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Chengdu J-7 / F-7

China's MiG-21 — copied from the F-13, developed for half a century and exported across Asia and Africa · First flight 1966 · Built until 2013

The Soviet Union and China signed a MiG-21 technology-transfer agreement on 30 March 1962, and kits and documents for the MiG-21F reached Shenyang about five months later. Domestic production began in 1964 and the J-7 first flew on 17 January 1966. The early aircraft were close copies of the MiG-21F-13; later versions were developed independently in China, with improved internal fuel arrangements and larger drop tanks.

The J-7E of 1987 introduced a new double-delta wing, and the J-7G entered PLAAF service in 2003. Export F-7s were sold widely: Pakistan's F-7PG used the Italian FIAR Grifo-7 radar, and Bangladesh received 16 F-7BGI in 2012–2013, the last production model. Production ended for good in May 2013 after more than 2,400 aircraft.

The PLAAF began retiring its J-7s in 2018 and planned to withdraw the whole fleet by 2023. As of 2025 Pakistan still operated 72 F-7s and 21 FT-7 trainers, and the type remains in service with Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and others.