was knew that was also the very first time Gu Songfen was drunk in his life.

J-8II (J-8B batch 1/2, J-8C, D, G, H, F and export F-8IIM)

After the pre-production J-8Is has enter PLAAF in the 1980s, they did a test with J-7; although J-8I shone at acceleration, but it was as well rather not nimble; meanwhile PLAAF has aimed for a MiG-23 (Flogger, got from Egypt) as their new interceptor. Estimation was that J-8I could not composite with Flogger at all; where the variable swept-wing and advanced avionics shone over the nose-intake J-8I. Option A was reverse-engineer the Flogger (No. 9501, obtained from Egypt, now stored in Chinese Aviation Museum 中国航空博物馆) while the other one was enhance the original J-8I airframe with a more aerodynamic design with side intakes. This was also the very first time Mainland China used composite material on aircrafts which made J-8II more nimble. Due to the overall redesign of, it was estimated to take 6 years before maiden flight, yet J-8II made it within 3 1/2 year. J-8II (J-8B batch 1) made its first flight at 1984/6/12, earning its nickname of "Beauty in Air 空中美男子" with revised airframe with side intakes and latest mono-pulse radar.

However, when Israel Air Force mascaraed the Lebanon Air Force who flew Floggers in 1983, SAC knew that they need quite some upgrades to kept J-8II on-par with the latest 3rd generation jets. Luckily, Sino-American relationship was better during the early 1980s and US pilots said that J-8II accelerate rather quick yet the avionics was a generation behind; Grumman became the handling company for the development of J-8II “Peace Pearl 和平珍珠” with F-16 avionics. Although the 1989 Beijing crackdown failed this program, SAC and Grumman continued the program till the 1990s when the Chinese decided to built J-8C but in vain; they eventually built an aerial-refuel variant (J-8D), an pulse-doppler equipped one (J-8H) and the latest one with ARH missiles (J-8F). SAC also planned for an export version, dubbed F-8IIM with Russian avionics and weaponries but fail to earn any contracts.

The J-8II series, albeit its rather long time before fully commissioned (2002), it had also become the cornerstone as the test platform of new technologies for PLAAF jets. The last of them are still striving at the Taiwan Strait front line (JZ-8F) and the westernmost Korla region (J-8DF and DH) of Xinjiang Military District, PLAAF.

J-8I 歼-8I （I pronounced as Yi, 一 in Chinese）

It looks like " a Fishbed on steroids" , the major difference between it from a Fishbed is a side aux intake and a prolonged fairing on its tail, lower pair of fin-tail like Q-5.

J-8 Daytime and Recon 歼-8白/日间型；歼-8R (歼侦-8)

The very first batch of J-8 manufactured by SAC with a pair WP-7B engines and also a pair of 30-1 cannon; a Marconi Model 226 rangefinder in its shock-cone. Distinguish by a front-opened canopy. The Recon version has a West German KA-112A recon pod installed.

J-8A 歼-8A

Armed with Model 204 (SL-4 射雷-4) search radar and 23-3 cannon (GSh-23L); could be converted from Daytime model, certificated at 1985.

J-8E 歼-8E

Armed with SL-7A radar and counter-measurements, RWR, new railing for PL-5 missiles. Certificated in 1993; all J-8As were then upgraded under this standard.

Specification of J-8I series (Daytime/A/E):

*courtesy of John_JIANG's suggestion page; as shown in People's Revolution Military Museum

• Wingspan: 9.34 m
• Length: 19.25 m w/o pitot tube
• Height: 5.41 m
• Powerplant: 2x AECC Shenyang Liming WP-7A turbojet engine
  • Thrust w/o afterburner: 43.15kN
  • Thrust w/ afterburner: 56.3kN
• Maximum Speed: M 2.18/ 2,693 km/h at >13,600 m
• Service ceiling: 20,500 m
• Climb Rate: >150 m/s
• Crew: 1
• Radar equipment: Marconi Model 226 (Daytime); SL-4 (A) ; SL-7A(E)
• Fixed weaponry: 2x Type 30-1 30mm autocannon (Daytime),120 rounds? or 1x Type 23-3 autocannon, 200 rounds (GSh-23-3; J-8A and beyond)
• Other weaponry: 4x Rocket pods (but uncertain about the exact model); 4x PL-2B or PL-5B IR missiles

J-8II 歼-8II （II, er 二）

A more MiG-23 like side intakes with radar up front; the fin tail was redesigned to be a single, foldable fin.

J-8II Batch 1

The revised J-8IIB has new side intakes and a pair of WP-13B (upgraded R-13-300F), intended to launch new PL-4A SRAH missile; certificated but not commissioned in PLAAF.

J-8 "Peace Pearl"; Project 8-2 歼-8B “和平珍珠”；八二工程

Upgraded with F-16A's avionics; project started in February 1987; cancelled due to 1989 Beijing Crackdown and the introduction of Su-27SK Flankers. A cockpit of Peace Pearl is still a exhibit in an US aviation museum with mostly complete gauges.

J-8II Batch 2; J-8B 歼-8第二批次；歼-8B

J-8II airframes with SL-5A (Model 208A; Type 1471) molo-pulse radar with capabilities of using Aspide (PL-11, aka A-missile A弹) SRAH missile and new railing for PL-8 霹雳-8 (Israeli Raffel Python 3). Certified at 1995 and the system tests was completed in 2003.

J-8C; Project 8-3 歼-8C；八三工程

The domestic upgrade program after Project 8-2; with a pair of WP-14 “Kunlun” turbojet engine and 1741 PD radar. Cancelled due to the introduction of Su-27SK Flanker-B and multiple prototype crashes caused by WP-14 engines.

J-8D 歼-8D

J-8B with aerial refuel capabilities; successfully tested on 1991/12/23. The baseline later J-8IIs.

J-8H/DH 歼-8H/DH

Upgraded J-8II with Type 1491 PD radar and new radar display; certificated on 2004/1/20; could be upgraded from J-8B batch 2.

J-8G 歼-8G

Capable of launching KD-88 AGM or YJ-91 ASM; didn't go into commission.

J-8F/DF 歼-8F/DF

New Type 1492 PD radar, WP-13II engines and capable of launching PL-12 ARH missile or other guided weaponry. Certificated in 2005.

JZ-8F 歼侦-8F

High-altitude recon based of F series with removed guns and WP-14, later WP-13II for reliability.

F-8IIM

Export version with MiG-29 avionics; capable of launching R-27 an R-73s.

I/II ACT

J-8I and II's based FBW test platform as the back-up for CAC J-10. The former crashed during a test with a bug; the latter survived as J-8II 99913 with a pair of canard, kept in SAC Museum as outdoor exhibition item, right next to J-8I 69705).

Specification of J-8II series (B/C/D/G/H/F/IIM):

*The more well-known model

• Wingspan: 9.34 m
• Length: 21.6 m
• Height: 5.41 m
• Powerplant: 2x AECC Shenyang Liming WP-13B-II turbojet engine (All but J-8C); 2x AECC Shenyang Liming WP-14 "Kunlun" turbojet engine (J-8C)
  • Thrust w/o afterburner: 42.7kN (WP-13B-II)/Unknown (WP-14)
  • Thrust w/ afterburner: 65.9kN (WP-13B-II)/73.5 kN (WP-14)
• Maximum Speed: M 2.2-2.4 (no exact number)
• Service ceiling: 20,500 m
• Climb Rate: 200 m/s
• Crew: 1
• Radar equipment: NRIET SL-5A (J-8B Batch 2)/Type 1741 (J-8C)-Monopulse NRIET Type 1491 (J-8H/DH) / Type 1492 (J-8F/DF)-Monopulse;PD Phazotron-NIIR Zhuk-8II
• Fixed weaponry: 1x Type 23-3 autocannon, 200 rounds
• Other weaponry: 250-3 or 500-3 bombs up to 3 tons; rocket pods; up to 4x PL-5B, PL-8 IR AAM and 2x PL-11 (Aspide) /2x PL-12 (J-8F and later upgrades from older models)/2x AA-10 Alamo and 2x AA-9 Archer (F-8IIM)