Jinmu ZF-8 Phoenix: Difference between revisions

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==Development==
==Development==


==Design==
Initial work on a new lightweight, multirole fighter began around 1969, when the existing [[Paragon ZF-6 Ikran|ZF-6 Ikrans]] proved to be costly to operate in large numbers and the lighter [[Hanshin ZF-5 Swordsman|ZF-5 Swordsman]] interceptors were showing its platform limits. The [[Greater Eastern Union Air Force]] and [[Greater Eastern Union Navy]] initially demanded that said replacement show high levels of agility, a high thrust-to-weight ratio and the capacity to carry at least 6,000 kg of payload with a combat radius of at least 1,200 km. A number of contenders, including the Paragon Group and Jinmu Heavy Industries, made their bid towards the development of new aircraft; while proposals from Paragon Group depicted a more traditional wing-tail airframe, Jinmu Heavy Industries had proposed a delta wing and canard configuration, which was deemed appropriate and even advantageous for {{wp|STOL}}. Jinmu Heavy Industries eventually won the contract in 1971, after which development initiated.
 
==Design Characteristics==
 
===Airframe===
 
===Propulsion and Maneuverability===
 
===Armament===
 
===Avionics and Countermeasures===


==Operational History==
==Operational History==
===Zhenia===


==Variants==
==Variants==
; ZF-8A/B: The ZF-8A (single seat) and ZF-8B (twin seat) were the two initial variants of the ZF-8 introduced to the [[Greater Eastern Union Air Force]] in 1983. Although all GEUAF units have been upgraded to ZF-8C/D standard by 2010, some later production variants still remain in service in export markets. Although the twin-seat ZF-8B was planned to be only a trainer variant, it became the platform of many variants requiring two pilots, including {{wp|reconnaissance}} and {{wp|air strike|deep strike}} missions.
; ZF-8C/D: The ZF-8C (single seat) and ZF-8D (twin seat) was introduced in 1990. A technological leap from the existing ZF-8A/B, the variants feature improved engines, avionics and sensors to further improve the airframe's all-weather multirole capability.
; ZF-8E/F: Built from minor improvements of the ZF-8C/D, the ZF-8E (single seat) and ZF-8F (twin seat) is a further improvement on the platform's capabilities, including the addition of an {{wp|Active Electronically Scanned Array|AESA}} radar, conformal fuel tanks to increase range, improved engines and simplified fly-by-wire controls. It was first introduced to GEUAF service in 2001.
; ZF-8R: A derivative of the ZF-8D, the ZF-8R is an {{wp|intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance|ISR}} variant of the ZF-8R, sporting reconnaissance pods and {{wp|SIGINT}} sensors.
; [[Jinmu ZF-9 Sea Phoenix|ZF-9 Sea Phoenix]]: A twin-engine, expanded version aimed for operation in the [[Greater Eastern Union Navy]]. While it uses different engines and is significantly larger than the ZF-8 Phoenix, it was developed directly from the existing ZF-8 Phoenix line.


==Operators==
==Operators==
Line 44: Line 66:


==Specifications==
==Specifications==
===ZF-8C (single seater)===
{{aircraft specifications
<!-- If you do not understand how to use this template, please ask at [[Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Aircraft]]. -->
| plane or copter? = plane
| jet or prop? = jet
<!-- Now, fill out the specs.  Please include units where appropriate (main comes first, alt in parentheses). If an item does not apply, like capacity, leave it blank.
-->
| ref =
<!--  General characteristics  -->
| crew        = 1
| capacity    =
| payload main =
| payload alt  =
| payload more =
| length main  = {{convert|15.75|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| length alt  =
| span main    = {{convert|9.81|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| span alt    =
| height main  = {{convert|5.22|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| height alt  =
| area main    = 33.4 m<sup>2</sup>
| area alt    = 360.0 ft<sup>2</sup>
| airfoil      =
| aspect ratio =
| empty weight main  = {{convert|8700|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| empty weight alt  =
| useful load main  =
| useful load alt    =
| loaded weight main = {{convert|12200|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| loaded weight alt  =
| max takeoff weight main = {{convert|19400|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| max takeoff weight alt  =
| more general            =
<!--  Powerplant, jet engine(s)  -->
| engine (jet)    = {{wp|General_Electric_F110|Li-Jien Dynamics AE-300S-129}}
| type of jet    = {{wp|afterburner|afterburning}} {{wp|turbofan engine|turbofan}}
| number of jets  = 1
| thrust main    = {{convert|73.9|kN|lbf|abbr=on}}
| thrust alt      =
| thrust original =
| afterburning thrust main = {{convert|129|kN|lbf|abbr=on}}
| afterburning thrust alt  =
<!--  Powerplant, prop(s)  -->
| engine (prop)  =
| type of prop    =
| number of props =
| power main      =
| power alt      =
| power original  =
<!--  Powerplant, propellor/rotor details  -->
| propeller or rotor?    = <!-- options: propeller/rotor -->
| propellers              =
| number of propellers per engine =
| propeller diameter main =
| propeller diameter alt  =
| more general powerplant =
<!-- Performance  -->
| max speed main    = <br>
** '''At altitude:''' Mach 2.2 (2,716 km/h)
** '''At sea level:''' Mach 1.3 (1,605.2 km/h)
| max speed alt    =
| max speed more    =
| cruise speed main =
| cruise speed alt  =
| cruise speed more =
| stall speed main  =
| stall speed alt  =
| stall speed more  =
| never exceed speed main =
| never exceed speed alt  =
| range main        =
| range alt        =
| range more        =
| combat radius main= 1,450 km
| combat radius alt = 782.9 nm
| combat radius more= on internal fuel
| ferry range main  = 4,500 km
| ferry range alt  = 2,429.8 nm
| ferry range more  = with two external fuel tanks
| endurance        =
| ceiling main      = {{convert|17000|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| ceiling alt      =
| ceiling more      =
| climb rate main  = 13,411 m/min (44,000 ft/min) maximum
| climb rate alt    =
| climb rate more  =
| sink rate main    =
| sink rate alt    =
| sink rate more    =
| loading main      = 365.27 kg/m<sup>2</sup>
| loading alt      = 74.7 lb/ft<sup>2</sup>
| thrust/weight    = 1.08 (clean, internal fuel only)
| power/mass main  =
| power/mass alt    =
| more performance  = *'''Instantaneous Turn Rate:''' 32<sup>+</sup> degrees per second<br>
*'''Roll Rate:''' 300<sup>+</sup> degrees per second
<!--  Armament  -->
| guns    = 1 x {{wp|M61A1|Jinmu GA-20}} 20 mm autocannon
| bombs    =
| rockets  =
| missiles =
| hardpoints = 11 hardpoints
| hardpoint capacity = 7,000 kg
| hardpoint rockets  =
| hardpoint missiles =
| hardpoint bombs    = Bombs up to 1,000kg (2,200 lbs)
| hardpoint other    = <br>
*** {{wp|Drop tank}}s:
**** Drop tank with 800 kg fuel (centerline)
**** Drop tank with 1200 kg fuel (under wing)
| avionics =
}}
===ZF-8D (twin seater)===


==See Also==
==See Also==


[[Category:Zhenia]]
[[Category:Zhenia]]

Revision as of 06:07, 11 February 2020

Jinmu ZF-8 Phoenix
Jinmu ZF-8 Phoenix.png
The ZF-8A in its initial iteration, introduced in 1983.
Role Multirole combat aircraft
National origin Zhenia
Manufacturer Jinmu Heavy Industries
First flight 1978
Introduction 1983
Primary user Greater Eastern Union Air Force
Produced 1983-Present
Number built 2,704 (2019)
Variants See Variants

The Jinmu ZF-8 Phoenix (Zhenian designation: 진무 ZF-8 불사조), nicknamed Phoenix both domestically and internationally, is a Zhenian single-engine, all-weather, lightweight multirole fighter aircraft developed and built by Jinmu Heavy Industries. It is one of the most widely-produced Zhenian-made military aircraft since 1980, with over 2,700 units produced since its introduction.

The most notable characteristics of the ZF-8 Phoenix include the usage of fly-by-wire controls on a delta wing and canard design all powered by a single engine, which is the core factor in its high maneuverability and relatively light weight, optimizing it for close-range air-to-air combat and scrambling. Improvements to its highly adaptable platform as well as its versatile payload, however, has resulted in it gaining an edge in beyond visual range (BVR) and air-to-surface combat as well. While its primary operator is the Greater Eastern Union Air Force, it has been widely exported to foreign air forces.

Development

Initial work on a new lightweight, multirole fighter began around 1969, when the existing ZF-6 Ikrans proved to be costly to operate in large numbers and the lighter ZF-5 Swordsman interceptors were showing its platform limits. The Greater Eastern Union Air Force and Greater Eastern Union Navy initially demanded that said replacement show high levels of agility, a high thrust-to-weight ratio and the capacity to carry at least 6,000 kg of payload with a combat radius of at least 1,200 km. A number of contenders, including the Paragon Group and Jinmu Heavy Industries, made their bid towards the development of new aircraft; while proposals from Paragon Group depicted a more traditional wing-tail airframe, Jinmu Heavy Industries had proposed a delta wing and canard configuration, which was deemed appropriate and even advantageous for STOL. Jinmu Heavy Industries eventually won the contract in 1971, after which development initiated.

Design Characteristics

Airframe

Propulsion and Maneuverability

Armament

Avionics and Countermeasures

Operational History

Zhenia

Variants

ZF-8A/B
The ZF-8A (single seat) and ZF-8B (twin seat) were the two initial variants of the ZF-8 introduced to the Greater Eastern Union Air Force in 1983. Although all GEUAF units have been upgraded to ZF-8C/D standard by 2010, some later production variants still remain in service in export markets. Although the twin-seat ZF-8B was planned to be only a trainer variant, it became the platform of many variants requiring two pilots, including reconnaissance and deep strike missions.
ZF-8C/D
The ZF-8C (single seat) and ZF-8D (twin seat) was introduced in 1990. A technological leap from the existing ZF-8A/B, the variants feature improved engines, avionics and sensors to further improve the airframe's all-weather multirole capability.
ZF-8E/F
Built from minor improvements of the ZF-8C/D, the ZF-8E (single seat) and ZF-8F (twin seat) is a further improvement on the platform's capabilities, including the addition of an AESA radar, conformal fuel tanks to increase range, improved engines and simplified fly-by-wire controls. It was first introduced to GEUAF service in 2001.
ZF-8R
A derivative of the ZF-8D, the ZF-8R is an ISR variant of the ZF-8R, sporting reconnaissance pods and SIGINT sensors.
ZF-9 Sea Phoenix
A twin-engine, expanded version aimed for operation in the Greater Eastern Union Navy. While it uses different engines and is significantly larger than the ZF-8 Phoenix, it was developed directly from the existing ZF-8 Phoenix line.

Operators

Current Operators

Former Operators

Specifications

ZF-8C (single seater)

General characteristics

Performance

  • Maximum speed:
    • At altitude: Mach 2.2 (2,716 km/h)
    • At sea level: Mach 1.3 (1,605.2 km/h)
  • Combat radius: 1,450 km (782.9 nm) on internal fuel
  • Ferry range: 4,500 km (2,429.8 nm) with two external fuel tanks
  • Service ceiling: 17,000 m (56,000 ft) ()
  • Rate of climb: 13,411 m/min (44,000 ft/min) maximum ()
  • Wing loading: 365.27 kg/m2 (74.7 lb/ft2)
  • Thrust/weight: 1.08 (clean, internal fuel only)
  • Instantaneous Turn Rate: 32+ degrees per second
  • Roll Rate: 300+ degrees per second

Armament

  • Guns: 1 x Jinmu GA-20 20 mm autocannon
  • Hardpoints: 11 hardpoints with a capacity of 7,000 kg and provisions to carry combinations of:
    • Bombs: Bombs up to 1,000kg (2,200 lbs)
    • Other:
      • Drop tanks:
        • Drop tank with 800 kg fuel (centerline)
        • Drop tank with 1200 kg fuel (under wing)

ZF-8D (twin seater)

See Also

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