Shenyang J-8 is an interceptor aircraft developed by the 601 Institute in the People's Republic of China.
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11 Facts About Shenyang J-8
2.
The original J-8 experienced protracted development due to disruption from the Cultural Revolution; the prototypes first flew in 1969 but the design was not finalized until 1979 with the aircraft entering service in 1980.
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3.
The Shenyang J-8 offered lower technical risk and received higher priority and political support; the J-9 was later cancelled in 1980.
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4.
Shenyang J-8 was shared some features with the J-7, including the front-hinged single-piece cockpit canopy, landing gear design, and positioning of the ventral air brakes.
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5.
Shenyang J-8 was already recognized as obsolescent when it formally entered service on 2 March 1980.
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6.
The Shenyang J-8 I replaced the radar rangefinder with the SR-4 radar and the capability to fire the PL-4 air-to-air missile ; both radar and missile were still in development when the aircraft's specifications were approved by State Certification Commission on 2 March 1980.
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7.
The Shenyang J-8 I fell short of contemporary requirements and only about 100 were built before production ended in 1987.
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8.
In 1980, Shenyang began investigating improving the J-8 by using ideas embodied by contemporary aircraft like the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II and the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23.
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9.
Shenyang J-8 III was an attempt to upgrade the Shenyang J-8 II in the early 1990s.
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10.
The Shenyang J-8 III was certified in 1995 but production was cancelled because the WP-14 remained unavailable.
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11.
The Shenyang J-8 IV was used primarily by the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force and armed with the PL-9 AAM.
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