Chinese Trainer Aircraft (JL-8, JL-9, JL-10 (L-15), etc.)

Deino said:

I would suggest to leave such a JL-9XYZ abd jump right to a carrier variant of the JL-10 based on the L-15B.

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I agree. There's at least a whole generation of difference in technology between the two. I can understand the PLA wanting to hedge their bets with the "new" plane and the "slighly upgraded" plane. But now that the JL-10 proved itself, it's a waste to spend more resources on the JL-9. Unless they can't produce enough JL-10's for some reason.

Deino said:

But still without a hook

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I wonder if they found an new way to test pilots using some kind of an electronic device. If so, then developing a carrier training plane with a hook isn't necessary. It would save them a lot of time and money. However, I see a protrusion underneath the tail end of the fighter, close to the PLAN flag. Maybe they removed the tail hook for photos?

H2O said:

I wonder if they found an new way to test pilots using some kind of an electronic device. If so, then developing a carrier training plane with a hook isn't necessary. It would save them a lot of time and money. However, I see a protrusion underneath the tail end of the fighter, close to the PLAN flag. Maybe they removed the tail hook for photos?

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Actually I don't think so, that image does not look psed and also we haven't seen a hook on any serial JL-9G since ever.

My idea, just get rid of the JL-9 and go directly to JL-10/L-15!

JL-10 should be suitable for CATOBAR carriers but not ski-jumps like in the CV-16/17. You need high T/W ratio aircraft for take-off. Only JL-10 version with afterburner is the L-15B IIRC. Even that will have to be heavily modified to be able to take-off and land on a carrier adding more weight. The priority now is training pilots for not just one but two STOBAR carriers. JL-9 has at least successfully taken-off from ski-jumps. Problem is with the arrested landing. JL-10/L-15B has done neither. How far do you think those afterburner-less JL-10 would go off a ski-jump?

JL-10 will be the trainer of the future PLAN pilots for CATOBAR carriers but right now they need something that can take-off a ski-jumps. Other than the J-15 what else is there?

FTC-2000G engine test (Sept.2018)

L-15 publicity shots... The last one is a high-resolution version of an old photo.

(2048 x 1320)


(2048 x 1335)


(2000 x 1334)

Now this should filled the market niche for affordable high performance CAS
L-15 tests two new Air-Surface ammunition
BY



To continue to expand the commercial offer around its new flagship product L-15, also known as the JL-10 for the version used by the Chinese army, the aircraft manufacturer Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation Industry Group not only put on the modernization of avionics suites, in particular with a variant equipped with passive electronic scanning radar (PESA) radar, but also on new precision munitions.

According to an article on the company's Weixin account, China's new advanced training aircraft has successfully tested the launch of two new types of Air-Surface ammunition in a test base in China.

Under the control of the Chinese Air Force test pilots, the L-15 prototype registered 05 fired several firing campaigns from three different altitudes and launched several YJ-9E anti-ship missiles and planing bombs. TL-20 dedicated to export. The Hongdu text indicates that all systems worked in a nominal manner, and the guided munitions hit their targets successfully.





Still according to the same article, the L-15 has already tested three different ammunition models for Air-Sol and Air-Mer precision striking. The YJ-9E's successful tests will now be able to "push export", while the TL-20 tests have enabled Hongdu to complete the evaluation of some key technologies, thus expanding the range of guided ammunition from small diameter and improve the competitiveness of the aircraft manufacturer in this segment of the market.

Although this is not explicitly stated, but these few lines from the Chinese manufacturer suggest that at least one L-15 prospect would be interested in the aircraft's anti-ship strike capability - so it would probably be a country in a coastal zone - and that Hongdu would also like to develop a range of small ammunition to increase the attack capacity of the L-15 despite its relatively low carry.

(cont)
YJ-9 on a Chinese Navy Z-9D (Photos: PLA Navy)




YJ-9E, the export version of the YJ-9, at the Zhuhai Air Show.

The YJ-9E is the export version of the YJ-9 already in service with the Chinese Armed Forces. Some of the Chinese Navy's Z-9D helicopters are now equipped with the 105-kilo light-weight anti-ship missile to counter the threats of Fast Attack Craft (FAC), particularly in the Taiwan Strait and at sea. from South China.

Unlike the YJ-9, which only has an active radar search head, the YJ-9E (E for Export) has a flexible homing device that can use other types of guidance, such as TV, IR and the semi-active laser. Launched from a flying platform such as the L-15, the range of the missile is also extended up to 25 km.





As for the TL-20, which is displayed under the reference TL-20 / CK-G, it is a small diameter guided bomb of 100 kg and equipped with a glider kit. This new munition developed by Hongdu itself was first shown at the Zhuhai Air Show in 2016, and then in South Africa with the Zambian L-15Zs at the Africa Aerospace & Defense Show held at the Air Base. Waterkloof near Johannesburg.

According to the data published by the manufacturer, TL-20 is 1.42 meters long and 0.24 meters in diameter. The planing bomb has a multi-mode guide, GPS / INS and semi-active laser, but it seems to be missing in the tests of September 18 from photos released by Hongdu.

The range of this small diameter ammunition is displayed at 85 km, and the accuracy between 20 meters (GPS / INS only) and 1 meter (mixed guidance). It should be noted that TL-20 has already been tested in flight under a Chinese drone.

Henri K.

First flight of FTC-2000G