China's two competing indigenous advanced trainers are set to enter evaluation, with the air force due to make a decision late next year.
© Vladimir Karnozov
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Shown for the first time at Zhuhai, Hongdu's supersonic L-15 has been undergoing flight tests since March |
The FTC-2000, produced by AVIC I subsidiary Guizhou Aeronautical Industry, should be the first for final evaluation. The aircraft, which has mechanical flight controls, will also be able to perform electronic jamming, reconnaissance and light attack duties, says chief designer Sun Huizhong.
The final design, after consulting the air force, will be ready in 2007 and production can start in 2008, says Sun. Guizhou forecasts a market for about 150 FTC-2000s, with a likely cost of 40-50 million yuan ($5-6.4 million) each.
Competition comes from AVIC II subsidiary Hongdu Aeronautical Industry's L-15, which has been undergoing flight tests since March and was on display at Zhuhai. The supersonic aircraft, which has a wing-fuselage blended body, twin turbofan engines and fly-by-wire controls, will be evaluated by the air force around mid-2007.