Fighter bombers attached to a naval aviation brigade under the PLA Northern Theater Command fly in line formation during a recent combat readiness patrol recently.Photo:China Military

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force for the first time revealed details on the latest variant of the JH-7 fighter bomber, designated the JH-7A2, at the ongoing Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province.

Displayed at the outdoor exhibition area of the air show, the aircraft that looks nearly identical to the JH-7 is labeled as the JH-7A2, the Global Times found.

According to the description board next to the aircraft, the JH-7A2 fighter bomber is developed based on the JH-7A, and it further improved its surface attack capability by becoming capable of carrying extra surface attack weapons including stand-off air-to-surface missiles, laser-guided bombs and munitions dispensers.

The main missions of the JH-7A2 are maritime and land attack, according to the description.

In August 2019, the JH-7A2 participated in the Aviadarts competition in Russia as a part of the International Army Games 2019, the Xinhua News Agency reported at the time, without giving more details on the aircraft, including the difference between the JH-7A2 and the original JH-7A.

The JH-7A2 did not make further public appearance until Airshow China 2021.

With the latest variant of the JH-7 being introduced at the air show, analysts said that the JH-7 series will continue to serve in the PLA for a long time despite the commissioning of the more advanced J-16 multirole fighter jet.