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Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI | |
Role | Fighter aircraft |
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Manufacturer | Chengdu Aircraft Corporation/Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation |
Introduction | 17 January 1966 |
Status | Operational |
Primary users | People's Liberation Army Air Force (China) Bangladesh Air Force Korean People's Air Force Pakistan Air Force |
Produced | 1965–2013 |
Number built | 2,400+ |
Developed from | Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 |
Developed into | Guizhou JL-9 |
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During August 2005, Namibia ordered 12 F-7NMs for its air force; Chinese sources reported the delivery in November 2006. The model procured is believed to be a variation of the F-7PG acquired by Pakistan with Grifo MG radar.
In early 2008, Nigeria procured 12 F-7NI fighters and three FT-7NI trainers to replace its existing inventory of MiG-21 fighters. On September 20, 2018, two Nigerian F-7Ni aircraft crashed into Katamkpehir, Abuja, killing one pilot after a mid-air collision during a rehearsal of an aerial display for the 58th anniversary of Nigeria's independence.
During the lengthy Second Sudanese Civil War, Sudan procured a number of F-7s. In November 1993, it was reported that Iran had allegedly financed Sudan's purchase of around 20 Chinese ground-attack aircraft, having pledged $17 million in financial aid to the Sudanese government and arranged for $300 million in Chinese arms to be delivered to the Sudanese Army
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In the 1950s and early 1960s, the Soviet Union shared a large proportion of its conventional weapons technology with its neighbor, the People's Republic of China. One such example is the MiG-19, which was locally produced by China as the Shenyang J-6 from as early as 1958.
In 2013, production of the J-7 was terminated after the delivery of 16 F-7BGI to the Bangladesh Air Force.
To date, large numbers of J-7s remain in service with multiple export customers, with PLAAF retiring the fleet in 2023.