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The strong suites of the J-8II lie with its potential to house large powerful radars, and its strong thrust to weight ratio, which is similar to an F-16's. The J8IIs are seeing 13,600kg afterburning thrust, and the J8C is pushing it to 15,000kg afterburning with those two WP14 engines. That makes its performance much greater than any suggestive comparisons to the early F-4 Phantom, MiG-23 Flogger, or the SU-15 Flagon. Despite an early troubled history, improvements within the J8C, J8D, J8H and the F8IIM resulted in practically a new and much improved aircraft. These improvements include a much more reliable radar, airframe strengthening, and digital FBW to improve its handling. A slight weight increase is offset by the stronger WP14 engines, which is possibly China's first operational indigenously designed engines. While obviously costing more to make than a J-7 with its size, relative complexity and dual engines, it's lower tech nature can make considerably more affordable to produce than a J-10. Furthermore, being from Shenyang, it does not divert any building resources from Chengdu.

One area the J-8 could possibly be employed is the strike role. The plane's speed and stable ride are strong advantages to this role. So is its low cost and production, as it could be a waste to use and risk J-10 and SU-30MKK against secondary targets.

Various new radars have been mentioned in the new generation J-8s, ranging from the Israeli "Pearl", the ELTA/M 2034, said to be fitted on the J-8C, to the Russian "Pearl", the Zhem Chug, said to be fitted on the J-8H. However, a future variant of the J-8 should consider the fitting of the domestic JL-10A radar used on the JH-7A Flying Leopard. This would greatly increase the strike capability of the J-8, using missiles such as the C801K, the Kh-31 series, and the TV guided KAB bombs. (The Kh-29T TV guided missile may be a possibility).

New production should be allowed to build up Category A units, replace phased out aircraft, and once the J-10 comes online, like the J-7, production of the J-8 should move towards replacement in Category B fighter and attack regiments. This can give Cat B units, an affordable fighter with strike and BVR capability. In the strike role, despite its inferiority to the J-10, the J8II still has far more speed, payload and range over the Q-5 Fantan.

1. Tremendous power to weight ratio
2. Low cost
3. BVR capability
4. Large airframe offers potential.
5. Despite troubled history, has already established itself.

1. Relatively higher complexity compared to J-7.
2. Not known for its maneuverability
3. Low range and payload for its class

There is still limited production of this model in the Q-5E or -F guise, with a laser rangefinder on the nose and a laser designator pod for laser guided munitions. However, it's remarkably short legs and payloads means that once a suitable successor in the attack role could be found, this series should be terminated immediately.

This overweight and underpowered plane has nonetheless becomes the PLANAF's premiere strike jet. The technological advantages of the SU-30MKK becomes naught in the view that the Flanker could not support important indigenous anti ship missiles such as the C801K. While range is adequate, 5,000kg payload for a fighter of its size is rather low, and pales to the 6,500 to 6,800 kg payload some estimate the J-10 could carry. Despite advancements in weight reduction using composites, digital fly by wire, and the improved fire control radar, the JH-7A badly needs better engines than the WS-9/Spey turbofans it currently has. However, there is no other plane that could replace the JH-7A in its niche, and despite being underpowered, the retention of the Spey type engines was dictated by logistical compatibility concerns with the existing JH-7 fleet.

With more powerful engines, such as either the AL-31F or a domestic one like the WS10, a future JH-7 has a strong potential to be an excellent strike jet, a role the PLAAF is traditionally weak in and badly needs to correct. With two powerful engines, a future JH-7 variant can even carry much greater payloads than the J-10. Unlike the curent SU-30MKK, a JH-7 variant would undoubtedly have superior compatibility with indigenous guided munitions, which is a strong logistical advantage. However, it may not break out from its PLANAF niche to the mainstream PLAAF if SU-30MKK would adopt the same fire control radar system that would be compatible to both Russian and Chinese ordinance.

1. Local systems with local missile compatibility
2. China needs more strike jets.