Miragedriver
Brigadier
Re: JL-15 and other trainers
This aircraft has the potential to be for China what the F-5 was for the Americans. A trainer turned into a point defense interceptor, fighter bomber, that can be exported to client states. The aircraft has room for growth and could be a very successful domestic and export aircraft. It’s also a very nice looking aircraft!
Can’t wait to see what the single seat fighter bomber version looks like. Even it where to cost US$15 Million (in the single seat version) it would be cheeper than many other “just as capable” aircraft available. Could be purchased by smaller air forces to supplement their main "backbone" aircraft.
Wow! This is HUGE news, this means the PLAAF is finally ready to introduce the L-15! And at 250 AI-222-25F engines, that means at the most 125 L-15s are expected to be built since no other aircraft in the PLAAF or PLANAF uses that engine! Also we finally get a solid price for the L-15, $10 million, for a supersonic advanced trainer, thats huge! The Only other modern supersonic trainer aircraft that can reach Mach 1.6 is the Korean T-50 which costs over $20 million! The L-15 has the potential to be a huge export success! Both as a trainer or even a light fighter. They mention that the less advanced, non-afterburning prototype Hongdu flew earlier will not be introduced so $10 million is a great deal for such a handy aircraft!
This aircraft has the potential to be for China what the F-5 was for the Americans. A trainer turned into a point defense interceptor, fighter bomber, that can be exported to client states. The aircraft has room for growth and could be a very successful domestic and export aircraft. It’s also a very nice looking aircraft!
Can’t wait to see what the single seat fighter bomber version looks like. Even it where to cost US$15 Million (in the single seat version) it would be cheeper than many other “just as capable” aircraft available. Could be purchased by smaller air forces to supplement their main "backbone" aircraft.