JH-7 Flying Leopard (FBC-1)
Xian Aircraft Industry Company · China · first flew 1988 · fighter
The JH-7 Flying Leopard is a Chinese twin-engine, two-seat supersonic strike aircraft optimised for maritime attack and interdiction.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin fuselage turbofans, solid nose radome |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Long two-seat tandem cockpit
- High-mounted swept wing
- Twin fuselage turbofans, solid nose radome
Look for the lengthy fuselage with a stepped tandem canopy and a pointed solid radome. The shoulder-mounted swept wing sits high on twin side-by-side turbofans exhausting under a conventional swept fin and low tailplane.
Specifications
- The JH-7 Flying Leopard (FBC-1) has a length of 22.32 m (73 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1808 km/h (1123 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by Xian from the late 1970s to give China a dedicated all-weather strike platform, the type first flew on 14 December 1988. Early Spey-derived WS-9 turbofans limited initial output, but a much-improved JH-7A followed with digital avionics and expanded weapons options. The FBC-1 designation was used for the export-marketed version.
Variants
The baseline JH-7 entered naval service before the refined JH-7A brought more hardpoints, a lighter airframe and better fire-control. Later JH-7A II and JH-7B upgrades introduced improved sensors and precision-weapon integration. The FBC-1 export offer attracted interest but no confirmed foreign buyers.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the PLA Naval Air Force and Air Force in the anti-shipping and land-attack roles, carrying YJ-series missiles. It has no UK service, though it is a familiar subject in Western defence assessments of Chinese naval strike capability.
Related aircraft
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