I thought the Chinese Chengdu J-7 was a copy of the Soviet MiG-21 (even the NATO names are similar with Fishcan and Fishbed, respectively). This was but the first of many misconceptions put to rest by author Holger Müller. As stated in the Introduction,

The development of the Chinese MiG-21 derivatives is not only an interesting technological history in itself, but also reflects the changes in the politics of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on a smaller scale: from its alliance with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) to rapprochement with the West and the PRC’s own path of state capitalism.

Starting out as a license-built version of the USSR’s most modern tactical fighter aircraft at the time, the J-7 was continuously developed by the Chinese aviation industry over five decades as it moved from its Soviet-influenced roots to independent structures. While the evolution of the Soviet MiG-21 was complete 15 years after its first flight, the independent Chinese further development of the type was just gaining momentum at the time. When the MiG-29, the next-but-one model, was already in service in the USSR, the first extensively modified versions of this type were just reaching production readiness in China.

This incredibly detailed book follows the Chinese path of learning how to transform from an agrarian background to aviation technology. The MiG-21’s relatively simple design allowed the Chinese aviation industry to acquire the technical and technological experience necessary to advance their aviation industry. The Chengdu J-7 was reserved for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, while the F-7 models were made for the export market. It is interesting that the F-7 models had more variants manufactured, based on the requirements of the customer countries’ requirements.

This 56-page book is part of Helion & Company’s @War Series. China's Fighter for the World Volume 1, The F-7/FT-7 Family: Origins, Evolution and Variants (Helion No. HEL1755) is outlined in the familiar @War format with 122 color photographs, 21 color profiles, one color map, and one table. The book is composed of the following sections:

• Abbreviations and Acronyms
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
  1. Early History
  2. From Soviet to Chinese Fighter Aircraft
  3. Unsuccessful Recourse to Soviet Technology
  4. Two-Seater – A Prerequisite for Mass Use
  5. Breakthrough with Western Technology
  6. Detours to Success
  7. With New Aerodynamics into the Twenty-First Century
  8. Successor or Not
  9. Variants
  10. Engines
  11. Equipment and Avionics
  12. Ejection Seats
  13. Armament
• Selected Bibliography
• About the Author

This book does an amazing job describing and highlighting the J/F-7’s four generations of aircraft based on the MiG-21F-13 airframe.

The first generation was exclusively day fighters, without fire-control radar and rangefinder, one or two 30mm cannons, as well as bombs, unguided rockets and guided missiles on two wing pylons.

The second-generation day fighter had more modern avionics, a revised escape system with a new canopy, that could carry the same munitions on four hardpoints, with some of the models having a fire-control radar and all-weather capability.

The third generation comprises the J-7III/IIIA all-weather fighter based on the MiG-21MF, which are equipped with a fire control radar, a 23mm cannon and armament consisting of bombs, unguided rockets and guided missiles on four wing pylons.

Finally, the fourth generation consists of day and all-weather fighters with modernized avionics and double-delta wings, cannon armament as well as bombs, unguided rockets and guided missiles on four wing pylons.

In short, the final variants looked very dissimilar to their predecessors.

The Chinese used a thaw in Western alliances during the Cold War when Sino-Soviet tensions grew. As a result, British and American aviation companies provided technology that vastly improved the Chinese aviation industry. That support was later pulled when relations cooled again, but the leap was made and the J/F-7 series leapt forward.

The F-7 found a large and willing market among numerous countries.

A third of the approximately 50 MiG-21 users worldwide deployed and continued to deploy Chinese MiG-21 versions, half of which (Albania, Iran, Myanmar, Namibia, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka) had only become operators of this aircraft type thanks to Chinese deliveries. In Bangladesh, Nigeria and Tanzania, Chinese F-7s replaced the Soviet MiG-21s previously deployed there. Several user countries – Egypt, Iraq, North Korea (DPRK), the USA and China itself – operated MiG-21s and J/F-7s simultaneously. And while Soviet series production of the MiG-21 was discontinued in 1986 after 27 years, Chinese production was only really taking off and ended after a further 30 years in September 2016.

This book is a huge asset to any aircraft modelers interested in the J-7 in its many guises, in many liveries, and flying under many nation’s flags. The table of contents is detailed, and the chapters do not disappoint with their numerous detailed photographs and diagrams. Evey aspect of the J-7 modelers will want to reference are included, from airframes, to engines, to ejection seats to armament.

It is obvious that this book is a passion for the author, a former MiG-21 technician in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Holger Müller has visited over 20 user countries of the MiG-21 and J/F-7 fighters and provided most of the photographs (some of which have been used in Chinese publications without his permission). I am blown away that this is the first volume as the amount of information is amazing, and his documentation on the many variants is unmatched. Modelers are fortunate to have authors like Holger out there to provide research and inspiration.

Profuse thanks to Casemate and IPMS-USA for providing the review sample.