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Hongdu JL-10

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JL-10 (L-15)
Role Lead-in fighter 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
L-15 during a handover ceremony

The 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]

History

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 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.[10]

Zambia ordered 6 L-15Zs[1] in 2014 for US$100 million;[11] they were delivered in 2016[1] and 2017.[12]

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.[12] 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]

Design

HAIG unveiled a full-scale mock-up of its early prototype the L-15 advanced lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) in the 2004 Zhuhai Airshow. The two-seat, two-engine L-15 featured the latest advanced technologies developed by China, such as the digital quadruple fly-by-wire (FBW), glass cockpit (two multi-color head down displays for both the front and rear cockpit, and an additional head-up display for the front cockpit) and hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) flight control. The look-down field of view for the front cockpit is 18°, and 6° for the rear cockpit, exceeding the US requirement. The aerodynamic performance of the aircraft is enhanced by its large leading edge extensions (LEX) design, which gives a maximum angle of attack of 30°. This is very useful when trying to simulate the maneuvers of advanced fourth-generation fighters such as J-10, JF-17 and J-11, as well as for newest fifth generation fighter like J-20 and J-31. JL-9/FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle trainer jet from Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation (GAIC) is a direct competitor of the JL-10. JL-10 has a wide range of more advanced features comparing JL-9, but JL-9 is significant cheaper and its development and production would be fully indigenous, while early batches of JL-10 still rely on AI-222 series turbofan engine from Ukraine before an indigenous update is ready.[17]

With the JL-10, student pilots will be able to complete mission flight training and advanced combat training, as well as complete all basic jet flight training courses. The aircraft also has six (four under-wing and two wingtip) pylons to carry various air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. If necessary, it can serve in the lightweight attack role with minor modifications, carrying up to 3.5 tons of armament.[18]

Each of the first two units (#01 & #02) are powered by two Ivchenko-Progress DV-2 engines, which do not have afterburners, and these two aircraft thus do not have the capability to reach supersonic speed. The third unit (#03) is powered by a pair of an improved version of the DV-2, the DV-2F, that has afterburners, so that it can attain supersonic speed. The subsequent production units are expected to be powered by Ukraine's Ivchenko-Progress AI-222K-25F turbofan engines with afterburners once a co-production license is obtained by the 608 Institute. Ivchenko-Progress was able to increase the thrust of the AI-222-28F (thrust 4500 kg afterburning) and AI-222-30F (5000 kg thrust afterburning) engines. The latter two engines may be used to equip the JL-10 or other Chinese aircraft.[19] Meanwhile, according to various Chinese reports, JL-10s with updated Guizhou FWS-17 engines had already undergone test flights.[18]

In June 2013, the AJT condition of L-15 finalized the design and would be operated by PLAAF with a formal name JL-10.[20] On July 1, 2013, the first batch of JL-10 began delivery to the PLAAF. Chinese Air Force and later Naval Air Force are highly satisfied with the aircraft's all-around performance, high reliability, cost-effectiveness, as well as its great multi-role update potentials, easy maintainability, and a service life of over 10,000 flying hours.[21][22]

Variants

  • 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[12] variant with nine hardpoints. May be armed with SD-10 air-to-air missiles.[4][5]
  • JL-10: PLAAF designation.[13]

Operators

 People's Republic of China
 Zambia
 United Arab Emirates

Specifications (L-15 AJT)

L-15 top view
L-15 top view

Data from Military-Today[23]（estimate）[24] L-15A[18]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 12.27 m (40 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.48 m (31 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 4.81 m (15 ft 9 in)
  • Empty weight: 4,960 kg (10,935 lb)
  • Gross weight: 6,500 kg (14,330 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 9,500 kg (20,944 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Ivchenko-Progress AI-222K-25 or AI-222-25F afterburning turbofan engines

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 1,715 km/h (1,066 mph, 926 kn)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.4 (L15B)
  • Range: 550 km (340 mi, 300 nmi) +
  • Ferry range: 3,100 km (1,900 mi, 1,700 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 16,000 m (52,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 200 m/s (39,000 ft/min)

Avionics

  • Unknown type PESA radar,[25] Likely with AESA radars for further updates.[18]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Donald, David (2016-09-16). "China's L-15 Jet Displayed by Zambia In South Africa". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  2. ^ Makichuk, Dave (2020-01-03). "China's L-15 Falcon: Cut-rate warfare on a budget". Asia Times. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  3. ^ "猎鹰L15高级教练机". Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  4. ^ a b c Waldron, Greg (1 November 2016). "Airshow China : AVIC advanced trainers in the spotlight". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Waldron, Greg (6 November 2018). "AVIC burnishes combat credentials of L-15 family". Flight Global. Zhuhai. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  6. ^ a b 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.
  7. ^ "YAK-130 combat trainer of new century". Yakovlev. June 2005. Archived from the original on 2015-10-16. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  8. ^ "Zhuhai 2004 - Chinese jet trainer pair square up". Flight Global. 2004-11-08. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  9. ^ Francis, Leithen; Sobie, Brendan (2005-09-26). "Hongdu completes L-15 prototype assembly". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Fisher, Richard D., Jr. (30 December 2015). "Zambia to receive first Hongdu L-15 trainer". Jane's Defence Weekly. 53 (8). Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISSN 0265-3818.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ a b c Chuanren, Chen (2018-03-07). "Uruguay Interested in Chinese L-15 Trainer". Aviation International News.
  13. ^ a b Yeo, Mike (2016-09-01). "China's Air Force Apparently Receives First L-15 Jet Trainer". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  14. ^ Waldron, Greg (2018-08-15). "Beijing boosts naval pilot training with L-15 acquisition". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ a b c d e Hoyle, Craig (2022-02-23). "UAE poised to order up to 48 Chinese L-15 jet trainers". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  17. ^ "L15 and JL9 trainer jet competition, China PLAAF". AirForceWorld.com. Archived from the original on 2011-11-28. Retrieved 29 Aug 2011.
  18. ^ a b c d sina_mobile (2018-08-27). "我军教练10研发路途一波三折 曾险因发动机问题下马_手机新浪网". Mil.sina.cn. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2015-06-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-06-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-07-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ "1个月交付7架，洪都在卯足了劲制造猎鹰高级教练机！_手机搜狐网". M.sohu.com.
  23. ^ "Hongdu L-15 Advanced Trainer". Military-today.com.
  24. ^ "Chinese Navy commissions JL-10H advanced trainers - China Military".
  25. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2015-10-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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