Engineering:Hongdu JL-10

From HandWiki
Short description: Chinese supersonic advanced training and light combat aircraft
JL-10 (L-15)
Hongdu L-15 Falcon.jpg
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
L-15 during a handover ceremony

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]

Development

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

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]

The L-15A and L-15B use a PESA radar.[10][1]

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[10] variant with nine hardpoints.[4]
  • JL-10: PLAAF designation.[13]

Operators

 People's Republic of China
 Zambia
  • Zambian Air Force: 6[16]
 United Arab Emirates
 Ethiopia[21]

Specifications (L-15B)

L-15 top view

[1]General characteristics

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

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Donald, David (2016-09-16). "China's L-15 Jet Displayed by Zambia In South Africa". https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-09-16/chinas-l-15-jet-displayed-zambia-south-africa. 
  2. ↑ Makichuk, Dave (2020-01-03). "China's L-15 Falcon: Cut-rate warfare on a budget". https://asiatimes.com/2020/01/chinas-l-15-falcon-cut-rate-warfare-on-a-budget/. 
  3. ↑ "猎鹰L15高级教练机" (in zh). https://www.hongdu.com.cn/c/2015-08-05/527207.shtml. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Waldron, Greg (1 November 2016). "Airshow China: AVIC advanced trainers in the spotlight". https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airshow-china-avic-advanced-trainers-in-the-spotli-430985/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Waldron, Greg (6 November 2018). "AVIC burnishes combat credentials of L-15 family". Zhuhai. https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/avic-burnishes-combat-credentials-of-l-15-family-453348/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Solen, Derek (February 2021). "Initial Fighter Pilot Training in the PLA Air Force". China Aerospace Studies Institute. https://airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/PLAAF/2021-02-16%20Initial%20Fighter%20Pilot%20Training.pdf?ver=CWRhXQPS7sgn1voTIxrdOw%3d%3d. 
  7. ↑ "YAK-130 combat trainer of new century". June 2005. http://www.yak.ru/eng/firm/art_switch.php?art=4. 
  8. ↑ "Zhuhai 2004 - Chinese jet trainer pair square up". 2004-11-08. https://www.flightglobal.com/zhuhai-2004-chinese-jet-trainer-pair-square-up/57534.article. 
  9. ↑ Francis, Leithen; Sobie, Brendan (2005-09-26). "Hongdu completes L-15 prototype assembly". https://www.flightglobal.com/hongdu-completes-l-15-prototype-assembly/62865.article. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Chuanren, Chen (2018-03-07). "Uruguay Interested in Chinese L-15 Trainer". https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-03-07/uruguay-interested-chinese-l-15-trainer. 
  11. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (2012-11-20). "CATIC lines up first international L-15 sale after agreeing to buy 12 trainers". Flight International 182 (5367): 23. 
  12. ↑ 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. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 Yeo, Mike (2016-09-01). "China's Air Force Apparently Receives First L-15 Jet Trainer". https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-09-01/chinas-air-force-apparently-receives-first-l-15-jet-trainer. 
  14. ↑ Waldron, Greg (2018-08-15). "Beijing boosts naval pilot training with L-15 acquisition". https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/beijing-boosts-naval-pilot-training-with-l-15-acquisition/129243.article#:~:text=%E2%80%8BBeijing%20boosts%20naval%20pilot%20training%20with%20L%2D15%20acquisition,-By%20Greg%20Waldron&text=The%20training%20school%20of%20the,L%2D15%20advanced%20jet%20trainers.. 
  15. ↑ "وزارة الدفاع تنوي شراء 12 طائرة صينية من طراز" (in ar). 2022-02-23. http://wam.ae/ar/details/1395303023646. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Hoyle, Craig (2022-02-23). "UAE poised to order up to 48 Chinese L-15 jet trainers". https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/uae-poised-to-order-up-to-48-chinese-l-15-jet-trainers/147668.article#:~:text=China%20is%20close%20to%20finalising,L%2D15%20advanced%20jet%20trainers.. 
  17. ↑ "UAE's Ministry of Defence to buy L-15 Falcon jets from China". https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/2022/02/23/ministry-of-defence-to-buy-12-l15-chinese-aircraft/. 
  18. ↑ "Ukraine conveys first engines for L-15 trainer airplane to China". Kyiv Post. https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/business/ukraine-conveys-first-engines-for-l-15-trainer-air-126787.html. 
  19. ↑ The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 243. 
  20. ↑ The Military Balance 2021. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 254. 
  21. ↑ "Military Watch Magazine". https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/l15-replace-mig23s-ethiopia. 

External links



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Engineering:Hongdu_JL-10&oldid=3256065"