Hongdu JL-10
The Hongdu JL-10, also initially known as Hongdu L-15 Falcon,[3] is a supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft developed by Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIC).[4][5] It is used by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT).[6]
| JL-10 (L-15) | |
|---|---|
| Role | Advanced jet trainer Light combat aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation |
| First flight | March 13, 2006[1] |
| Introduction | 2013[2] |
| Primary users | People's Liberation Army Air Force United Arab Emirates Air Force |
Development edit
China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) was working toward a new advanced trainer for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by 2000; that year AVIC II contracted the Yakovlev Design Bureau from Russia — and designer of the Yak-130 trainer — as a technical and scientific consultant for the L-15 programme.[7] The L-15 would compete with the Guizhou JL-9 developed in parallel by China Aviation Industry Corporation I.[8] The prototype was completed in September 2005[9] and first flew on March 13, 2006.[1] The initial variants were a subsonic advanced jet trainer and a supersonic advanced fighter trainer.[1]
Development of the L-15B, a supersonic variant for LIFT, was announced in 2010.[4] It first flew on December 21, 2017.[10]
The China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) ordered 12 L-15 jet trainers in November 2012; it was not known whether these were for — or would be delivered to — a third-party.[11]
Zambia ordered 6 advanced fighter trainers as the L-15Z[1] in 2014 for US$100 million;[12] they were delivered in 2016[1] and 2017.[10]
The first L-15 in PLAAF colors was seen in 2016.[13] The PLA used a few L-15s for flight-test evaluation before 2018.[10] The People's Liberation Army Navy received 12 L-15s in August 2018.[14] The PLAAF began using the JL-10 for LIFT in 2019. Compared to the less sophisticated JL-9, the JL-10 reduces candidate and conversion training time for more recent PLAAF aircraft.[6]
On 23 February 2022, the United Arab Emirates announced its intention to buy 12 L-15s, with an option for 36 more.[15][16] The value of the deal was not released, the Emirati newspaper The National reported that China sells the L-15 for $10–15 million per unit.[17]
Design edit
The L-15 uses fly-by-wire (FBW) and a glass cockpit.[6]
The prototypes were powered by Lotarev DV-2 turbofans.[1]
The L-15A subsonic advanced jet trainer is powered by the Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25[1] and has seven weapon hardpoints.[10] The supersonic advanced fighter trainer variant is powered by the afterburning AI-222K-25.[1] According to a Ukrainian source, 25% of the aircraft is composed of composite materials and its service life is 10,000 hours.[18]
The L-15B light attack aircraft is powered by the AI-222K-25F[13] for a maximum speed of Mach 1.4.[4] Compared to the L-15A, the L-15B has shorter take-off and landing distances and two more hardpoints.[5]
Variants edit
- L-15AW: Subsonic advanced jet trainer version with seven hardpoints. Previously marketed as L-15A.[4][5]
- L-15 advanced fighter trainer: Supersonic variant of the L-15A.[1]
- L-15Z: Designation of L-15 advanced fighter trainer in Zambian Air Force service.[1]
- L-15B: Supersonic light attack[10] variant with nine hardpoints.[4]
- JL-10: PLAAF designation.[13]
Operators edit
- United Arab Emirates Air Force: 12-48 (projected)[16]
Specifications (L-15B) edit
[1]General characteristics
- Crew: 2[13]
- Length: 12.4 m (40 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)
- Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
- Max takeoff weight: 11,600 kg (25,574 lb)
- Powerplant: 2[13] × Ivchenko-Progress AI-222K-25F afterburning turbofan engines[13]
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.4[4]
- Ferry range: 2,600 km (1,600 mi, 1,400 nmi)
Armament
- Hardpoints: 9[5] with a capacity of 3500kg
- Missiles: SD-10 air-to-air missiles,[5] PL-8 air-to-air missiles[13]
- Bombs: LS-6 satellite guided bombs[13]
Avionics
See also edit
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle
- Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master
- Boeing T-7 Red Hawk
- HAL HLFT-42
- TAI Hürjet
- Guizhou JL-9
- KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
- Yakovlev Yak-130
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Donald, David (2016-09-16). "China's L-15 Jet Displayed by Zambia In South Africa". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ Makichuk, Dave (2020-01-03). "China's L-15 Falcon: Cut-rate warfare on a budget". Asia Times. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ "猎鹰L15高级教练机". Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ a b c d e f Waldron, Greg (1 November 2016). "Airshow China: AVIC advanced trainers in the spotlight". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Waldron, Greg (6 November 2018). "AVIC burnishes combat credentials of L-15 family". Flight Global. Zhuhai. from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
- ^ a b c Solen, Derek (February 2021). "Initial Fighter Pilot Training in the PLA Air Force" (PDF). United States Air Force Air University. China Aerospace Studies Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ . Yakovlev. June 2005. Archived from the original on 2015-10-16. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
- ^ "Zhuhai 2004 - Chinese jet trainer pair square up". Flight Global. 2004-11-08. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ Francis, Leithen; Sobie, Brendan (2005-09-26). "Hongdu completes L-15 prototype assembly". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g Chuanren, Chen (2018-03-07). "Uruguay Interested in Chinese L-15 Trainer". Aviation International News.
- ^ Hoyle, Craig (2012-11-20). "CATIC lines up first international L-15 sale after agreeing to buy 12 trainers". Flight International. Vol. 182, no. 5367. p. 23.
- ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (30 December 2015). "Zambia to receive first Hongdu L-15 trainer". Jane's Defence Weekly. Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group. 53 (8). ISSN 0265-3818.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Yeo, Mike (2016-09-01). "China's Air Force Apparently Receives First L-15 Jet Trainer". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ Waldron, Greg (2018-08-15). "Beijing boosts naval pilot training with L-15 acquisition". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ أحمد النعيمي; زكريا محيي الدين (2022-02-23). "وزارة الدفاع تنوي شراء 12 طائرة صينية من طراز" [The Ministry of Defense intends to buy 12 Chinese L15 aircraft]. Emirates News Agency (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-02-23.
- ^ a b c Hoyle, Craig (2022-02-23). "UAE poised to order up to 48 Chinese L-15 jet trainers". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ "UAE's Ministry of Defence to buy L-15 Falcon jets from China".
- ^ "Ukraine conveys first engines for L-15 trainer airplane to China". Kyiv Post.
- ^ The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 243.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 254.
- ^ "Military Watch Magazine". militarywatchmagazine.com. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
External links edit
- (in English)
- (in English)
- First flight of L-15 03 (with pictures) (in Chinese)
- News article on the maiden flight of the L-15 (with pictures) (in Chinese)
- Incomplete recording of development history for L-15 (with pictures) 2014-12-25 at the Wayback Machine (in Chinese)