UAE orders Chinese L-15 planes with Ukrainian engines

During the IDEX 2023 international exhibition in Abu Dhabi, the Chinese Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation entered into an agreement to sell the L-15 jet trainer and light combat aircraft to the United Arab Emirates.

Global Times reported this.

It is noted that a year ago, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced its intention to conclude a deal with a Chinese company. It included purchasing 12 L-15 aircraft with the option to acquire 36 more.

The agreement was finally signed at IDEX 2023.

AVIC’s press release notes that the aircraft can be used to train pilots of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets.

Incidentally, the L-15 presented at IDEX 23 was already painted in the colors of the UAE Air Force and equipped with additional equipment for aerial refueling.

In November 2019, China hosted the presentation of an L-15B new light combat training aircraft. It is a modified variant of the L-15 (JL-10).

Its main difference from the “basic” L-15 is the equipment developed by the Zaporizhzhya “Ivchenko-Progress” design bureau with an afterburner version of the АІ-222-25 engine manufactured by Motor-Sich JSC. With this engine, the aircraft can reach supersonic speed.

The L-15B also has onboard radar, self-defense and weapons control systems, including guided weapons, and 11 external suspension units.

In January 2021, Motor-Sich signed a contract to supply АІ-322 aircraft engines for the needs of the PRC Air Force.