Documents
China Legacy Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
J-8II
China's first indigenously developed high-altitude interceptor, evolved from early MiG-21 study work into a large delta-wing, twin-engine fighter. Largely retired from frontline PLA Air Force service and superseded by fourth- and fifth-generation types.
In service since 1988 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
2,338
km/h
2,200
km range
20,200
m ceiling
4,500
kg payload
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 1988. Status: legacy · ~300 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the J-8II can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 2,338 km/h |
|---|---|
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 2.2 Mach |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 2,200 km |
| Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range. | 800 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 20,200 m |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 1x 23 mm twin-barrel cannon |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 7 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 4,500 kg |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 21.59 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 9.34 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 5.41 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 9,820 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 14,300 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x Wopen WP-13B II turbojets |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable). | 68 kN |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbojet |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | Type 1471 (Zhuk-8II) pulse-Doppler radar |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 300 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 
Dassault Aviation Rafale F4 Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II has a maximum speed of 2,338 km/h.
What is the range of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II has a maximum range of 2,200 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II can carry up to 4,500 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II weigh? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II has a combat weight of 14,300 kg.
How many crew does the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II require? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II's primary weapon is the 1x 23 mm twin-barrel cannon.
What engine does the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II use? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II is powered by the 2x Wopen WP-13B II turbojets.
What is the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II used for? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II is a fighter aircraft typically used for air superiority.
How many countries operate the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II? +
The Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II cost? +
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-8II: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
Similar systems
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
J-11B
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG)
J-10C
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)
J-15
Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC)