The JiaoLian-9, also recognized as FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle (Shanying) in its export name, is a tandem two-seat, single-engine advanced jet trainer developed by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Group Co. (GAIGC). First flying on 13 December 2003, the JL-9/FTC-2000 is competing with the Hongdu Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG) L-15 for the contract of PLAAF’s next generation trainer programmed. With more high-performance third-generation fighters such as J-10 and Su-27/30 entering the service, the PLAAF’s existing JJ-6 (MiG-19 Farmer) and JJ-7 (MiG-21U Mongol) trainer fleets struggled to meet the training requirements that will enable the pilots to fly these fighters in their best performance. The PLAAF is in desperate needs for a new trainer that could match its new-generation fighters in smooth performance and avionics.
GAIGC first revealed its FTC-2000 advanced trainer concept in 2001. In order to save development time and costs, CAIGC designed the new aircraft based on its JJ-7 fighter-trainer, which has been serving with the PLAAF since the early 1980s. The new trainer retained the wing planform and powerplant of the JJ-7, but was given a redesigned forward fuselage with lateral air intakes and the in-flight refuelling probe. This has resulted in a modernised version of the JJ-7, with a relatively low unit price and modestly improved performance.
The first JL-9 prototype was rolled out in 2003 and made its first victorious flight on 13 December 2003, only two years after the programme started. The aircraft was given a military designation as JL-9 (JiangLian-9). In June 2005, Chinese newspapers reported that the JL-9 programme has been listed in the PLAAF’s 11th five-year procurement plan. The flight tests of the JL-9 are expected to complete by the end of 2005. GAIC has reportedly built 10 initial production variant planes, five of which were to be delivered to the PLAAF before 2006.
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