The Guizhou JL-9, also known as the FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle (), is a family of two-seat supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft developed by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Import/Export Company (GAIEC) for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF).

Development

The FTC-2000 started as a GAIEC private venture to develop an inexpensive trainer for fourth generation aircraft. The trainer was revealed at the 2001 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition. The aircraft are reported to be produced at a GAIC assembly line in Anshun, Guizhou. The FTC-2000, as the JL-9, competed with the

Hongdu JL-10 The Hongdu JL-10, also initially known as Hongdu L-15 Falcon, is a supersonic advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft developed by Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIC). It is used by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) ...

to meet the advanced trainer requirements of the PLAAF and PLANAF. The JL-10 is more technologically advanced, but also more expensive, than the JL-9. In 2013, both had entered production. A carrier-landing trainer variant was revealed by Chinese state media in 2011. Designated the JL-9G, it has strengthened undercarriage, enlarged wing and diverterless supersonic inlets, but has proved to be unsuitable for arrested landings and is limited to land-based operations. On 5 September 2018, Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that GAIC had begun mass production of the FTC-2000G variant. On 28 September it was reported that the first mass-produced FTC-2000G performed its maiden flight. In April 2020, China reported that an unnamed South-East Asian country had placed an order for the FTC-2000G, with deliveries expected between 2021 and 2023.

Design

The FTC-2000 is developed from the JJ-7/FT-7, the two seat trainer version of Chengdu J-7; the Chengdu J-7 is a Chinese variant of Mig-21. The FTC-2000 uses a new wing, a forward fuselage with side air intakes, and a

glass cockpit A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that features electronic (digital) flight instrument displays, typically large LCD screens, rather than the traditional style of analog dials and gauges. While a traditional cockpit relies on numerous mech ...

; the engine, empennage, and mechanical controls of the JJ-7/FT-7 are retained.

Operational history

The PLANAF had a regiment of JL-9s in 2014. The PLAAF began using the JL-9 for training on 18 October 2015.

Variants

*FTC-2000: Original model and export designation. *FTC-2000G: The FTC-2000G is a dual seat light combat aircraft/ lead-in fighter trainer. It is one of the cheapest light fighters on the market with the aim to replace old legacy fighters like the J-7/F-7 and Mig-21. It has 7

hardpoint A hardpoint is an attachment location on a structural frame designed to transfer force and carry an external or internal load. The term is usually used to refer to the mounting points (more formally known as a weapon station or station) on the ...

s. It also features a

diverterless supersonic inlet A diverterless supersonic inlet (DSI) is a type of jet engine air intake used by some modern combat aircraft to control air flow into their engines. It consists of a "bump" and a forward-swept inlet cowl, which work together to divert boundary ...

. It made its first flight in September 2018. Compared to the FTC-2000 trainer variant, the FTC-2000G is heavier, has maximum speed of only

Mach Mach may refer to Mach number, the speed of sound in local conditions. It may also refer to: Computing * Mach (kernel), an operating systems kernel technology * ATI Mach, a 2D GPU chip by ATI * GNU Mach, the microkernel upon which GNU Hurd is bas ...

1.2 due to new wing design, and has less endurance than the FTC-2000. The aircraft can carry maximum 3 tons of weaponry. *JL-9: Initial PLA variant. *JL-9G: PLANAF carrier-trainer variant.''NEWS - Asia & Australasia'', Air International, August 2011, p. 16. It is a modified JL-9 for

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...

training. It is designed for

ski-jump ramp In aviation, a ski-jump is an upward-curved ramp that allows aircraft to take off from a runway that is shorter than the aircraft's required takeoff roll. By forcing the aircraft upwards, lift-off can be achieved at a lower airspeed than that req ...

takeoffs and simulated arrested landings (land-based).''COVERT AFFAIR'' A. Mladenov, Air International, March 2013, p. 93 and includes a tailhook.

Operators

Current operators

* ** People's Liberation Army Air Force ** People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force * ** Myanmar Air Force — six delivered (unknown number ordered) * **

Sudanese Air Force The Sudanese Air Force ( ar, القوّات الجوّيّة السودانيّة, Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya) is the air force operated by the Republic of the Sudan. As such it is part of the Sudanese Armed Forces. History The Sudanese A ...

— six

Specifications (FTC-2000)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guizhou Jl-9 JL-9 JL-9 Single-engined jet aircraft Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 Carrier-based aircraft Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 2003