By 1995—twenty-six years after the DF-85's maiden flight—a ​​Deep Modernization Upgrade (DMU)​​ program was initiated to phase out aging DF-85A/B variants. This overhaul aimed to amplify combat lethality while meeting surging export demands from allied nations. The DMU iteration integrated ​​cutting-edge multi-mode radars​​ and ​​reconfigured powerplants​​, enabling deployment of the latest air dominance ordnance: the ​​SLI-9A2 active radar-guided missile​​ for beyond-visual-range kills, and the ​​Flash-9P thrust-vectoring infrared dogfight missile​​ for close-quarter lethality.These extensively retrofitted fighters soon became ​​cornerstones of allied air forces across strategic theaters​​, with limited squadrons also ​​fielded within the Dsker Federal Republic's own tactical wings​​.