From the Dec. 22 article in AW&ST by Doug Barrie and Michael Taverna entitled “Dragon Trainer” reporting from Dubai/London.
Key points;
L-15/FTC-2000:
L-15 expected to fly around 2005, but AVIC II is searching for a European partner, namely EADS. That’s why there have been requests for the EU to drop its arms sanctions against the PRC as of late.
Shi Jian Zhong, VP of AVIC II said that AVIC II could develop the L-15 for as little as $900 million (that doesn’t sound like very little- do they mean RMB or US?), half the cost of the Mako.
L-15 will be powered by 2 Motor Sich AI-222K-25F turbojets, with initial deliveries projected for 2007.
Wang Tiesong, deputy director for development planning at CATIC, said that the PLAAF will hold a fly-off between the L-15 and FTC-2000 to decide which one to acquire, IF ANY.
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JF-17:
Liu Yonghui, director of international marketing and cooperation for AVIC I said that Pakistan is looking for an IOC date for its JF-17s of about 2006.
Liu said that fully guided tests of the SD-10/PL-12 are set for early 2004, with early production batches to be available midyear. The guided tests were supposed to have been carried out in 2003- delay?
PLAAF is looking for a full multirole variant, has yet to show any interest as PAF wants more of an air superiority fighter. PLAN also starting to show interest?!?
Currently the cockpit design is all Chinese with 3 MFDs, HUD, and NVG compatible environment. Expected to have Fiar Grifo FCR, and Sagem INS (if an export license can be obtained), and a MB 16 or Chinese FY5B ejection seat.
Flight test program will include 2 JF-17s for structural and engine tests, 2 for avionics. All flight testing will be done in China. Second prototype will fly by the year’s end, and third will be up in late 2005.
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January 12, 2004 at 11:49 pm