Hongdu J-12

Hongdu Aviation Industry Group · China · first flew 1970 · fighter

The Hongdu J-12 was a small, lightweight Chinese single-engine jet fighter developed during the Cultural Revolution era as a domestically designed alternative to Soviet-influenced designs. It was among the smallest supersonic fighters ever built.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, swept
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	Short stubby fuselage with swept mid-wing and conventional tail
T — Tail	Conventional

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China's smallest domestic jet fighter, sometimes called 'baby fighter'
Single WP-6 turbojet with cheek-mounted air intakes flanking the nose
Short stubby fuselage with swept mid-wing and conventional tail

Exceptionally compact for a supersonic type, with cheek air intakes, a very short fuselage, and a mid-mounted swept wing that give it a distinctive stubby appearance unlike contemporary fighters.

Specifications

The Hongdu J-12 has a length of 10.64 m (35 ft).
It has a wingspan of 7.19 m (24 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1472 km/h (915 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by NAMC (Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company, now Hongdu), the J-12 first flew in December 1970. The programme reflected the Maoist ideology of producing simple, rugged fighters that could operate from rough airstrips. Despite promising performance, the project was cancelled in 1978 as China evaluated more capable designs.

Variants

Several prototypes were built with minor variations in intake geometry and avionics; no production series was established.

Where you'll see it

The J-12 never entered operational service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It remained a prototype programme.

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