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Confirmed : PAF Negotiating For L-15 LIFT Aircrafts !

Apparently UAE 🇦🇪 is buying the advanced trainer
 
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?
 

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
 
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 ...
 
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 ??
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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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