The JH-7 Flying Leopard (歼轰-7型歼击轰炸机), NATO reporting name Flounder, is a Chinese supersonic fighter-bomber whose development began in the mid-1970s. By 1974, the People's Liberation Army Air Force and Navy needed a new fighter-bomber to replace the H-5 bombers and Q-5 attack aircraft. However, Chinese designers lacked experience developing combat aircraft and their essential components, such as engines. This is why the future JH-7s were equipped with imported British Rolls-Royce Spey Mk.202 engines. Consequently, the fighter-bomber's creation was delayed until the late 1980s. During that time, a large number of configurations were developed. The first JH-7 prototype did not take to the skies until late 1988, and the aircraft did not begin entering service with the PLA until 1994. The air force received only twelve aircraft that by that time no longer met modern requirements for a strike aircraft and were unreliable.

The JH-7 was introduced in Update 2.51 "Spearhead". Unlike its later counterpart, the early model lacks specialized weapons and a pod for engaging ground targets. Therefore, the JH-7 relies solely on its excellent flight characteristics and ballistic computer coupled with unguided bombs and rockets in combat.