Guizhou JL-9
JL-9 | |
---|---|
Role | Advanced jet trainer Light combat aircraft |
Manufacturer | Guizhou Aviation Industry Import/Export Company (GAIEC) |
Designer | Aero Engine Research Institute of Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation |
First flight | 13 December 2003 |
Status | In service |
Primary user | People's Liberation Army Air Force |
Developed from | Chengdu JJ-7 |
The Guizhou JL-9, also known as the FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle (Chinese: 山鹰; pinyin: Shānyīng), is a family of two-seat transonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft developed by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Import/Export Company (GAIEC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF).[1]
Development
The FTC-2000 started as a GAIEC private venture to develop an inexpensive trainer for
The FTC-2000, as the JL-9, competed with the Hongdu JL-10 to meet the advanced trainer requirements of the PLAAF and PLANAF. The JL-10 is more technologically advanced, but also more expensive, than the JL-9. In 2013, both had entered production.[4]
A carrier-landing trainer variant was revealed by Chinese state media in 2011.[4] Designated the JL-9G, it has strengthened undercarriage, enlarged wing and diverterless supersonic inlets, but has proved to be unsuitable for arrested landings and is limited to land-based operations.[5]
On 5 September 2018, Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that GAIC had begun mass production of the FTC-2000G variant.[6] On 28 September, it was reported that the first mass-produced FTC-2000G performed its maiden flight.[7][8] In April 2020, China reported that an unnamed South-East Asian country had placed an order for the FTC-2000G, with deliveries expected between 2021 and 2023.[9] Later it was confirmed that Myanmar had ordered those jets.[10]
Design
The FTC-2000 is developed from the JJ-7/FT-7, the two seat trainer version of the Chengdu J-7; the Chengdu J-7 is a Chinese variant of the MiG-21. The FTC-2000 uses a new wing, a forward fuselage with side air intakes, and a glass cockpit; the engine, empennage, and mechanical controls of the JJ-7/FT-7 are retained.[2]
Operational history
In 2014, the PLANAF had a regiment of JL-9s.[11] However, it was not until October 18, 2015, that the PLAAF started using the JL-9 for training purposes.[12]
In April 2023, the Rapid Support Forces of Sudan launched an attack on Merowe Air Base, destroying one Sudanese FTC-2000 while capturing the base.[13] Satellite imagery has revealed that three more FTC-2000s were present at the base at the time.[13]
On January 16, 2024, a Myanmar Air Force FTC-2000G was shot down by a Kachin Independence Army FN-6 missile in Shan State. Both pilots were killed.[14]
Variants
- FTC-2000: Original model and export designation.
- FTC-2000G: The FTC-2000G is a dual seat better source needed] It also features a diverterless supersonic inlet.[17] It made its first flight in September 2018.[18] Compared to the FTC-2000 trainer variant, the FTC-2000G is heavier,[16] has a maximum speed of only Mach 1.2[15] due to a new wing design,[17][19] and has less endurance[16] than the FTC-2000. The aircraft can carry a maximum of 3 tons of weaponry.[15]
- JL-9: Initial PLA variant.
- JL-9G: PLANAF carrier-trainer variant.[20] It is a modified JL-9 for aircraft carrier training. It is designed for ski-jump ramp takeoffs and simulated arrested landings (land-based).[21] and includes a tailhook.[21]
Operators
- People's Republic of China
- People's Liberation Army Air Force - 30 JL-9[22]
- People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force - 28 JL-9, 12 JL-9G[23]
- Myanmar
- Myanmar Air Force — six delivered (unknown number ordered)[24][25]
- Sudan
- Sudanese Air Force — five[26]
Specifications (FTC-2000)
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010-11 [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 14.555 m (47 ft 9 in) excluding nose-probe
- Wingspan: 8.32 m (27 ft 4 in)
- Height: 4.105 m (13 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 26.15 m2 (281.5 sq ft)
- Gross weight: 7,800 kg (17,196 lb) clean
- 7,900 kg (17,417 lb) normal
- Max takeoff weight: 9,800 kg (21,605 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) internal + up to 1,302 kg (2,870 lb) in external tanks
- Powerplant: 1 × Guizhou Liyang WP-13F (C)afterburning turbojet, 43.15 kN (9,700 lbf) thrust dry, 63.25 kN (14,220 lbf) with afterburner
(1 × WP-14C Kunlun-3 for FTC-2000G, 53.89 kN (12,110 lbf) thrust dry and 76.53 kN (17,200 lbf) with afterburner.)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,100 km/h (680 mph, 590 kn) / M1.05
- Unstick and touchdown speed: 260 km/h (160 mph; 140 kn)
- Minimum flying speed: 210 km/h (130 mph; 110 kn)
- Cruise speed: 870 km/h (540 mph, 470 kn) [19]
- Stall speed: 125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn) [19]
- Range: 863 km (536 mi, 466 nmi) on internal fuel
- Ferry range: 2,400 km (1,500 mi, 1,300 nmi) with maximum internal and external fuel
- Endurance: 3 hours
- Service ceiling: 16,000 m (52,000 ft)
- g limits: +8 -3
- Rate of climb: 150 m/s (30,000 ft/min) at sea level
- Wing loading: 374.8 kg/m2 (76.8 lb/sq ft)
- Thrust/weight: 0.00645 kN/kg (0.658 lbf/lb)
- Take-off run: 400–500 m (1,300–1,600 ft)
- Landing run: 700 m (2,300 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 1x 23mm cannon[12]
- Hardpoints: 5 with a capacity of 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) maximum, with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Other: up to 3 x fuel tanks[12]
- Missiles:
Avionics
- Pulse Doppler radar
- comms
- IFF
- Transponder
- EFIS
- HOTAS
- GPS / INS
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Aero L-159 Alca
- Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master
- BAE Systems Hawk
- HAL HJT-36 Sitara
- Hongdu JL-10
- KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
- Yakovlev Yak-130
References
Media related to Guizhou JL-9 at Wikimedia Commons
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7106-2916-6.
- ^ a b Fisher, Richard D. Jr (18 June 2015). "Paris Air Show 2015: China close to first FTC-2000 supersonic trainer sale in Africa". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- Jane's Information Group. Archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
Commenting on the development, the State Administration of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) – the agency responsible for Chinese defence industrial development – said the aircraft represented the first export aircraft produced at GAIC's assembly line in city of Anshun in Guizhou province.
- ^ Jane's Information Group. p. 5. Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 January 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ISSN 0306-5634.
- ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (6 September 2018). "China begins series-producing FTC-2000G aircraft". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
- ^ Waldron, Greg (1 October 2018). "FTC-2000G conducts maiden flight". FlightGlobal. Singapore. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (28 September 2018). "China's first series-produced FTC-2000G makes maiden flight". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ Waldron, Greg (20 April 2020). "AVIC FTC-2000G snags first export order". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- ^ Irrawaddy, The (2022-12-05). "Myanmar Junta Takes Delivery of FTC-2000G Fighter Jets from China". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
- ISBN 978-1-85743-722-5.
- ^ a b c Waldron, Greg (29 October 2015). "Chinese cadets start using JL-9 advanced jet trainer". Flight International. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ a b Rogoway, Sim Tack, Tyler (2023-04-17). "Egyptian MiG-29s Destroyed In Sudan". The Drive. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 349973". aviation-safety.net. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024..
- ^ a b c d e "Is Cambodia the Mystery Buyer of China's FTC-2000G Trainer/Fighter Jet?". Defense World. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
- ^ a b c wminnick (20 November 2012). "China's FTC-2000 Upgraded". Defense News. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ a b "FTC-2000 G". Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ "China's FTC-2000G fighter aircraft conducts maiden flight". Air Force Technology. October 2018. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ a b c "FTC-2000". Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
- ^ NEWS - Asia & Australasia, Air International, August 2011, p. 16.
- ^ a b COVERT AFFAIR A. Mladenov, Air International, March 2013, p. 93
- ^ The Military Balance 2021. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 255.
- ^ The Military Balance 2021. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 254.
- ^ "Myanmar Regime Buys FTC-2000G Fighter Jets From China". The Irrawaddy. 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
- ^ Beech, Anthony Davis (8 December 2022). "Myanmar Air Force inducts new FTC-2000Gs". Janes Defence – via janes.com.
- ^ Binnie, Jeremy (16 May 2018). "Sudan's new FTC-2000 jets arrive". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.