Hongdu JL-10

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]

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

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
 United Arab Emirates
 Ethiopia[21]

Specifications (L-15B)
L-15 top view
L-15 top view

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. 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. Waldron, Greg (1 November 2016). "Airshow China : AVIC advanced trainers in the spotlight". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. 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. 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. Chuanren, Chen (2018-03-07). "Uruguay Interested in Chinese L-15 Trainer". Aviation International News.
  11. 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.
  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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. 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. Hoyle, Craig (2022-02-23). "UAE poised to order up to 48 Chinese L-15 jet trainers". Flight Global. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  17. "UAE's Ministry of Defence to buy L-15 Falcon jets from China".
  18. "Ukraine conveys first engines for L-15 trainer airplane to China". Kyiv Post.
  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". militarywatchmagazine.com. Retrieved 2022-08-15.
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