Hongdu L-15 is a twin engine, modern jet trainer or light attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) of China. It has been built as a rival to Guizhou JL-9/FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle. The L-15 will be used as a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF). About five prototypes have been built by HAIG.

Hongdu L-15 trainer aircraft orders

PLAAF ordered four Hongdu L-15 trainer aircraft in April 2006. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is planning to procure Hongdu L-15 supersonic jet trainers from HAIG to replace its existing K-8 Karakorum jet trainer. The procurement will allow PAF to reduce its trainer aircraft from four to two.



Hongdu L-15 design

HAIG unveiled the L-15 aircraft design in September 2001 during the 9th Aviation exhibition in Beijing. The large leading edge extensions (LEX) design allows the aircraft to offer a maximum angle of attack of 30°. The aircraft can also be changed into light air-to-ground attack aircraft with minor modifications.

The aircraft has been designed to train pilots of the Fourth-generation fighters encompassing Su-27, Su-30, J-10, and J-11. The enhanced design provides safety to the pilot while cutting down the training cost compared to its rivals.

HAIG L-15 development

The development of Hongdu L-15 began when Hongdu planned a modern trainer aircraft which would meet the requirements of PLAAF's new generation fighters. Russian based Yakovlev Design Bureau aided in the L-15 manufacturing as its design resembles that of the Yak-130 aircraft.

"HAIG unveiled the L-15 aircraft design in September 2001 during the 9th Aviation exhibition in Beijing."

The initial prototype was rolled out in September 2005 and took its maiden flight in March 2006. The second prototype completed its first flight in May 2008. The first and second prototypes are powered by two ZMKB-Progress (Lotarev) DV-2 engines. An improved version, the DV-2F, which boasts of afterburner capabilities, was fitted in the third model. Ukraine's Ivchenko-Progress AI-222K-25F turbofan engines with afterburner are incorporated in the later L-15 versions.

The Hongdu L-15 was displayed at the Dubai Air show organised in November 2009 to promote its aircraft in the potential Middle East market. HAIG will receive export orders from Africa, the Middle East and South America.

The first operational variant powered by Ivchenko-Progress AI-222K-25F turbofan engines was introduced in August 2010 upon completion of six months production.

Hongdu L-15 cockpit

The Hongdu L-15 features a full glass cockpit which can accommodate two crew members, either a student pilot and instructor, or an official pilot and weapons systems officer. A multi-colour head down display is fitted on both front and rear cockpit, while the head up display is installed at the cockpit front. Digital fly by wire (FBW), and hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) flight control systems are also installed in the aircraft.

Armaments

The Hongdu L-15 comprises six hard points of which four are located under the two wings and two under the wing-tips. It can accommodate 3,000kg of payload. The aircraft can carry short range air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, bombs and rocket pods.

Ivchenko Progress AI-222K-25F Engines

The aircraft is powered by two Ivchenko Progress AI-222K-25F afterburning turbofan engines. Each engine can generate 4,200kg of thrust afterburner.

"The Hongdu L-15 can climb at the rate of 150m/s."

The aircraft is also integrated with full authority digital engine control (FADEC), which decreases the work load of the pilot by executing autopilot operations.

The length and width of the engine are 2.2m and 0.86m respectively.

The height is 1.09m. The service life of the engine is 3000 flight hours, while the dry weight is 440kg.

Performance

The Hongdu L-15 can climb at the rate of 150m/s. Its maximum speed is 1,715km/h. The range and combat radius of the aircraft are 3,100km and 550km respectively. The service ceiling of the aircraft is 16,000m. Its maximum loitering time is two hours. The aircraft weighs around 4,960kg and its maximum take-off weight is 9,500kg.

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Asian trainer aircraft

Strong regional demand for trainer aircraft

Byline: Guy Martin / Johannesburg

An air force is only as good as its pilots and training them is a vital part of ensuring combat effectiveness. That is why trainer aircraft are an integral part of any air force, but they can also be used for light attack and surveillance duties – an important consideration for budget-conscious countries. Many of the 973 jet and 599 turboprop trainers projected by Forecast International to be sold between now and 2021 will go to Asian countries, especially as they develop their domestic industries. While many nations are shrinking their combat jet fleets, numerous Asian countries are expanding theirs and the importance of trainer aircraft in the region is highlighted by their acquisition of fifth generation fighter aircraft, such as the F-35, FGFA and J-20.

China and Pakistan jointly produce the Karakorum-8 (K-8) jet trainer, manufactured by Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). They are replacing the Pakistan Air Force’s Cessna T-37 Tweet jet trainers and its 25 obsolete Shenyang FT-5s, which were retired in January. Pakistan has 75 K-8s on order, in addition to six initially delivered. The low cost K-8 has been widely exported to around a dozen countries, which also use it for other duties, including light attack. A ton of weapons can be carried, including a 23 mm cannon pod and PL-5 and PL-7 air-to-air missiles. Pakistan also flies nine Shenyang FT-6s, seven Chengdu FT-7s and more than a dozen T-37B/Cs, together with PAC MFI-17 Mushshak and PAC Super Mushshak ab initio trainers. Pakistan has shown interest in acquiring Hongdu L-15s to bridge the gap between the K-8 and its frontline combat aircraft.

Pilot training is of tremendous importance for the Indian Air Force (IAF), especially as it suffers a relatively high accident rate, notably with the MiG-21, and is planning to introduce 126 new Rafale multirole combat aircraft in the coming years. In late May Pilatus announced that it had signed a contract with the IAF for 75 PC-7 Mk II trainers to replace 180 to 200 HAL HPT-32 Deepak aircraft, which were grounded in July 2009 after a number of fatal accidents. The contract is worth more than US $520 million including ground based training equipment and logistics support (the aircraft will be maintained by HAL in India). An option can extend the contract to 105 aircraft. Deliveries are set to begin at the end of 2012 or early next year. Pilatus chose to pitch the PC-7 Mk II rather than the more advanced PC-21 due to its lower operating costs.

In addition to acquiring PC-7s, HAL is developing an indigenous counterpart in the form of the HTT-40 turboprop basic trainer. For training pilots on large and medium transport aircraft, the IAF has ordered 15 Saras multi-role twin turboprop transport aircraft, developed by National Aerospace Laboratories. They will be delivered from 2014. The IAF may acquire up to 50 for training.
Intermediate training is provided by around 150 HAL HJT-16 Kiran trainers, which will be replaced by the locally developed HAL HJT-36 Sitara, which first flew in March 2003. Eighty-five have been ordered but the total requirement could be for up to 250 aircraft. The programme has been delayed by crashes and engine changes - full production may only occur in 2015, a year after the Kirans were supposed to have been replaced.

For advanced training, the IAF has in service the BAE Systems Hawk Mk 132. In 2004 66 Hawks were acquired after twenty years of negotiations. The first aircraft was accepted into service in 2008 and another 40 were ordered in July 2010 for the Air Force and 17 for the Navy. India’s first 24 Hawks were bought as flyaways while the rest were built under license by HAL. The Indian Air Force may order another 20 Hawks to replace the Kirans flown by the IAF’s aerobatic team – HAL in September issued an RFP to BAE Systems for the license production of the additional aircraft.

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