Project 3: Mao's Mig-25

[ukron]

In the 60s/early 70s, the People's Republic of China sought to develop an interceptor capable of engaging an American SR-71, no less.

Chinese engineers had developed a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile for the occasion: the PL-4, inspired by some AIM-7s captured by the North Vietnamese.
They developed a project, sometimes called J10 (and yes!) or Project 3, but it never got beyond the scale model: the PRC being unable to produce an engine with supersonic capabilities (or even a missile, the PL4 being unable to exceed Mach 2).

Thanks to zhuquanzhong, WarplanePorn contributor (on Reddit) for this nice discovery.

[lordroel]

Apr 9, 2024 14:44:29 GMT ukron said:

In the 60s/early 70s, the People's Republic of China sought to develop an interceptor capable of engaging an American SR-71, no less.

Chinese engineers had developed a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile for the occasion: the PL-4, inspired by some AIM-7s captured by the North Vietnamese.
They developed a project, sometimes called J10 (and yes!) or Project 3, but it never got beyond the scale model: the PRC being unable to produce an engine with supersonic capabilities (or even a missile, the PL4 being unable to exceed Mach 2).

Thanks to zhuquanzhong, WarplanePorn contributor (on Reddit) for this nice discovery.

A good looking bird.

[575]

Looks like a MiG-25 body with larger deltawing and changed fin's. The MiG-25 also fit the time for the project.

Though considering the Soviet difficulty in copying the Concorde Supercruise engines the Chinese would have been way worse off. The MiG-25 engine intake design looks a lot like Concorde.

[gillan1220]

Maybe this would have been developed if there was no Sino-Soviet split. Prior to the split, the PRC received designs, parts, and technical support and expertise on how to domestically produce the Soviet jets on license.

I wonder if the 1980s rapprochement with the West would let China produce the MiG-25 since the PRC received avionics from Britain, France, and Italy.

[ukron]

High chance that it would have been a big "no no".

But we can imagine a far more active military collaboration with West in 1980s with Jaguar MBT being completed and different NATO equippment sell to Bejing (such as UH-60 and Mirage 2000).

militarymatters.online/weapons/the-jaguar-almost-the-joint-chinese-american-battle-tank/

[gillan1220]

Apr 11, 2024 12:27:50 GMT ukron said:

High chance that it would have been a big "no no".

But we can imagine a far more active military collaboration with West in 1980s with Jaguar MBT being completed and different NATO equippment sell to Bejing (such as UH-60 and Mirage 2000).

militarymatters.online/weapons/the-jaguar-almost-the-joint-chinese-american-battle-tank/

Yeah the Jaguar would have been made if Tiananmen didn't happen or if the Cold War dragged on longer. The Chinese MiG-25 would likely be sold to Chinese allies like Pakistan.

The PLA would have received more Blackhawks and maybe even get to fly the Harrier.

[ukron]

They get their eyes on Mirage 2000 too...

www.deviantart.com/albion00/art/Dassault-Mirage-2000C-B-PLAAF-909309831