China Set To Mass Produce New Generation Of Fighter Jet Trainers

AEROSPACE

The JL-9, also known as FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle (Shanying), is an tandem two-seater, single-engine advanced training aircraft developed by Guizhou Aviation Industry Group, the manufacturer of the JJ-7 fighter-trainer currently in use with the PLAAF.

Beijing (AFP) Jun 21, 2005
China is preparing the mass production of a third-generation jet fighter training plane and could roll out up to 10 of the JL-9 Mountain Eagles next year, state press reported Tuesday.

The plane would be manufactured by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Group, but it was still unclear if the Chinese airforce had signed contracts to buy the trainer, the China Daily reported.

A model of the aircraft made its maiden flight in December 2003, with reports at that time saying mass production would begin in 2005.

The plane, whose NATO-designation is FTC-2000, is expected to train fighter pilots flying third-generation craft like the Russian Sukhoi Su-27s and Su-30s, the most advanced fighters in China's air force.

The planes can also be fitted as fighter aircraft and sold to developing markets, the report said.

"Our goal is to see to it that a number of the new trainers go to the military in 2006," Zhang Shangdao, vice president of the Guizhou manufacturer, was quoted as saying.

"Since it is both a fighter and trainer, some small countries, lacking a large fleet of fighter planes, could use the Mountain Eagle to train their fighter pilots in peace time, arming it for use as a fighter in war time."

The Guizhou factory, which is part of the China Aviation Industry Corp I, has manufactured some 1,100 planes for the Chinese military since it was set up in 1964.

The JL-9 is powered by a domestically-made WP-13 turbojet engine, can reach a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 (1.6 times the speed of sound) and can carry two pilots.

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SINO DAILY

Israel Bids To Defuse Chinese Arms Sales Row With US

Jerusalem, Israel (AFP) Jun 19, 2005
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