Hongdu JL-10
The Hongdu L-15 Falcon is a supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft developed by Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIC). It is used by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT). History. 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. The L-15 would compete with the Guizhou  JL-9 developed in parallel by China Aviation Industry Corporation I. The prototype was completed in September 2005 and first flew on March 13, 2006. The initial variants were a subsonic advanced jet trainer and a supersonic advanced fighter trainer. Development of the L-15B, a supersonic variant for LIFT, was announced in 2010. It first flew in December 21, 2017. 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. Zambia ordered 6 advanced fighter trainers as the  L-15Z in 2014 for ; they were delivered in 2016 and 2017. The first L-15 in PLAAF colors was seen in 2016. The PLA used a few L-15s for flight-test evaluation before 2018. The People's Liberation Army Navy received 12 L-15s in August 2018. 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. On 23 February 2022, the United Arab Emirates announced its intention to buy 12 L-15s, with an option for 36 more. Design. The L-15 uses fly -by-wire (FBW) and a glass cockpit. The prototypes were powered by Lotarev DV-2 turbofans. The L-15A subsonic advanced jet trainer is powered by the Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25 and has seven weapon hardpoints. The supersonic advanced fighter trainer variant is powered by the afterburning AI-222K-25. The L-15B light attack aircraft is powered by the AI-222K-25F for a maximum speed of Mach 1.4. Compared to the L-15A, the L-15B has shorter take-off and landing distances and two more hardpoints. The L-15A and L-15B use a PESA radar.