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After the 1967 Middle East War, the PLAAF proposed development of a replacement for the J-6 (MiG-19 Farmer) featuring good low altitude performance, short takeoff and landing run and simplicity. The Shenyang Aircraft Factory and the Nanchang Aircraft Factory proposed respectively the J-11 and the J-12.

(original) J-11: The Shenyang proposal was to be powered by one British Spey-512 afterburning turbofan engine and followed a conventional light fighter design with swept back wings, fuselage-side mounted inlets and a Type 645 or 204 radar. The aircraft's normal total weight was 8,700 kg. At 5,000 metres its climb rate was 197 metres per second. Maximum range was 2,300 kilometres and takeoff distance was less than 500 metres. Weapons consisted of two 30mm cannons and two infrared homing AAMs or two rocket pods or bombs. The original design specified a zero-zero ejection seat for the pilot, but this objective was not achieved. The J-11 was a sophisticated design for its time and achieved the design requirements, but because the British Spey-512 engines were difficult for China to obtain and because the Shenyang factory was ordered to concentrate its energies on the J-8, the J-11 never went further than the blueprint stage.

(original) J-12: Nanchang interpreted the PLAAF request as being for an ultra-lightweight fighter and produced a four-tonne design with a nose intake for its single WP-6 afterburning turbojet. The J-12 project started in 1969 and it only took 17 months for detailed design, wind tunnel tests and the production of three prototypes. After three years of test flights beginning in 1970, Nanchang made a series of revisions to the design to cope with problems including poor engine performance. The redesigned J-12 made 135 test flights, achieving a maximum speed of Mach 1.386 (surpassing the J-6) and showing sprightly acceleration, a takeoff run of less than 500 metres and a ceiling of 17,300 metres (also superior to the J-6). The J-12 was fitted with a 30mm and a 23mm cannon and had provision for up to 3 AAMs. However, in 1978 the PLAAF decided the J-12 was not suitable for the demands of modern air warfare and stopped development. Of the six prototypes produced two are retained in the Chinese Aviation Museum collection.