China successfully sold 12 L15 trainer jets to the United Arab Emirates

China’s aerospace industry (AVIC) announced on February 21, 2023, it has signed an agreement to export the Hongdu L15 advanced trainer jet to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initial deal contract is for a dozen L15s and possibly for an additional 36 aircraft. This purchase is considered a historic agreement, because this is the first time the UAE has purchased an aircraft made in China, where previously the UAE was loyal to Western products. At the IDEX 2023 exhibition which took place in Abu Dhabi from February 20-24, AVIC presented the L15 scale model with the UAE Air Force’s signature livery. Previously, China debuted its advanced L15 trainer jet at the Dubai Airshow 2021, by conducting a dynamic demonstration of its capabilities. With this successful export to the UAE, it is expected to significantly increase China’s reach for L15 sales to countries in the rest of the Middle East region. As a LIFT ( Lead-in fighter Trainer ) aircraft , the jet, which is nicknamed the ’Falcon’, has adopted a digital quadruple fly-by-wire (FBW), glass cockpit (two multi-colored screens for the front and rear), as well as hands-on flight control. throttle and stick (HOTAS). With the L15, student pilots will be able to complete mission flight training and advanced combat training, as well as complete all basic jet flight training courses. Acting as a light fighter jet, the L15 has six hardpoints (four under wings and two wing tips) to carry various weapons in the form of a combination of missiles and bombs up to 3.5 tons. For its characteristics, the L-15 has a length of m, a wing span of m, a height of m, and a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 9,500 kg. As a driving force in the form of two turbofan engines of choice, namely the Ivchenko-Progress AI-222K-25 or the AI-222-25F series. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 1,715 km/hour, a flight altitude of up to 16,000 m, and an operating range of 550 km.