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

tphuang

tphuang

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It's wild to me how many different types of fighter/trainers these Middle Eastern countries need. Just recently, Qatar added M346 after already operating BAE hawk. If true, UAE will now operate L-15 after already operating BAE hawk and MB339. I assume L-15 will be replacing the MB339.

I see this also as a political message to the West saying that "if you don't sell me F-35 without onerous demands, then I will order advanced aircraft from China". Interesting trend to watch.
 
Semi-Lobster

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tphuang said:
It's wild to me how many different types of fighter/trainers these Middle Eastern countries need. Just recently, Qatar added M346 after already operating BAE hawk. If true, UAE will now operate L-15 after already operating BAE hawk and MB339. I assume L-15 will be replacing the MB339.

I see this also as a political message to the West saying that "if you don't sell me F-35 without onerous demands, then I will order advanced aircraft from China". Interesting trend to watch.
Click to expand...

The article says that the light attack variant is being selected so these aircraft might not even be allocated for a training role. The UAE's 'involvement' in Yemen requires an aircraft capable of carrying sufficient munitions with a lower cost of operation than their dedicated fighter fleet. The 3.5 tons of external munitions the L-15B variant can carry for example is close to what a light fighter aircraft like the Gripen and FC-1 can carry but much cheaper per hour to operate. Although which variant they chose can be anything. The subsonic K-8 Karakorums and Yak-130s the Myanmar Air Force have been put into heavy use in the past year.
 
siegecrossbow

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If the UAE intends to use them as light attack I wonder if it is associated with the Ethiopian Civil War as well. If I am not mistaken Ethiopia is buying L-15 to replace Mig-23. Some of the L-15 could be used as a “volunteer force”, like how the UAE deployed Wingloongs.
 
Semi-Lobster

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siegecrossbow said:
If the UAE intends to use them as light attack I wonder if it is associated with the Ethiopian Civil War as well. If I am not mistaken Ethiopia is buying L-15 to replace Mig-23. Some of the L-15 could be used as a “volunteer force”, like how the UAE deployed Wingloongs.
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The MiG-23s the Ethiopian Air Force is looking to replace are the 7-10 MiG-23BN ground attack variants still left in service. Ethiopia has already retired it's MiG-23MLs fighters. This would almost certainly mean that the L-15Bs Ethiopia is looking to acquire are for ground attack roles. This isn't too ridiculous considering that Hongdu originally pitched the L-15B to the PLAAF as a replacement for the Q-5 allegedly.
 
4Runner

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tphuang said:
It's wild to me how many different types of fighter/trainers these Middle Eastern countries need. Just recently, Qatar added M346 after already operating BAE hawk. If true, UAE will now operate L-15 after already operating BAE hawk and MB339. I assume L-15 will be replacing the MB339.

I see this also as a political message to the West saying that "if you don't sell me F-35 without onerous demands, then I will order advanced aircraft from China". Interesting trend to watch.
Click to expand...
Great point. This is more of a political message than a practical military need. If the GCC stays neutral in the current Russia-Ukraine saga, I will expect more such orders to flow from GCC to China for years to come.
 
Deino

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siegecrossbow said:
It is.

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However IMO we should wait, this report only says "The United Arab Emirates plans to order 12 L-15 light attack planes from China, with the option of purchasing 36 more" as such it is not a done deal and I rate it more a poker game towards Leonardo for its own M-346 and the US to approve anything towards the F-35... otherwise this option is dead.



And this too is true?

...there has been unsubstantiated reports that PAF has also bought 48 L-15s...possibily they will be displayed March 23
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https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1496651050257993732

Not sure how reliable this site is ... seems he still rates those J-10CP images as faked and otherwise this account looks more than "fishy"!
 
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S

sinophilia

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Deino said:
However IMO we should wait, this report only says "The United Arab Emirates plans to order 12 L-15 light attack planes from China, with the option of purchasing 36 more" as such it is not a done deal and I rate it more a poker game towards Leonardo for its own M-346 and the US to approve anything towards the F-35... otherwise this option is dead.



And this too is true?



https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1496651050257993732

Not sure how reliable this site is ... seems he still rates those J-10CP images as faked and otherwise this account looks more than "fishy"!
Click to expand...

Sounds like the deal is being finalized and close to being done.

“We have reached the final stage in our talks with the Chinese side. The final contract will be signed soon,” Tareq Al Hosani said.

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