
JL-9G for the Navy with DSI-featuring aircraft, uses the same DSI design for JF-17
The current JL-9s use a WP-13F(C) with a maximum trust of 4,400kg without and 6,450kg with afterburner.
![[IMG]](http://oi44.tinypic.com/dm8wea.jpg)
JL-9
Guizhou Aviation Industry Import/Export Company (GAIEC) has released
photos of the production line for the JL-9 fighter trainer. These images
indicate production of the jet with DSI is well underway.
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JianLian-9 (JL-9) is an advance trainer or light attack aircraft
designed and manufactured by the Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation
(GAIC) of China. The aircraft was designed for the People's Liberation
Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
(PLANAF).
Its export version is designated as FTC-2000 (Fighter Trainer-2000)
Mountain Eagle (Shanying). The JL-9 was derived from its forerunner, the
JJ-7 jet trainer.
JL-9 design and features
The JL-9 was designed by modifying the JJ-7 aircraft. The
modifications included redesigning the forward fuselage and
incorporating an FIAR Grifo S7 pulse-doppler fire-control radar in the
solid nose radome. It was designed to carry either three drop tanks of
480l capacity or two 480l and one 720l capacity drop tanks under the
wings and fuselage. It can hover with a flight envelope of +8g and -3g.
The aircraft features an in-flight refuelling probe on the starboard
side of the front fuselage section to accomplish air refuelling missions
even in the worst climatic conditions. It is fitted with double-delta
wings to render additional space for fuel capacity and raise the
aircraft's angle of attack.
JL-9 development
" The aircraft can conciliate a two-man crew in tandem-seat configuration to render better visibility."
The JL-9 was built to suit the desperate requirements of the PLAAF
for a new trainer aircraft to match its new generation fighters in
aerodynamic performance and avionics suite. The aircraft is being used
to train pilots flying fourth-generation aircraft such as Chengdu J-10,
Sukhoi Su-27SK, Sukhoi Su-30MKK and Shenyang J-11.
The intention to develop the JL-9 was unveiled by GAIC during the
China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition held in 2001. To
reduce development costs and time, GAIC built the JL-9 by modifying the
JJ-7 aircraft, which was derived from the Soviet MiG-21U Mongol fighter
trainer.
The first JL-9 prototype took its maiden flight in December 2003. The
aircraft was listed in the PLAAF's 11th five-year procurement plan in
June 2005, according to Chinese newspapers. A total of five production
JL-9s entered service with PLAAF in 2006.
"The JL-9 took its maiden flight in December 2003."
An advanced version of the JL-9 equipped with a stability control
augmentation system and a microwave landing system was examined in 2006.
On completion of technology certification testing in September 2006, it
entered into series production for PLAAF and PLANAF. Another version of
the aircraft, incorporated with a tail hook, underwent flight testing
in January 2011.
Cockpit
The JL-9 features an all digital cockpit enclosed with an oval-shaped
glass canopy, which opens to the right side. The aircraft can
conciliate a two-man crew in tandem-seat configuration to render better
visibility.
The cockpit is equipped with three XPS-2 multifunctional displays, a
head-up display, a radar warning receiver, electronic countermeasures
and an electronic flight instrumentation system. Other features include a
1553B MILSTD databus, an inertial navigation system, a global
positioning system and an air data computer.
Armaments
The JL-9 is armed with one Type 23-1 23mm single barrel cannon, which
can fire munitions at a rate of 800 rounds per minute. The muzzle
velocity is 690m per second and the weight of the gun is 39kg.
The aircraft boasts five hardpoints, four under the wings and one
under the centreline fuselage section. It can carry up to 2,000kg of
payload including short range and medium range air to air missiles, air
to ground missiles, unguided bombs and rocket pods.
Engines
"The JL-9 can climb at a rate of 260m per second."
The JL-9 is powered by a single WP-13F (C) afterburning turbojet
engine rated at 44.1kN of dry thrust. The thrust afterburner of the
engine is 66.7kN. The WP-13F (C) is designed and built by Liming
Aircraft Engine Company of China. GAIC is planning to incorporate more
efficient Liming WP-14C Kunlun-3 turbojet engine in the JL-9 in future.
Performance of the JL-9
The JL-9 can climb at a rate of 260m per second. The maximum and
cruise speed of the aircraft are 2,450km per hour and 1,960km per hour,
respectively. The range is 2,500km and the service ceiling is 16,000m.