JL-8 (K-8) Basic Jet
Training Aircraft
NAME
CONTRACTOR
|
SPECIFICATIONS Crew: Two
|
 The JL-8 prototype in flight test. The special painting scheme includes national flags of China and Pakistan |
DESIGN FEATURES
The JL-8/K-8 has low-mounted wings, lateral air intakes, and whole-piece bubble canopy. Two pilots are accommodated in a tandem, air-conditioned cockpit, with the back seat slightly higher than the front seat. The domestic JL-8 differs from the export variant K-8 in avionics configuration and power plant.
ARMAMENT
The JL-8/K-8 doesn't have a fixed weapon. Four under-wing stores stations, up to 1,000 kg, each rated at 250 kg. The stations can carry drop tanks, 23 mm cannon pods, unguided rockets, 250 kg bombs, short-range air-to-air missiles (e.g. Magic R550).
AVIONICS
EFIS-86 system, with twin-MFD, VHF/UHF radio, VHF landing/navigation, TATAN system, and air data computer.
POWERPLANT
Options include: TFE731-2A turbofan, Ukrainian AI-25TL turbofan, or a locally designed WS-11 (an AI-25TL clone, 16.87 kN thrust).
PROGRAMME
China and Pakistan agreed to jointly develop the K-8 'Karakorum' jet trainer, which was planned to incorporate significant American content, including Garrett engines, and Collins and Magnavox avionics. The development of this project was jeopardized US restrictions levied by the United States following June 1989.
Manufacture of four prototypes started January 1989, and the first flight test was conducted on 21 November 1990. A total of 14 initial production version aircraft (six to Pakistani Air Force) were delivered by the end of 1996. However, Pakistan decided against domestic series production in 1994. While the original plan involved up to 75 aircraft for Pakistan, by early 1996 as many as 100 were reportedly desired to replace aging Cessna T-37 trainers.
The domestic version JL-8 first flew in Dec 1994 and six aircraft were delivered to the PLAAF in June 1998. The further development variant powered by an indigenous WS-11 turbofan (a Chinese copy of the Ukrainian AI-25TL) was first tested in Dec 1998. Meanwhile 30+ JL-8s are serving with the PLAAF 13th Flight School. It is anticipated that the PLAAF may need several hundred JL-8s to replace its ageing JJ-5 trainer fleet in the next decade.
In July 2000 China and Egypt signed a deal of producing 80 K-8s under license. The first Egypt-produced K-8 (designated as K-8E) rolled out of the assembly-line in June 2001. In addition, around few dozen K-8s have also been exported to Sri Lanka, Zambia, and Tanzania.
ROLES
Basic jet flight training, with limited air-to-ground attack capabilities.
INVENTORY
Meanwhile 30+ JL-8s are serving with the PLAAF 13th Flight School.
VARIANTS
K-8: Initial production variant for export. The aircraft is powered by a TFE731-2A turbofan engine.
JL-8: Domestic variant for the PLAAF, with all indigenous avionics and WS-11 turbofan engine.
K-8E: Licensed production variant by Egypt.
K-8 Technical Demonstration Aircraft: This is a technical testbed converted from the K-8 for the research of fly-by-wire (FBW) techniques. The rear seat of the aircraft was removed to accommodated data recording equipment.
Source :sinodefence
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------