| J-12 | |
|---|---|
 Nanchang J-12 on display outside of theChinese Aviation Museum | |
| General information | |
| Type | Single-seat light fighter / strike fighter |
| National origin | People's Republic of China |
| Manufacturer | Nanchang Aircraft Factory |
| Number built | 5–8 (plus one static test article) |
| History | |
| First flight | 26 December 1970 |
TheNanchang J-12 (Chinese: 歼-12) was a lightweightsupersonicfighter built by thePeople's Republic of China, intended for use by thePeople's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Intended to be a modernjet fighter which could take off from short runways and even rural roads, be cheap to service, and be produced quickly in large numbers, it was ultimately determined to be inadequate for modern warfare.[1] Weighing 3,172 kg (6,993 lb) empty, the J-12 is one of the lightest jet fighters ever built. However, neither the J-12 nor the relatedShenyang J-13 project entered service.
In 1969, the PLAAF issued an order to build a small, inexpensive,STOL (short takeoff and landing) lightweight fighter in order to replace theMiG-19.[2] Two designs were submitted, namely the Shenyang J-11 and the Nanchang J-12. Prototypes of the J-12 were designed byLu Xiaopeng and built by theNanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company (NAMC). The J-12 was a small single-seat jet fighter with low-set,swept wings, swept control surfaces, tubular fuselage, and nose intake with small or absentshock cone and flight testing began on 26 December 1970. Due to less than satisfactory performance, three additional J-12I prototypes were built with improvements such as simplifiedcontrol surfaces, a lighterarea ruled fuselage, and revised intake.[3]
In 1977 the development of J-12 was abandoned, due to inadequate firepower and engine thrust and also likely due to the introduction of theChengdu J-7, which offered superior performance and was based on theSovietMiG-21F.[3] In addition, the concept of aerial guerilla warfare was by this time considered to be untenable.[4]
The J-12 prototypes had accumulated 61 hours in 135 flights by 1977. In 1990s, Lu Xiaopeng proposed upgrading the J-12's fighter design with a reducedRadar cross-section to make the J-12 stealthy, and suggested a modified J-12 fighter to a carrier based fighter forPLA Navy, but none of the proposals were accepted.[5]
Data from Chinese Aircraft:China's aviation industry since 1951[6]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
