A new advanced Hongdu jet emerges: twin-engine configuration, LIFT capability, and aircraft carrier variants, industrial stakes, and strategic export.
Summary
An advanced prototype from the Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) has been revealed in test flight. This new trainer is a two-seater, twin-engine, twin-tail aircraft that combines the characteristics of a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) and a light combat aircraft, with visible modifications for carrier-capable operations. The development meets several Chinese needs: accelerating the skills development of pilots destined for 4th and 5th generation fighters, gradually replacing older models, and offering an exportable platform to compete with the FA-50 and M-346. The engine issue remains crucial: reports mention the Chinese WS-17 as the power source, an option that would reduce dependence on foreign engines but requires extensive technical validation. Strategically, a convertible training/attack aircraft changes the operational readiness of the air force and the composition of the wings carried on Fujian and future aircraft carriers.
Development and technical characteristics
Observation of the available photographs and video footage allows us to establish an initial reliable technical inventory. The aircraft shown has a two-seat tandem configuration, swept wings, and two outward-canting fins, complemented by two small ventral planes. The presence of large leading-edge root extensions (LERX) indicates optimized lift at high angles of attack, which is useful for maneuverability at low speeds and during approaches. The airframe features reinforced landing gear, including a twin-wheel nose gear, a typical signature of a carrier-capable option to absorb more demanding braking and landing contacts. The aircraft appears to be equipped with wing tip pylons, suggesting a secondary role for air-to-air or air-to-ground strikes from light loads.
Regarding the engine, unconfirmed sources mention two WS-17 (domestic turbofan engines), powered by “caret” air intakes—a choice that, if confirmed, would facilitate industrial independence in the supply chain. However, a domestic engine requires extensive reliability and endurance testing before it can be adopted on a large scale. Finally, the presence of a large head-up display (HUD) visible in the front cockpit and multifunction screens indicates a fully digital cockpit, consistent with modern LIFT standards. These technical features make the prototype suitable for advanced training while remaining designed for light combat missions.
Operational role: LIFT, career training, and aircraft carrier capability
Integration into the rapid pilot training program is at the heart of the project. A LIFT (lead-in fighter trainer) must prepare pilots for the avionics systems and procedures of high-level fighters. With its power and digital cockpit, the new aircraft is technically positioned between a basic trainer and a front-line aircraft. In practical terms, it enables faster progression: advanced instrument navigation, sensor management, simulated missile firing, and local superiority training.
On the naval side, the elements carried on the airframe—reinforced landing gear, LERX, and possibly a structure for an arresting hook—indicate that a carrier-capable version is being considered. For the Chinese navy (PLAN), having a specifically naval trainer reduces dependence on adaptations of land-based models (as was attempted with the JL-9G) and improves the safety of training cycles from the flight decks of the Fujian and subsequent aircraft carriers. A full naval variant could include additional structural reinforcements, flight controls calibrated for landing, and catapult/landing link management software if necessary. This training/attack modularity opens the door to realistic training cycles for J-20/J-35 and future carrier-based programs.
The engine challenge, the supply chain, and the Chinese aerospace industry
The engine issue is central to the program’s viability. The JL-10/L-15 has historically used Ukrainian AI-222-25 turbofans, and the Chinese industry has been working for several years to replace these engines with domestic models such as the WS-17 or WS-10 in other segments. The adoption of a domestic engine would guarantee strategic autonomy and fewer export constraints, but requires qualification in terms of endurance, fuel consumption, maintenance, and compatibility with nacelles and air intakes. Engine testing takes thousands of hours and requires expensive test benches; a technical setback could delay commissioning by several years.
On the industrial front, Hongdu (HAIG) has a proven track record as a manufacturer of training jets (JL-8, JL-9, JL-10/L-15). The new airframe shows that the company is capitalizing on its experience while seeking to meet naval and export needs. The choice of engine influences the unit cost: a domestic engine allows control over pricing and facilitates export licensing to countries subject to restrictions on Western or Ukrainian engines. Finally, the standardization of avionics components (HUD, data bus, sensors) will facilitate maintenance and integration with modern simulators, reducing operational costs over time.
The export market, competition, and geopolitical issues
A Chinese aircraft that combines advanced training and light combat aircraft capabilities has a clear market: countries seeking a versatile, robust, and low-cost platform, often excluded from Western purchases. Direct competitors include South Korea’s FA-50 (KAI) and Italy’s M-346, both of which are present in the LCA/Trainer market. The competitive advantages of the Chinese design are its affordability, the availability of production lines, and the absence of US restrictions on components. In terms of performance, the HAIG aircraft, with its twin engines, pylon payloads, and radar, can target an intermediate segment—advanced training + light support—that appeals to air forces with limited budgets.
Geopolitically, the export of such an aircraft strengthens Beijing’s influence with states seeking alternatives to Western equipment. It also allows China to offer complete system integration (training, parts, modernization), creating industrial and logistical dependencies. Finally, in the naval theater, having a modern naval trainer accelerates the operational integration of Chinese carrier-based fleets and influences the tactical learning curve for maritime power projection.
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