Guizhou JL-9 explained

The Guizhou JL-9, also known as the FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle, 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 fourth generation aircraft. The trainer was revealed at the 2001 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.[2] The aircraft are reported to be produced at a GAIC assembly line in Anshun, Guizhou.[3]

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. 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.

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.

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

Operators

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2010-11 . Jackson . Paul . 2010 . Jane's Information Group . London . 978-0-7106-2916-6 . 101st . 116–117.
  2. Web site: Paris Air Show 2015: China close to first FTC-2000 supersonic trainer sale in Africa . Fisher . Richard D. Jr . 18 June 2015 . IHS Jane's 360 . 29 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150621061906/http://www.janes.com/article/52403/paris-air-show-2015-china-close-to-first-ftc-2000-supersonic-trainer-sale-in-africa . 21 June 2015.
  3. News: . 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. . China promotes FTC-2000 trainer for export . Jon . Grevatt . June 6, 2017 . June 7, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170606141206/http://www.janes.com/article/71156/china-promotes-ftc-2000-trainer-for-export . June 6, 2017 . live .
  4. Aiming high: China's air ambitions . Caffrey . Craig . 2013 . . 5 . 29 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170124043023/http://www.janes360.com/images/assets/976/30976/China_aircraft_capabilities_1.pdf . 24 January 2017 . live . dmy-all .
  5. Rupprecht. Andreas. China: Naval Aviation Training. Air International. March 2018. 46–49. 0306-5634.
  6. Web site: Dominguez . Gabriel . China begins series-producing FTC-2000G aircraft . IHS Jane's 360 . 7 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180907140856/https://www.janes.com/article/82827/china-begins-series-producing-ftc-2000g-aircraft . 7 September 2018 . London . 6 September 2018 . live.
  7. Web site: Waldron . Greg . FTC-2000G conducts maiden flight . FlightGlobal . 6 October 2018 . https://archive.today/20181006133415/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ftc-2000g-conducts-maiden-flight-452310/ . 6 October 2018 . Singapore . 1 October 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: Dominguez . Gabriel . China's first series-produced FTC-2000G makes maiden flight . IHS Jane's 360 . 6 October 2018 . https://archive.today/20181006133306/https://www.janes.com/article/83426/china-s-first-series-produced-ftc-2000g-makes-maiden-flight . 6 October 2018 . 28 September 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  9. Web site: Waldron . Greg . AVIC FTC-2000G snags first export order . FlightGlobal . 20 April 2020 . 20 April 2020.
  10. Web site: Irrawaddy . The . 2022-12-05 . Myanmar Junta Takes Delivery of FTC-2000G Fighter Jets from China . 2023-07-19 . The Irrawaddy . en-US.
  11. Book: International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2014 . Routledge . 2014 . 978-1-85743-722-5 . Hacket . James . Oxfordshire . 235 . International Institute for Strategic Studies.
  12. Web site: Waldron . Greg . 29 October 2015 . Chinese cadets start using JL-9 advanced jet trainer . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818152611/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/chinese-cadets-start-using-jl-9-advanced-jet-traine-418335/ . 18 August 2016 . 29 July 2016 . . dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Rogoway . Sim Tack, Tyler . 2023-04-17 . Egyptian MiG-29s Destroyed In Sudan . 2023-04-18 . The Drive . en.
  14. Web site: 17 January 2024. 17 January 2024. EN. ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 349973. aviation-safety.net. .
  15. Web site: Is Cambodia the Mystery Buyer of China's FTC-2000G Trainer/Fighter Jet?. 14 February 2020. Defense World.
  16. News: China's FTC-2000 Upgraded . https://archive.today/20141226223228/http://intercepts.defensenews.com/2012/11/chinas-ftc-2000-upgraded/ . December 26, 2014 . wminnick . 20 November 2012 . . 29 July 2016 . dmy-all .
  17. Web site: FTC-2000 G . . 29 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160829060827/http://www.avic.com/en/forbusiness/militaryaviationanddefense/trainers/394364.shtml . 29 August 2016 . live . dmy-all .
  18. Web site: China's FTC-2000G fighter aircraft conducts maiden flight . October 2018 . . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181019164154/https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/chinas-ftc-2000g-aircraft-maiden-flight/ . 19 October 2018 . live . dmy-all .
  19. Web site: FTC-2000 . . 29 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160829060827/http://www.avic.com/en/forbusiness/militaryaviationanddefense/trainers/394364.shtml . 29 August 2016 . live . dmy-all .
  20. NEWS – Asia & Australasia, Air International, August 2011, p. 16.
  21. COVERT AFFAIR A. Mladenov, Air International, March 2013, p. 93
  22. Book: The Military Balance 2021 . International Institute for Strategic Studies . 255.
  23. Book: The Military Balance 2021 . International Institute for Strategic Studies . 254.
  24. Web site: 2022-10-18 . Myanmar Regime Buys FTC-2000G Fighter Jets From China . 2022-10-19 . The Irrawaddy . en-US.
  25. News: Myanmar Air Force inducts new FTC-2000Gs. Anthony Davis. Beech. Janes Defence . 8 December 2022. janes.com.
  26. Web site: Binnie. Jeremy. Sudan's new FTC-2000 jets arrive. IHS Jane's 360. 16 May 2018. 16 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180517005336/http://www.janes.com/article/80108/sudan-s-new-ftc-2000-jets-arrive/. 17 May 2018. live. dmy-all.

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