U.S. Strategy Page website recently reported that the Chinese F-7 fighter r ecently discontinued. In its nearly 50 years of a long production cycle, J-
7 production over 2400. There are nearly 500 exported to 14 countries, ther e are still a dozen countries in use. F-7 shutdowns that China Air Force is to equip a much stronger fighter combat rapid transformation. F-7 generic prototype is the famous former Soviet MiG-21 fighters, which is the second generation of supersonic jet fighter aircraft postwar largest o utput, total more than 10,000. MiG-21 series was in the Vietnam War, the th ird, fourth Middle East War, the Iran-Iraq war and the war between India an d Pakistan fought a large number of local conflicts, and get a good record. China in 1964 allowed the production MiG-21, and is named after its F-7 and mass production. In the 1980s to the 1990s, a large European country to in troduce advanced technology and equipment, has developed the J-7B, F-7M, F- 7E, F-G, F-7P other models, equipped with a large army and exported abroad. F-7 in the domestic market had noAt present, China has more than 40 Air Force reserves the division over 150
0 aircraft tactical aircraft. Since large-scale fleet, a time full facelift for the inability F -10, F -11, JH -7 and other advanced models, in most a viation divisions, three generations of machines equipped with only one gro up, another one or two groups equipped with second-generation machine. Acco rding to incomplete statistics, the current F-7 military aircraft still in service around 700. The reason why so many F -7 equipment, mainly because the 1990s, three gene rations of machine production can not keep up, the Air Force did not want t o reduce their size. From an economic cost point of view, a large number of second-generation machine quickly retired to free up funds to buy three ge nerations of machines is certainly worthwhile, but doing so will lead to a lot of flight mission was canceled in the future think of additional troops will become very troublesome. F -7 current military equipment produced most of the 1990s J-7E and J-7G. I n accordance with the 2000 hours of flying life calculation, if troops to m aintain an annual 120 hours training time, you should begin to gradually re tired from in 2007. Even lower training intensity and life extension to 300 0 hours, and can only serve to 2015-2025.Although the F-7 recently discontinued, but China's Air Force as early as t he beginning of this century are no longer purchasing this model: 1999 Su-2
7SK domestic assembly operation, and was named the F-11A; 2004 ? F-10 stereotypes service Since then three generations of Air Force combat ai rcraft gradually become the main force; Meanwhile, the Air Force gradually stopped buying F-7, F-8 and other second-generation machine. Prior to our country still produced only F-7 aircraft factory in Chengdu, a ccording to information, CAC currently has two production lines, one specia lizing in the production F-10, and the other a mixed production F-7 and F-1
- F-7 can cut surplus production capacity up to -10 F, making it the large st annual increase from the current 60 to 70 or more. At present, China three generations of machine production speed about 60-80 frames / year, which is not an early three generations of machine replacem ent demand arising from decommissioning, also need to replace the entire F-
From this point of view, on the one hand to the next three generations of t he Chinese Air Force aircraft and four generations of machines continued to replace F-7 and F-8, on the other hand probably will reduce the number Fig hter Group, will be part of groups into transport, electronic warfare , aer ial refueling and other special forces, in order to ensure fleet turnover r ate and the balanced development of aviation equipment construction. Stop F-7 to make way for the export Xiaolong
In recent years, the production of F-7 are used for trade. Therefore, CAC d iscontinued this model relationship with the Air Force's decision should be very small, but the main consideration is the form of changes in the inter national market. According to reports, J-7 last year, has just completed an export order. The past 20 years, a major exporter of F-7 concentrated in Pakistan, Bangla desh and other countries around China and Africa. The common feature of the se countries and the Western powers in the diplomatic and military kept a c ertain distance, it is difficult to obtain United States and Europe in mili tary aid; and weak national economic strength, military strength is not str ong, weak purchasing expensive U.S. and European modern fighter; At the sam e time these countries do not have the arms embargo by the UN Security Coun cil; did not have a strong hostility to China. Able to meet the above condi tions few countries which can afford to buy a dozen aircraft F-7's even les s. So in fact the major orders F-7 is concentrated in a few countries, the most important thing is Pakistan. In recent years, with the upgrading of the tide coming fighter market, Asia , Africa and the Third World countries has been unable to purchase F-7 act as a deterrent, F-7's competitiveness in international markets decreased, C hinese arms urgently needed replacement alternatives This is the FC-1 "Fier ce Dragon." With Pakistan Xiaolong smooth development of the project, the Pakistan Air Force's facelift has been able to meet their needs speed. Upon completion o f the delivery mission to Pakistan, CATIC also need to export at least 150 Palestinian side to complete the contract and purchase volume commitment. I n this context, the need to advance the CATIC export Xiaolong find a breakt hrough. Close F-7 production lines and concentrate on selling FC-1 has beco me inevitable.
Xiaolong exports still "China Heart" But as successor Xiaolong not without worries: With the U.S. and European v intage F-16 gradually to longevity, quality and cheap second-hand F-16 appe ar more and more in the arms market; Russian MiG sell old -29 is the same w ay. Both pairs Xiaolong original had a great impact on the market. In 2009 Bangladesh fighter procurement bidding, Xiaolong and the Russian Mi G-29 was also tender, Bangladesh chose eight MiG-29. Although Bangladesh has not announced Xiaolong unsuccessful reasons, but th e most likely reason is that Xiaolong equipped with RD-93 engines are subje ct to Russia. So if Russia refuses to block competitors to provide engines and aftermarket, then it can only give up our arms.
Let's look at other potential users, Egypt is the FC-1 would most likely us ers, but in the political unrest after a serious deterioration of their eco nomic situation, whether it can afford the purchase amount to become a big problem; South America Venezuela relies on oil economy also has sourcing ca pabilities Xiaolong F-10 and are likely to enter its options list. But if o nce again in the competition against the MiG-29, is no guarantee that will not be repeated in Bangladesh failed.