SHENYANG AIRCRAFT (SAC) is developing an improved version of its F-8 II Finback interceptor. The aircraft will be equipped with a Russian Phazotron Zhuk multi-mode radar and armed with Russian active-radar-guided air-to-air missiles.

The F-8 IIM prototype, fitted with the new radar, is expected to make its first flight before the end of 1995 says the company. The flight-testing programme is expected to last about six months.

According to SAC, the F-8 IIM is a company-funded venture aimed at domestic use by the Chinese air force and for export. It is intended as a follow-on to the now-defunct Grumman Peace Pearl F-8 II upgrade, cancelled after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre

Shifting to a Russian radar would appear to indicate that indigenous Chinese efforts to produce a multi-mode radar have met with little success.

The aircraft's Zhuk-8 II pulse-Doppler radar is being developed by Phazotron in Russia, but it is expected that the system will be assembled locally, possibly by Letri, an avionics subsidiary of Aviation Industries of China (AVIC).

The Russian radar gives the F-8 IIM a look-down, shoot-down capability, with track-while-scan of up to ten targets and simultaneous twin-target engagement.

The Russian radar-maker has had to reconfigure the arrangement of the Zhuk to accommodate the limited accessibility components available in the Chinese fighter.

Access is more restricted than with the Mikoyan MiG-29M for which it was originally developed, according to chief designer Yuri Guskov.

As a result, the analogue processor, exciter, power supply and signal processor have all been re-arranged.

The Zhuk-equipped F-8 IIM will be cleared to carry the Russian RVV-AE export variant of the Vympel R-77 (AA-12 Adder) active-guided missile, together with the semi-active R-27R1 (AA-10 Alamo). Other weapons could include the locally developed PL-9 and longer-range PL-10 missiles.

Avionics improvements comprise a new head-up display, believed to have been developed by the 613 Research Institute in Luoyang, and a combined inertial-navigation/ global-positioning system developed in Xian.

Other modifications include a hands-on throttle-and-stick cockpit, multi-function displays, integrated electronic- countermeasures system and two 15kVA AC generators.

The aircraft is powered by twin uprated 66kN (14,800lb)-thrust Guizhou WP-13A III turbofans. Consideration is being given to re-engining the fighter with a variant of the Russian RD-33 engine.

 

Source: Flight International