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

Lion

Senior Member
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

Yes, I have to wonder how many of these L-15s will actually be used as advanced trainers...

It will be an all in one trainer plus fighter/ attacker aircraft. I am shocked the latest spec of L-15 is quite comparable to JF-17. It's max speed has increased to Mach 1.6 with the new afterburner engine. Has a weapon payload of 3 tons and ferry range of 3100km..

I believe AVIC will never develop a twin seat JF-17 for PAF.
 

Deino

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

I think even if braodly comparable in terms of performaces (speed, weapons load, range maybe), they are both playing in cmpletely differents field. The FC-1/JF-17 is a small affordable light-weight figther aimed at the export market and I'm sure for some cerian roles as well as to keep a common fleet a trainer version will be quite useful and IMO it will come.

On the other side there's the L-15, a high-performance modern supersonic LIFT, which even if it reaches some of the FC-1's perfomances just only reaches that. I doubt if there's room for futher growth and also if the L-15 could carry an as sophisticated avionics suite (radar, targeting pos, EW, ...).

BUT ... I think something like the rumoured Q-6 version could be usefull to replace the Q-5-

Deino
 

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Semi-Lobster

Junior Member
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

I think even if braodly comparable in terms of performaces (speed, weapons load, range maybe), they are both playing in cmpletely differents field. The FC-1/JF-17 is a small affordable light-weight figther aimed at the export market and I'm sure for some cerian roles as well as to keep a common fleet a trainer version will be quite useful and IMO it will come.

On the other side there's the L-15, a high-performance modern supersonic LIFT, which even if it reaches some of the FC-1's perfomances just only reaches that. I doubt if there's room for futher growth and also if the L-15 could carry an as sophisticated avionics suite (radar, targeting pos, EW, ...).

BUT ... I think something like the rumoured Q-6 version could be usefull to replace the Q-5-

Deino

Wow, that's a.... messy photoshop.

Anyway, as for the capabilities of the L-15, remember this article

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Flight Global said:
The L-15's fuselage has also been enlarged to accommodate a phased array radar. As for the cockpit, the L-15 Lift has a head-up display and three multifunction displays in the forward seat, and three displays in the rear.

The L-15's future as possibly as an offensive weapon rather than a training tool seems to be designed around the philosophy of an advanced, modern aircraft, crammed into a small package while the FC-1 philosophy is for a medium capable aircraft of medium size and low price. Both aircraft roughly come to around $10-12 million per aircraft with the L-15 being similar to the Korean FA-50 light fighter project, an advanced point defence fighter while the FC-1 is designed to be a general multi-role medium range fighter.
 

Lion

Senior Member
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

China will be pushing L-15 for export while trying to restrict JF-17 export potential.

It maybe the reason why after JF-17 inducted for 2 years of service, it can't secure an export order. JF-17 as a 50/50 venture put it disadvantage compare to L-15 which is 100% AVIC property. L-15 being twin seat will have a massive advantage over JF-17 becos it will save the money on the trainer version.

Chengdu will definitely not making a twin seated version for JF-17 to curb its export abilities. It will always just remained a PakistAn project.
 

Miragedriver

Brigadier
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

I can see the JL-15 becoming a successful light weight fighter/point defense fighter, due to its advanced flight characteristics and that (as mentioned above) it is 100% Chinese.
The room for growth concerns me though.
 

hmmwv

Junior Member
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

Well for JL15 the engine will always be a problem, for FC1 there is at least hope for WS13.
 

Lion

Senior Member
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

Well for JL15 the engine will always be a problem, for FC1 there is at least hope for WS13.


I think you have missed the latest news of L-15. AI-222K-25F afterburner engine from Ukarine is succcessfully assimilated by the Chinese and will be produced domestically under different name. But first 300 engines will be imported from Ukarine. This is the same case like Type052C destroyer which the DN80 gas-turbines has been successfully absorbed by Chinese which is the reason why you see a serie production of further 8 are being build now after an awefully 5 yrs delay.

L-15 is also badly delayed for 3 years which forces the PLAAF to deploy obsolete JL-9 trainer first. News is L-15 will enter service for PLAAF and foreign customer at end of the year. Production has just started.

L-15 trainer is definitely a better bet than FC-1, why? Its engine supplier is Ukarine who see no negative reason to sell more engines for Chinese. They don't have fighter jet to make and compete with China unlike Russia. Ukarine and China are more likely to co-operate than squabble unlike Russia and China relation.

L-15 trainer with an already twin seat mode will prove far far economical and better value than FC-1, it mayy lack abit of rawpower of FC-1 but its an all in one package of trainer/fighter. If requested, radar and datalink can be added and make it into a BVR platform or multi-role delivering PGM while still capable to dogfight.

That means for small airforce with limited budget, by buying L-15 as the only type of warplane. Since it can act as trainer , dogfighter and multi-role platform saving huge logistic costs, training cost while performing and fufilling almost all the requirement of a standard airforce spec.

I will say it is a brilliant idea by the Chinese to capture low cost fighter market for developed countries. Now you know the reason why FC-1 has so far secured none of foreign sales besides PAF and Chengdu is not interested to develop a twin seat version of FC-1...
 
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hmmwv

Junior Member
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

Well China played with RD33 for more than 10 years yet WS13 is still not ready, it'll be years before AI-222k-25F can be successfully manufactured domestically.
 

Lion

Senior Member
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

Well China played with RD33 for more than 10 years yet WS13 is still not ready, it'll be years before AI-222k-25F can be successfully manufactured domestically.

WS-13 is an engine start from scratch or build without Russian assist. AI-222k-25F according to news will be assist by ukarine to setup the manufacturing in china. I believe it will be quick. Remember K-8 domestic engine is from ukarine under Code name WS-11. China is now able to build K-8 100% domestic. As I mention, ukarine has no fighter jet to fit their engines, making china a non competitor unlike Russia case.
 

SteelBird

Colonel
Re: JL-15 and other trainers

WS-13 is an engine start from scratch or build without Russian assist. AI-222k-25F according to news will be assist by ukarine to setup the manufacturing in china. I believe it will be quick. Remember K-8 domestic engine is from ukarine under Code name WS-11. China is now able to build K-8 100% domestic. As I mention, ukarine has no fighter jet to fit their engines, making china a non competitor unlike Russia case.

It's funny, why the Ukrainian build an engine without any aircraft to fit?
 
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