Hongdu JL-10

JL-10
General information
TypeAdvanced jet trainer
Light combat aircraft
ManufacturerHongdu Aviation Industry Corporation
Primary usersPeople's Liberation Army Air Force
History
Introduction date2013[1]
First flightMarch 13, 2006[2]
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.[2] The initial variants were a subsonic advanced jet trainer and a supersonic advanced fighter trainer.[2]

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[2] in 2014 for US$100 million;[12] they were delivered in 2016[2] 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.[2]

The L-15A subsonic advanced jet trainer is powered by the Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25[2] and has seven weapon hardpoints.[10] The supersonic advanced fighter trainer variant is powered by the afterburning AI-222K-25.[2] 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][2]

Variants

Hongdu JL-10 in Zhuhai airshow 2024
  • 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.[2]
  • L-15Z: Designation of L-15 advanced fighter trainer in Zambian Air Force service.[2]
  • L-15B: Supersonic light attack[10] variant with nine hardpoints.[4]
  • JL-10: PLAAF designation.[13]
  • JL-10J: Carrier-compatible version of the JL-10. Used for catapult launch training and was seen on Type 003 aircraft carrier.[19]
  • JL-10 Twin-Tail: Unnamed twin-tail aircraft largely based on the JL-10. The configuration is similar to the Boeing T-7 and the role is likely for carrier-based training.[20][21]

Operators

 People's Republic of China
Zambia
 United Arab Emirates

Specifications (L-15B)

L-15 top view
L-15 top view

Data from [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. ^ Makichuk, Dave (2020-01-03). "China's L-15 Falcon: Cut-rate warfare on a budget". Asia Times. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Donald, David (2016-09-16). "China's L-15 Jet Displayed by Zambia In South Africa". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  3. ^ "猎鹰L15高级教练机". Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (in Chinese). Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Waldron, Greg (1 November 2016). "Airshow China: AVIC advanced trainers in the spotlight". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d e f g 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. 53 (8). Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISSN 0265-3818.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ Newdick, Thomas (29 April 2024). "China's New Aircraft Carrier Pulls Away From Its Pier Ahead Of Sea Trials". The War Zone.
  20. ^ TREVITHICK, JOSEPH (1 August 2025). "China Teases First Catapult Launches From Its New Carrier Fujian". The War Zone.
  21. ^ "China develops new carrier-based jet trainer". Defense Blog. 1 August 2025.
  22. ^ The Military Balance 2023. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 243.
  23. ^ The Military Balance 2021. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 254.
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