Chinese Trainer Aircraft (JL-8, JL-9, JL-10 (L-15), etc.)

Huuu ... is this the reason for the CJ-7's death??



Diamond Dart 450 military trainer reborn as the Wuhu Zhongke Aircraft TA-20: Allegedly performing its maiden flight on 6 November 2018, the TA-20 aircraft developed by the CETC Wuhu Diamond Aircraft Manufacturer accomplished its maiden flight in Wuhu, Jiangsu Province.

About time the PLAAF got a modern turboprop trainer.

Deino said:

Huuu ... is this the reason for the CJ-7's death??

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Diamond Dart 450 military trainer reborn as the Wuhu Zhongke Aircraft TA-20: Allegedly performing its maiden flight on 6 November 2018, the TA-20 aircraft developed by the CETC Wuhu Diamond Aircraft Manufacturer accomplished its maiden flight in Wuhu, Jiangsu Province.

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Aren't EU countries prohibited from selling arms to China?

SinoSoldier said:

Aren't EU countries prohibited from selling arms to China?

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it's weird because reading up on this company it seems like it was acquired by wanfeng aviation, a Chinese company, last year. I'm not sure what provisions -- if any -- were made regarding use of the subsequent aircraft and IP for military purposes

Plus, planes in category of DA-450 may actually slip under the radar as they're really not meant to be used for military means. They're both a trainer but also a recon aircraft for such roles as border surveillance, sea surveillance etc. It's really a small plane, perhaps the smallest turboprop trainer out there. The likes of PC-9 or Tucano are noticeably heavier planes. (not to mention the PC-21 or Super tucano, which are basically double the weight) DA-450 really will not be used for carrying weapons, it's just too small/weak.

I guess it stems from the training course difference: Chinese trained on CJ-6 as their most basic trainers, then switched to JL-8, then to supersonic JJ-7 or whichever variant. Then to combat planes. This TA-20 might replace the CJ-6, obviously.

Users of PC-9/Tucano usually go like this: a very light plane (such as DA-20 or Zlin) then the PC-9/Tucano, then Hawk/Alphajet/M-346/similar planes then combat planes (with two seaters first for conversion, obviously)

But actually, I don't see JL-9 and JL-10 necessarily replacing JL8. It may be that the new course will be: TA-20 then JL-8/JL-10 then JL-9 (possibly JL-10?) then the combat two seaters for final conversion to combat types.

Jane's article on the TA-20.



China flies DART-450-derived military basic trainer aircraft
Gareth Jennings, London - Jane's Defence Weekly
28 December 2018


A photograph published in late 2017 of the DART-450 in PLAAF markings gave the first indication that China was planning to develop the aircraft into a military basic trainer. Source: Via Wu Jie

China has flown a new military trainer aircraft derived from the Diamond DART-450 single-engined turboprop, state media disclosed in late 2018.

The flight of the tandem two-seat trainer developed by China Electronics Technology Corporation (CETC) Wuhu Diamond Aircraft Manufacturing Company, was reported to have taken place at the company's facility in Jiangsu Province on 6 November.

Designated the TA-20, the new aircraft is a product of a joint venture (JV) between the CETC and the Wuhu Municipal Government, which builds aircraft on licence from Austria-based Diamond Aircraft Industries. Jane' s first reported in October 2017 that the Diamond Aircraft Reconnaissance Trainer (DART)-450 was being lined up as a possible candidate for development into a military basic trainer aircraft for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).


The cockpits of the TA-20 are equipped with the Smart-210 avionics system developed indigenously by Chengdu Hermes Technology Company Limited . (Chengdu Hermes Technology Company Limited)

The DART-450 on which the TA-20 is based was developed rapidly by Diamond, with first drawings to first flight taking just one year (the maiden flight was recorded on 17 May 2016). The all-carbon fibre tandem two-seat civilian and military trainer features a sidestick and pneumatic ejection seats. The aircraft has a top-speed of 230 kt, a service ceiling of 23,000 ft (7,010 m), and a maximum endurance of eight hours plus reserve.

While the baseline DART-450 features Garmin G3000 avionics, the TA-20 has been equipped with the Smart-210 system developed indigenously by Chengdu Hermes Technology Company Limited. Imagery posted by the company shows both cockpits to be fitted with a single large-area display touchscreen, suitable for training pilots for fifth-generation platforms such as the J-20. The aircraft's side-stick control column is also similar to that fitted to the J-20.

The PLAAF is engaged in an extensive modernisation and recapitalisation programme that is seeing new combat aircraft introduced in large numbers. Running parallel to this expansion in combat capabilities is an expansion in trainer capabilities, with the GAIC JL-9 Shanying and HAIG JL-10 advanced jet trainers having been received by the PLAAF over recent years.

Austria is not a part of NATO in case you guys were wondering.

gelgoog said:

Austria is not a part of NATO in case you guys were wondering.

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But it's part of the EU, which has an embargo against China.

SinoSoldier said:

But it's part of the EU, which has an embargo against China.

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But again ... Diamond was acquired by a Chinese company and is de facto now a Chinese company, so there is no break of the embargo.

The only legit question would be: Why was Diamond sold to a Chinese company?

A few high-resolution images to ring in the new year...