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From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, the Chinese aviation industry continued to offer up improvements to the trusted J-7 and J-8 designs.

J-7E/J-7MG: Using the J-7M as a foundation, in the mid-1980s the Chengdu Aircraft Factory made significant modifications to the wing (introducing a double-delta layout) and flaps and installed a large fuel tank in the new wing. Not only did this greatly enhance low altitude agility (by nearly 20% over the J-7 with maximum overload becoming 6.6g at 5000m, Mach 0.9), but also the takeoff run was shortened, and the maximum range was increased by more than 40% (from the original J-7's 1400km to 2200km). The fire control system was also improved through the installation of a pulse doppler radar. Reports indicate that in exercises against the mighty Su-27 Flanker the J-7E more than holds its own in within-visual range dogfighting due to its excellent instantaneous turn performance. The J-7E entered service with the PLAAF and the PLANAF from 1993 and is used by these service's air display teams. The export designation is J/F-7MG and the export model can be fitted with the Italian FIAR-Grifo radar or the Russian Kopyo.

J-8-IIM: Shenyang developed an improved export model of the J-8-II with Russian help after the termination of the Sino-US "Peace Pearl" project in 1989. The main area of improvement was the fire control system: the J-8-IIM uses the Russian Zhuk-8II (FG-8) phased array radar capable of tracking 10 aerial targets and simultaneously engaging two of them with missiles and greatly improved air-to-ground modes. Moreover the air-to-ground weapon carrying ability is greatly increased (to about 5 tonnes) with a wide variety of guided and unguided munitions capable of being carried by the J-8-IIM. The engines are improved variants of the WP-13-II (thrust increased from 6,600kg to 7,000kg). Air-to-air weapons may include the Russian R-77 active homing AAM and the R-73 infrared homing missile. Recent reports suggest PLAAF J-8-IIs may be getting the Zhuk-8II radar and other modifications as well, they are known as J-8-IIH.

J-8-III: Following a request from the PLANAF, Shenyang developed a highly modified J-8-II featuring vastly improved manoeuvrability thanks to a new digital flight control system and improved avionics. The fuselage is shortened by 40cm and small canard foreplanes are added above the air intakes. New WP-13F-II turbojets offer a reported 7960kg thrust each. The fire control system was also modified to meet naval requirements with an improved ability to engage low flying and nautical targets.