Sangnam J-9

Sangnam J-9
Main J-9 variants
General information
Type	fighter, Multirole Fighter
Manufacturer	Sangnam Aircraft Design Bureau
Status	In service
History
Manufactured	1977-1992
Introduction date	1 June 1978

The Sangnam J-9 (전투기 9; Jeontugi 9; Fighter (No.) 9) is a single-engine, variable-geometry fighter aircraft produced by the Sangnam Aircraft Design Bureau. Based on the Vanquarian MiG-23, it was a major step in advancing the PLAAF's capabilties, the main fighter of which up until that point was the MiG-21-derived J-7, and was also the first post-war jet fighter of domestic design. The J-9 remains in service with the DPAAF today, even though it is slowly being replaced by the more advanced J-12 or transfered to mid and low-readiness squadrons.

Origins and development

The Daekanese People's Army Air Force was up to the 70s reliant on the rapidly ageing J-7, a domestically produced and modified version of the Vanquarian MiG-21. The DPAAF was offered the MiG-23 by Vanquria by 1971, and a deal for the purchase of 10 airframes for evaluation was signed in March, with the first of the aircraft arriving by late May. Reportedly, the DPAAN evaulation committee was impressed by the the aircraft's tremendous acceleration capability and speed. However the MiG-23 was judged as desperately sluggish by the DPAAF test pilots, who were used to dogfighting tactics with their IR-missile armed J-7s. The shortcomings of the R-23 semi active radar-homing missile that the aircraft was armed with further reinforced the DPAAF's belief that close-range dogfighting was still prevelant. As such, the MiG-23 was rejected.

After other domestic designs were also rejected due to a variety of reasons, among them underpowered engines and the lack of advanced radar technology, the DPAAF started to reconsider the MiG-23 by 1973. Once again the evaluation committee's efforts proved incoclusive, but the stalemate was broken by the intervention of the then DPAAF commander, General Ryu Hyun-Su. Ryu submitted a proposal to Premier Hong Tae-Hyun of a domestically designed fighter with elemets from the MiG-23, but adapted for Daekanese needs. The proposal was approved by the National Defence Council later in 1973. After several drafts were offered by different design Bureaus, the contract was secured by Sangnam.

The aircraft was in developement for 2 years before the first full prototype, the W-09-1, made its maiden flight on April 5, 1975. The fighter had a chin-mounted intake to increase engine performance and improve its dogfighting capability. The second prototype variant, that flew in December, had a redesigned nose as well as the domestic LS-57 radar. W-09-3, the third prototype which flew in 1977, had radically changed the wing design, which now featured ailerons instead of spoilers as on the MiG-23. The production variant, dubbed the J-9A, was based on the W-09-3, and entered service on the 1st of June 1978.

Design

Engines

The engine powering the prototype variants as well as the J-9A production model were the Hyesan Yolam-44A afterburning turbofan, a licensed direct copy of the Tumansky R-29-300 which equipped the MiG-23 itself.

Operational history

• Daekan: The Daekanese People's Army Air Force operates 30 J-9D/DPs, 90 J-9C/CPs and 45 J-9B/BPs. The type is slated to be withdrawn from service entirely by 2026.

Variants

Domestic variants

• W-09-1: Prototype variant with different nose design and the original Sapfir-23 radar. The aircraft retained the MiG-23 wing design and only featured spoilers.
• W-09-2: Second prototype variant. Featured the domestic LS-57 radar and a redesigned nose.
• W-09-3: Third prototype variant. Featured the Hyesan Yolam-35A and redesigned wings with ailerons.
• J-9A: Initial production variant, featuring the LS-57B radar.
• J-9P: Two-seat variant of the J-9A.
• J-9B: First upgrade of the type, entered service in 1983. Upgrades included the upgraded LS-57D radar and the ability to mount a detachable refuelling probe. Started receiving the more powerful Yolam-40 engines by 1985.
• J-9BP: Two-seat variant of the J-9B
• J-9C: Second major modernised variant, entered service in 1989. The aircraft features the LS-65 radar based on the Sapfir-23MLA-II.

TBD