The light fighter market is way too saturated. JF-17 has to compete with KF-50, FTC-2000, and now L-15...
Chinese Trainer Aircraft (JL-8, JL-9, JL-10 (L-15), etc.)
- Thread starter tphuang
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The light fighter market is way too saturated. JF-17 has to compete with KF-50, FTC-2000, and now L-15...
Semi-Lobster
Junior Member
The L-15B variant has an enlarged nose cone compared to the standard L-15 which lacks a combat radar. That being said, we don't know anything about this PESA radar, the claims of a 115km range and PL-12/SD-10 compatibility are not soured. In the past there was a picture of a PESA radar in the L-15 with a quoted range of around 75km.
Exactly, target size and simultaneous tracking can be just as important as overall range.
From the articles, the Ethiopian MiG-23BN fleet is specifically mentioned as the aircraft being replaced, the attempted local maintenance (by government owned Dejen Aviation) have more or less failed. The BN variant is optimized for ground attack missions and have been used extensively over the past few years in Ethiopia's war with the Tigray People's Liberation Front, with one being lost in 2020. If they are replacing the MiG-23BNs they are most likely going to act more or low-cost/low-maintenance fighter bombers. The L-15BB might not be a bad fit for this role as it was originally pitched by Hongdu to the PLAAF as a replacement for the Q-5 according to rumours.
Yes the L-15B is certainly the 'rarest' variant of the L-15 family, there even only even just be one in existence right now. At Zhuhai 2016, the initial specifications were for twin afterburing AI-222-25F. Considering how quiet the news on the domestic Minshan has been, foreign built engines probably would not be a big problem for a foreign customer.
While on paper it seems crowded, the light fighter market is probably the one most likely to explode in the next decade. F-5E and MiG-21 fleets are on their last legs and even surplus early F-16s are getting very old, a newly built, modern, affordable multirole aircraft for air defence and air policing is going to be needed for sovereign countries. The KAI FA-50 still lacks BVR integration 10 years after its maiden flight, the KAI F-50 you mentioned is cancelled, the FTC-2000 has only seen export to Sudan and 'an unnamed SEA country' (probably Cambodia) but likely only in the trainer roles as Sudan as more capable aircraft and Cambodia basically needs to rebuild their supersonic ability as so few of their MiG-21s are still operational. The Italian M-346 and Russian Yak-130 are both subsonic and are unable to fulfill complete air defence capabilities. The JF-17 is a much heavier aircraft than the little L-15, closer to other light fighter aircraft like the Gripen which have twice the range of lighter aircraft like the L-15B.
Where is the information about that?, because everybody says that radar is PESA
Semi-Lobster
Junior Member
The LKF-601E (the export variant) which was developed by the Leihua Electronic Technology Research Institute (LETRI) is rival AESA radar to the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET) KLJ-7A and AFAIK has only been offered for the JF-17, I haven't seen any material about it being used for the L-15 though? I have heard about 607 Institute (Wuxi) developing a PESA radar for the L-15 though.
I don't think that. The JF-17 and KF- 50 are one step up of the FTC-2000 and L-15. Are two projet
I don't think that. The J-17 and KF-50 are one step up. They are two project much more mature
Interesting if true...
"The #UAE Air Force has announced plans to purchase 12 CATIC Hongdu L-15 jet trainers from China with options for a further 36 aircraft."
"The #UAE Air Force has announced plans to purchase 12 CATIC Hongdu L-15 jet trainers from China with options for a further 36 aircraft."
Indeed ... just saw this too:
I wonder if it comes with afterburners?