The J-8B Finback remains widely used as an interceptor.

The PLA-AF and PLA-N operate a large number of legacy types, most of these being cloned and evolved variants of older Soviet MiG designs. With many manufactured as recently as a decade ago, and many still in production, both services will be hamstrung by this large fleet of maintenance intensive day VFR short range combat aircraft.

By far the most numerous of the legacy types are variants of the J-6 series, essentially a cloned MiG-19 Farmer. Around 2,800 are listed in current reference publications, although real numbers may be much lower as these relics are replaced with newer types.

The second most numerous Soviet clone is the J-7 series, based on the MiG-21 Fishbed. Around 700 are listed, comprising a mix of J-7-I, J-7-II/J-7C, J-7-III/J-7D, J-7E and J-7G. Later versions incorporate modern avionics, and a new and larger double delta wing planform to improve agility. The current production J-7G is claimed to have superceded the J-7E (263 built) in production as late as 2002. The Fishbed is likely to remain in service post 2020 on current trends.

China started out in the fighter business by cloning and evolving existing Russian designs, and the J-7G is by far the best Fishbed ever built.

The first truly indigenous design was the Nanchang Q-5/A-5, evolved from the J-6/MiG-19 as a dedicated strike aircraft. A new forward fuselage with a solid nose, side inlets and numerous structural changes resulted in a supersonic equivalent to the A-4 Skyhawk, of which large numbers were exported, and around 600 remain in PLA-AF/PLA-N service. The design added an internal bomb bay for two 1,000 lb weapons or more fuel, up to four external fuselage hardpoints, additional outboard wing stations and extensive avionic changes.

The 20,000 lb empty weight class Shenyang J-8 Finback series evolved to fill the niche occupied by the Sukhoi Su-15/21 Flagon and Tornado ADV - air defence interception. The J-8-I Finback A grew out of MiG-21 technology, resembling a twin engine Su-9/11 Fishpot, and after an extensive nose job transformed into the current J-8-II/J-8B Finback B series, equipped with a Type 208 or KLJ-1 pulse Doppler radar. Several variants, the J-8B, J-8C, J-8D, J-8F and J-8H have been identified, with J-8B service entry cca 1990. The J-8R photo-recce variant is a modified J-8A with a podded recce package. Chinese sources claim between 240 and 360 Finback aircraft in service, mostly J-8B and J-8D variants, the latter with a fixed refuelling probe. The J-8D is best known as the Chinese fighter which collided with an EP-3C over the South China Sea, causing a major diplomatic incident. While the J-8B/D has a strike capability, it has been mostly used as a long range interceptor and remains in production.

A contemporary of the J-8 is the Xian JH-7 'Flying Leopard' maritime strike fighter, developed to replace the Harbin H-5 (Il-28) Beagle in PLA-N service and essentially a Chinese analogue of the Panavia Tornado IDS - less the swing wing. Initiated in the late 1970s, the FH-7 now equips one PLA-N regiment. The aircraft is powered by two RR Spey 202 fans, is fitted with a Type 232H 'Eagle-Eye' pulse Doppler radar, and carries a typical weapon payload of four YJ-8K/C-801K anti-ship cruise missiles, similar to the Exocet or Kormoran. Dependent on imported surplus RR Spey fans, the JH-7 is likely to become the first victim of the PLA-N's new Su-30MK2 maritime strike fighter, which outperforms it in all cardinal parameters. Given the choice of an F-15E analogue vs a Tornado analogue, the PLA-N is likely to prefer the Sukhois.