Re: JL-15 and other trainers
The first 2 words of your reply answers it all
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in all honest F-50 is carrying over alot of baggage as far as structure weights goes. they don't have a choice if they don't want to spend $$$.
F-5 for all intents and purpose is a new fighter than F-5.
as for making L-15 into a new fighter bomber. why not.
basically powerplant wise it is already in same class as IDF I think.
The Koreans seem quiet confident in their FA-50 light fighter project to convert their twin seat T-50 advanced trainer into a single seat fighter, they've already ordered 60 to enter service by 2016. Also its not like trainers being turned into fighters is new, the F-5 used the same airframe as the T-38.
The FC-1 is an excellent and versatile fighter though, its possibly the most modular FBW aircraft ever constructed possibly. I wouldn't say the L-15 and FC-1 are competitors, FC-1 is a multi-role fighter and according to Huitong's site, he mentions a possible project to turn the L-15 into some kind of attack aircraft.
The first 2 words of your reply answers it all
in all honest F-50 is carrying over alot of baggage as far as structure weights goes. they don't have a choice if they don't want to spend $$$.
F-5 for all intents and purpose is a new fighter than F-5.
as for making L-15 into a new fighter bomber. why not.
basically powerplant wise it is already in same class as IDF I think.