China's ageing J-8II Fighter to be converted into High Altitude Reconnaissance Aircraft

China plans to convert J-8II fighter into a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft before retiring them, a Beijing-based military expert was quoted as saying by Chinese state media.

“Before its full retirement, the J-8II has another role, being transformed from a fighter to a scout. It can be equipped with reconnaissance pods and carry out air-to-ground tactical reconnaissance missions taking advantage of its high-altitude capabilities,” Wei Dongxu, the expert told the Global Times.

“The upcoming full retirement of the J-8II is also a reflection of China's rapid development in the aviation industry, as it now has a large number of J-20 stealth fighter jets and the J-16 multirole fighter jets, surpassing the J-8II in all aspects,” Wei added.

The J-8II, an improved version of the legacy J-8 jet, was developed to be a high-altitude, high-speed interceptor and an air superiority fighter.

The J-8 can make surprise moves at altitudes of more than 10,000 meters and lead to victory by contributing to the comprehensive combat system, said Chen Lu, a pilot affiliated with an aviation regiment of the PLA Northern Theater Command Air Force who has flown the J-8 for more than a decade.