Chengdu J-9

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox aircraft The Chengdu J-9 (Template:Lang-zh) was an interceptor aircraft that was cancelled during development in the People's Republic of China (PRC). It was proposed in 1964 by the 601 Institute in Shenyang as a higher-performing alternative to the Shenyang J-8.Template:Sfn Development was disrupted by the Cultural Revolution and frequently changing requirements; in addition, development was transferred to the National 132nd Factory and the 611 Institute in Chengdu. The program was cancelled in 1980.Template:Sfn

Development

By 1964, the Chengdu J-7 was inadequate to perform long-range, high-altitude interceptions. The Chinese Aeronautical Establishment held a conference on 25 October to discuss future fighters. The 601 Institute had two proposals; a twin-engined "scaled-up" J-7 which became the J-8,Template:Sfn and a higher-performing single-engined option that became the J-9. The J-9 was technically riskier; it was not based on an existing design, and the required engine—an afterburning turbofan generating Template:Cvt dry and Template:Cvt reheat thrust—did not exist in China.Template:Sfn Shenyang developed a delta and a double-delta concept in 1965.Template:Sfn

Development was officially approved following a Ministry of Aerospace Industry (MAI) conference on 12–17 January 1966Template:Sfn with the goal of either an air superiority fighter or a pure interceptor. This was revised on 1 April with new requirements for endurance, rate of climb, and significantly increased range. A development schedule was approved on 12 April.Template:Sfn Shenyang responded first with the J-9A-IV (a tailed delta with lateral intakes) and then the J-9B-V (a tailless-delta); the former was unable to meet requirements. The Cultural Revolution paused development.Template:Sfn Development on the J-9B-V resumed in 1968. The goal of flying a prototype by the 20th anniversary of the PRC in October 1969 could not be achieved due to major development problems. The MAI shifted work back to the J-9A-IV. In addition, development was transferred to Chengdu because Shenyang was now fully occupied with the J-8. Wang Shounan became the new chief designer.Template:Sfn

The Ministry of National Defense issued new requirements on 9 June 1970—and slightly revised in November—for even greater range, speed, and altitude. Chengdu abandoned the J-9A-IV, and reworked the J-9B-V into the J-9B-VI. The J-9B-VI was a canard-delta with lateral intakes; a single ventral intake was rejected. The intended engine, the Woshan WS-6 turbofan, encountered development problems; a reverse-engineered Khachaturov R29-300 turbojet, to be called the WP-15, was selected as a less powerful alternative.Template:Sfn

The requirements were revised in February 1975, calling for more range and an armament of four PL-4 air-to-air missiles. In November, the State Planning Commission approved funding for five prototypes, with the first flight to take place in late 1980 or early 1981. However, the program was ended in 1980.Template:Sfn

See also

• Chengdu J-10

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Dassault Mirage 4000
• Saab 37 Viggen
• Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft

External links

• Interview - J-9 Chief Designer Wang Nanshou Template:Lang in