China’s Mountain Eagles and Falcons
The almost frenetic pace of Chinese ‘next gen’ fighter developments continue to dominate the headlines, and so Chinese ‘next gen’ lead in fighter trainers (LIFT) get second billing. This article with extracts from China aviation analysts, reviews developments beyond the Sino-Pak K-8 Karakoram which is being supplanted by various new types, including the JL-9/FTC-2000 ‘Mountain Eagle’ and Hongdu L-15 Falcon.
The FTC-2000G is the latest avatar of a well-established family that started off as the Guizhou JL-9 Mountain Eagle, unabashedly based on the venerable MiG-21 and its Chinese clone, the F-7. Development of the JL-9 began in 2001 as an advanced lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) based on the earlier JJ-7/FT-7 design, later the JJ-9. Essentially, the JL-9 incorporates a new forward fuselage, the erstwhile nose intake replaced by a solid nose accommodating an X-band pulse-Doppler fire-control radar, with the engine intakes now relocated on the fuselage sides. The stepped tandem cockpit section is a new designed, with a single-piece windshield giving improved forward and downward vision when compared with the original design. The aircraft has a double-delta wing without leading edge flaps, has a modern avionics suite and the cockpit includes a head up display (HUD) as also a multi-function display (MFD).
The prototype JL-9 made its first flight on 13 December 2003 with the test aircraft evaluated during 2004-2005. Following some fine-tuning, the modified JL-9 flew for the first time on 23 August 2006, featuring a new control augmentation system (CAS) for enhanced stability and an improved cockpit environment control system. Series production JL-9s were first delivered to the PLAAF in 2007 and operational deliveries began in 2011 with PLA Naval Aviation thereafter receiving its first JL-9Hs soon thereafter. An improved variant, known as the JL-9A, features new formation lighting strips on the forward fuselage and tail fin to enhance visibility in night training as also a new VHF omni-directional radio range (VLOC) navigation system. Entering production in 2004, this variant, is still in production.
Another development of the JL-9 is the JL-9G, a dedicated naval version, for naval aviators to practice take-offs and landings on a simulated aircraft carrier deck, particularly for simulated take-offs from the ‘ski jump’ ramp, followed by a conventional recovery. The JL-9G has been extensively modified, with strengthened landing gear and enlarged wings, as also a redesigned forward fuselage with diverterless supersonic intakes (DSI); Furthermore, the twin ventral stabilisers are replaced by a taller tail fin.
Based on the JL-9 was the FTC-2000 trainer, first unveiled as a demonstrator at the 2016 Zhuhai airshow when, interestingly, a contract was signed with the Sudanese Air Force for six FTC-2000S, the initial batch delivered in November 2017. The Nigerian Air Force has also expressed interest, probably eyeing the latest, further improved FTC-2000G, which employs the stronger airframe of the navalized JL-9G with the DSI intake and redesigned tail with improved aerodynamics and increased fuel capacity. The FTC-2000G is aimed as “an affordable, versatile aircraft for different types of training as well as combat missions” and features up to seven hardpoints for a maximum armament load of 3,000kg. Ironically, the FTC-2000G may have spawned competition for the JF-17 Thunder for many operators of MiG-21 and F-7 fighters in Asia and Africa.
The Hongdu JL-10 (export L-15)
The latest LIFT to enter PLAAF and PLA Naval Aviation service is the Hongdu JL-10 Falcon, which actually began life with the export designation of L-15. This advanced jet trainer (AJT), whose design approach is very familiar, was, not unsurprisingly, developed with technical assistance from Yakovlev OKB, and has been developed by Nanchang-based Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation, the chief designer being Zhang Hong. The JL-10 is designed for lead in fighter training of aircrew moving to the new generation of Chinese fighters including the J-10, J-11, J-15, J-16 and J-20.
Two different versions are being developed : the standard JL-10 aka L-15A AJT, powered by two Ukrainian-origin AI-222-25 turbofans, and a dedicated L-15B LIFT, powered by two AI-222-25Fs with afterburning to give it supersonic capability. The JL-10 has a more modern airframe, with prominent leading-edge root extensions (LEX) which gives a maximum angle of attack of 30o a large vertical tail fin and a modern aerodynamic configuration. The cockpit is considerably more advanced than the JL-9’s having a fully digital glass environment with HUD, three colour MFDs, hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls and three-axis quadruplex digital FBW. For weapons training, the JL-10 has four underwing and two wingtip pylons for a wide variety of stores plus an optional gun pod underneath the fuselage. The standard JL-10 is equipped with a small radar, while the L-15B can carry a small passive electronically scanned array (PESA) fire-control radar.
First flight of the L-15 AJT prototype was on 13 March 2006, this first example powered by two interim DV-2 turbofans but followed by an improved AJT prototype using two AI-222-25 turbofans which flew on 10 May 2008. The LIFT version, with the afterburning AI-222K-25F, first flew on 26 October 2010. The JL-10 was unveiled before its first flight on 1 July 2013 and several prototypes since have been undergoing testing and, based on images from mid-2016. China’s Naval aviation received its first aircraft (the JL-10H) in March 2017. The series production JL-10 is planned to receive an indigenous turbofan without afterburning (actually an AI-222-25 copy), which was flown for the first time in May 2016.
The L-15B is powered by the WS-17 Minshan turbofan, having a maximum thrust of 4700kg with afterburning, which was developed by the Guizhou Aero Engine Research Institute. In fact, there are speculations that the JL-10 might be used by naval aviation as a carrier-based trainer, possibly based on the L-15B airframe with the more powerful engines.
Export potential
Three different variants are currently being promoted in the export market : the standard L-15A, comparable to the JL-10 and the L-15Z, which is already in service with the Zambian Air Force; the L-15B, available with combat-capable avionics, and the L-15C, which combines the L-15B’s avionics with the airframe of the L-15A. The Ukraine, Pakistan and Uruguay are amongst the first inline but there are no second guesses as to which (Western) AJTs and LIFTs are being competed against. Still, it would be a brave man indeed who could imagine that, in a perfect (unreal) world the JL-10 could even have been a contender for the USAF’s T-X programme !