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Confirmed : PAF Negotiating For L-15 LIFT Aircrafts !

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Apparently UAE 🇦🇪 is buying the advanced trainer
 
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View attachment 1025034
The news was circulating when the L-15s were seen flying from Karachi to Islamabad and then on to Dubai. Furthermore it's said they would be stopping in Pakistan during their return flight.

Breaking : CATIC has confirmed to correspondents during Dubai Air Show 2023 that Pakistan is in formal negotiations for acquisition of L-15 LIFT fighters to replace its aging F-7PG fighters which are currently used to carry out Operational Conversion of PAF Pilots.

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How it differs from the K8 trainer we have?
 
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Hongdu L-15 Advanced Trainer | MilitaryToday.com​

Hongdu L-15 Falcon Advanced trainer
Hongdu L-15 Falcon trainer
The Hongdu L-15 Falconadvanced trainer features a number of advanced technologies
Country of origin​
China​
Entered service​
2013​
Crew​
2 men​
Dimensions and weight
Length​
12.27 m​
Wing span​
9.48 m​
Height​
4.81 m​
Weight (empty)​
?​
Weight (maximum take off)​
9.5 t​
Engines and performance
Engines​
2 x AL-222K-25F turbofans​
Traction (dry / with afterburning)​
?​
Maximum speed​
1.4 Mach​
Service ceiling​
16 km​
Ferry range​
3 100 km​
Combat radius​
over 550 km​
Armament
Cannon​
?​
Missiles​
provision for various air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles​
Bombs​
provision to carry bombs​
Other​
provision to carry pods with unguided rockets​
The Hongdu L-15 Falcon made its maiden flight in 2006. Development of this aircraft was assisted by Russian Yakovlev design bureau, hence its resemblance to the Yak-130. This advanced trainer was competing for the PLAAF next generation advanced trainer aircraft programme against a Guizhou JL-9. The L-15 Falcon was more advanced in terms of technology comparing with the JL-9, however it was also more expensive to produce. Eventually in 2013 the L-15 was adopted by the Chinese air force as the JL-10. The Hongdu L-15 is also being proposed for the export customers. Zambia operates 6 of these trainer aircraft. Venezuela also plans to acquire 24 of these aircraft.
The L-15 is intended to train pilots to fly high-performance forth-generation aircraft, such as the J-10 and Su-27. It is also suitable to complete all basic jet flight training courses.
Aircraft is fitted with two Ukranian Progress AL-222K-25F turbofan engines with afterburners. It is worth noting, that China signed a contract with Ukraine for delivery of 1 920 of these engines for their JL-10 trainers. Delivery is scheduled until 2041.
The L-15 has secondary light attack capability. It has 4 underwing and 3 wingtip hardpoints for various weapons, including short-range air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, bombs and rocket pods.
This aircraft features a number of advanced technologies such as digital fly-by-wire, hands on throttle and stick controls. It also has good aerodynamic performance.
Variants​
JL-10 is a Chinese air force official designation of the L15.
JL-10A is an improved version, equipped with radar.
L-15B is an improved variant with afterburning engines.​

View attachment 1025034
The news was circulating when the L-15s were seen flying from Karachi to Islamabad and then on to Dubai. Furthermore it's said they would be stopping in Pakistan during their return flight.

Breaking : CATIC has confirmed to correspondents during Dubai Air Show 2023 that Pakistan is in formal negotiations for acquisition of L-15 LIFT fighters to replace its aging F-7PG fighters which are currently used to carry out Operational Conversion of PAF Pilots.

View attachment 1025024
For conversion of pilots on the J10CP
 
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How it differs from the K8 trainer we have?
K8-P is an intermediate trainer, the L-15 is an advanced LIFT trainer, different roles and usages.

What about the twin seater Jeff?
That’s for LIFT training on the JF-17 platform, and it’s also a full fledged fighter, this is for training J-10C pilots. The JF-17B has several other roles to serve given its a fighter aircraft foremost and a trainer second.
 
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Have to say this looks just like the YAK 130 /
LEONARDO M346 trainer .....or is it
just my imagination .............domestically developed ...
 
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Thank you for posting L-15 LIFT Aircrafts.
How many of L-15 aircraft, Pakistan has bought ?
Can you use it for training only or ,
1- Missiles-provision for various air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles
2-Bombs-provision to carry bombs

Is it similar to JF-17,F-16 ??
 
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Pakistan is in formal negotiations for acquisition of L-15 LIFT fighters to replace its aging F-7PG fighters which are currently used to carry out Operational Conversion of PAF Pilots.

Pakistan maybe in negotiations for L-15 but those should not be coming to replace F-7PGs. F-7 P / Pgs are combat fighters (interceptors) whereas L-15 is dedicated LIFT. F-7 series replacement on role basis should be JF-17s.


What about the twin seater Jeff?

Jeff bravo isn't a dedicated LIFT but a multirole combat aircraft with conversion training ability. However, Jeff bravo could have possibly reduced the need for a dedicated LIFT platform but not eliminated it completely.

if PAF is only looking for dedicated LIFT then off the shelf L-15 makes sense as the timelines and cost to develop a JF-17 bravo could be higher, That's just my opinion, don't know the actual cost of L-15 though.
 
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Thank you for posting L-15 LIFT Aircrafts.
How many of L-15 aircraft, Pakistan has bought ?
Can you use it fortraining only or ,
1- Missiles-provision for various air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles
2-Bombs-provision to carry bombs

Is it similar to JF-17,F-16 ??
 
.
View attachment 1025034
The news was circulating when the L-15s were seen flying from Karachi to Islamabad and then on to Dubai. Furthermore it's said they would be stopping in Pakistan during their return flight.

Breaking : CATIC has confirmed to correspondents during Dubai Air Show 2023 that Pakistan is in formal negotiations for acquisition of L-15 LIFT fighters to replace its aging F-7PG fighters which are currently used to carry out Operational Conversion of PAF Pilots.

View attachment 1025024

There were rumours that funds for 4 aircraft were transferred but this was years ago and no further development.

Great aircraft design, may help to complement the JF-17B
 
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The two seen in OP were captured in the morning flying out of Karachi and by midday guys were reporting seen them landing at Nur Khan.
@Trailer23 mentioned that they will be stopping back in Pakistan.
Surely the display como Is not for UAEAF.
I heard them land at Nur Khan at around 0900 hrs. :) and then they took off at around 1100hrs after a fuel stop. :)
they were followed by a Chinese regional jet.
 
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K8-P is an intermediate trainer, the L-15 is an advanced LIFT trainer, different roles and usages.


That’s for LIFT training on the JF-17 platform, and it’s also a full fledged fighter, this is for training J-10C pilots. The JF-17B has several other roles to serve given its a fighter aircraft foremost and a trainer second.
Under ACM Sohail Amain, the PAF worked on using the JF-17B for the LIFT role, but by the time of ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan, they opted to pursue a dedicated LIFT in addition to the JF-17B. In fact, the PAF started telling media and vendors that it wanted a new LIFT at IDEAS 2018. AVIC even promised to design a custom L-15 with afterburning engines and radar for the PAF's needs at the time.

As you said, the JF-17B is a fully capable fighter, and -- my guess -- they'll likely outfit the JF-17B with the same subsystems as the Block-3 so that it can augment the frontline fighter fleet when necessary.

The other issue is that the jump from K-8 to JF-17B (especially when equipped like the Block-3) could be relatively steep. So, the PAF probably needs a LIFT to make that transition smoother.
 
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View attachment 1025034
The news was circulating when the L-15s were seen flying from Karachi to Islamabad and then on to Dubai. Furthermore it's said they would be stopping in Pakistan during their return flight.

Breaking : CATIC has confirmed to correspondents during Dubai Air Show 2023 that Pakistan is in formal negotiations for acquisition of L-15 LIFT fighters to replace its aging F-7PG fighters which are currently used to carry out Operational Conversion of PAF Pilots.

View attachment 1025024

Not F-7PGs but FT-7Ps used for OCU for the 2 PGs sqns.
PGs will most probably be replaced by JF-17 (money permitting)
 
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