| JL-8 K-8 Karakorum |
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| A K-8 Karakorum Trainer of Air Force of Zimbabwe at Ysterplaat Airshow, Cape Town | |
| Role | Jet trainer Light attack |
| Manufacturer | Hongdu Pakistan Aeronautical Complex |
| First flight | 21 November, 1990 |
| Introduced | 1994 |
| Status | Operational |
| Primary users | PLA Air Force, Pakistan Air Force Egyptian Air Force |
| Number built | 500+[1] |
| Unit cost | 3 - 3.5 million $[1] |
The Hongdu JL-8 (or Nanchang JL-8), also known as the K-8 Karakorum, is a two-seat intermediate jet trainer and light attack aircraft built in joint-cooperation between the People's Republic of China (China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation) and Pakistan (Pakistan Aeronautical Complex). The contractor for this plane is the Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation. Export versions are designated K-8 Karakorum, after the mountain range that separates China and Pakistan.
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History
The K-8 trainer was built through joint cooperation between the governments of Pakistan and the People's Republic of China. Initially, the aircraft was to feature many American parts, but due to political developments at the end of the 1980s, this plan was scrapped. The first prototype was built in 1989, with the first flight taking place on 21 November 1990.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) first received fourteen K-8 trainers in 1994, after which it decided to order 75 more to replace its fleet of T-37 trainers. The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) received its first six K-8 trainers in 1998. Later upgrades to the Chinese model included an indigenously manufactured Chinese engine. The PLAAF is anticipated to continue adding the trainer to its fleet in order to replace older trainers that are now obsolete, such as the JJ-5.
Other nations have shown interest in the trainer and it now also serves in the air forces of Egypt, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. While the plane primarily serves as a trainer, it can also be used in the ground-attack or even air combat role when appropriately armed.
Karakorum-8 (K-8), Basic Common Advanced Jet Trainer, is co-developed by Aircraft Manufacturing Factory (AMF), Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, and China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC). Chinese designer of the aircraft was Mr. Shi Ping (石屏) and the chief test pilot was Mr. Yang Yao (杨耀).
The latest development in the K-8 family is the K-8P version, which currently is operated by the Pakistan Air Force. K-8P has an advanced avionics package of integrated head-up displays and mulfi-function displays (MFD), also equipped with MFD-integrated GPS and ILS/TACAN systems.
In 2008 Venezuela announced the purchase of 18 K-8 aircraft. Currently the K-8 is being marketed by China to the air forces of the Philippines and to Indonesia, for replacing Indonesia's BAE Hawk Mk.53 jet trainers.[2] In 2009, the Bolivian government approved a deal to purchase 6 K-8P aircrafts for use in anti-drug operations.[3]
Design
The K-8 has a multi-role capability for training and, with little modification, can also be used for airfield defence. The aircraft is supposed to be as cost-effective as possible, with a short turn-around time and low maintenance requirements. Export variants of the K-8 (K-8E, K-8P) and domestic Chinese variants (JL-8) have differing powerplants and avionics configuration.
Airframe and flight control system
A low-wing monoplane design primarily constructed of aluminium alloys, the K-8 airframe structure is designed for an 8,000 flight hour service life.
The landing gear is of tricycle configuration, with hydraulically-operated wheel brakes and nose-wheel steering.
The flight control system operates a set of conventional flight control surfaces with a rigid push-rod transmission system, which itself is electrically or hydraulically operated. The aileron control system, of irreversible servo-control type, is composed of a hydraulic booster, an artificial feel device, a feel trim actuator and a rigid push-rod transmission mechanism. The elevator and rudder control system is of reversible push-rod type.
Cockpit and avionics
The cockpit arrangement is designed to be as close to that of a combat aircraft as possible. A transparent plastic canopy covering both cockpits, which are arranged in a tandem seating position, is supposed to give a good all-round field of view.
A Collins electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS) is fitted, with multi-function displays (MFD) in the front and rear cockpits showing information to the pilots. The emergency cockpit escape system is made up of two Martin-Baker MK-10L rocket-assisted ejection seats which are zero-zero capable, meaning they can be used safely at zero altitude and zero speed.
A UHF and VHF radio communication system is present, along with a tactical air navigation (TACAN) and Radio compass. An instrument landing system (ILS) is also available. These systems can be tailored to meet the requirements of the customer.
A strap-on environmental control system (ECS) from AlliedSignal provides air conditioning to the cockpit. It is capable of operating when the aircraft is on the ground, under ambient temperatures of -40 to +52 °C, as well as in the air.
Propulsion and fuel system
The Chinese domestic variant of the K-8 (JL-8) was originally powered by the Ukrainian Ivchenko AI-25TLK turbofan jet engine, but this has been replaced by WS-11, the Chinese-manufactured version of AI-25TLK. Export variants (K-8P, K-8E) can be fitted with the more powerful and efficient Honeywell TFE731-2A-2A modular turbofan, which has digital electronic engine control (DEEC), if the US government approves sale of the engine to the customer.
A hydro-mechanical fuel control system delivers fuel to the engine. The aircraft's fuel system consists of the fuel tanks and the fuel supply/transfer, vent/pressurization, fuel quantity measuring/indicating, fuel refuelling and fuel drain subsystems. The total fuel is contained in two fuselage bladder-type rubber tanks and a wing integral tank of 1720 lb. The capacity of each drop tank is 250 litres.
Variants
Data from: SinoDefence.com
- K-8
- Original variant powered by the Garrett TFE731-2A turbofan engine.
- K-8E
- K-8 variant developed for export to Egypt in 1999, featuring 33 modifications to the airframe and avionics. Built in Egypt from Chinese-supplied kits, production of 80 Egyptian-built Chinese kits was completed in 2005, with license production of an additional 40 K-8E undertaken thereafter.
- K-8P
- Pakistan-specific variant with new avionics such as glass cockpit.
- K-8V
- An 'integrated flight test simulation aircraft' (IFTSA), equipped with an advanced flight control computer and analogue fly-by-wire (FBW) system which can mimic the aerodynamic characteristics and flight profile of other aircraft. Used primarily to test aircraft designs before prototypes are built and tested.
- JL-8
- PLAAF-specific variant powered by the Ivchenko AI-25 TLK turbofan and featuring Chinese avionics suite. First flew in December 1994, 6 aircraft delivered to PLAAF in June 1998.
- L-11
- Variant of JL-8 powered by the WS-11 turbofan (Ivchenko AI-25 TLK turbofan produced under license in China). Approximately 100 aircraft delivered to PLAAF.
Operators
Red = Current, Dark red = Former, Pink = Potential
(Map last updated February 2008)
Current
- Bolivian Air Force - 6 ordered [4][5][6][7]
- Egyptian Air Force - 120 (80 assembled plus 40 to be manufactured in Egypt)
- Ghana Air Force - 4 [8]
- Myanmar Armed Forces - 12
- Namibian Air Force - 12
- Pakistan Air Force - ~22 K-8P, further deliveries scheduled. 6 K-8 powered by Honeywell TFE731 handed over to PAF on 21 September 1994 [9] for evaluation.[10] 27 K-8P ordered in 2005, 16 delivered as of January 2009.[11]
- PLA Air Force - ~300
- Sudanese Air Force - 12
- Venezuelan Air Force - 18 on order [13]
- Air Force of Zimbabwe - 12, 1 attritional loss [14]
Specifications (K-8)
Data from Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, SinoDefence.com, PakDef.info, Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 (in tandem)
- Length: 11.6 m (38 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 9.63 m (31 ft 7 in)
- Height: 4.21 m (13 ft 9 in)
- Empty weight: 2,687 kg (5,924 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,330 kg (9,546 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Garrett TFE731-2A-2A turbofan, 16.01 kN (3,600 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.75 (800 km/h, 498 mph)
- Range: 2,250 km (1,398 mi)
- Service ceiling: 13,000 m (42,651 ft)
- Wing loading: 254.40 kg m-2 ()
- Max. airframe load factor: +7.33 g / -3.0 g
Armament
- Guns: 1× 23 mm external cannon pod (mounted on under-fuselage hardpoint)
- Hardpoints: 5 in total, with a capacity of 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) external fuel and ordnance
- 4× under-wing, capacity 250 kg each
- 1× under-fuselage (23 mm cannon pod mount)
- Rockets: 57 mm unguided rocket pods, capacity 12 rounds
- Missiles: Short range infra-red homing air-to-air missiles (PL-5, PL-7)
- Bombs:
- 200 kg, 250 kg gravity bomb
- BL755 cluster bomb
- Others:
- 2× fuel drop-tanks mounted on out-board under-wing hardpoints
See also
Comparable aircraft
References
- ^ a b K-8 (JL-8, L-11) Basic Jet Trainer - SinoDefence.com
- ^ ANGKASA No.07 Edisi April 2007 (page 14-15)
- ^ DAWN.com | Bolivia buys six Pakistan-made aircraft
- ^ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Czechs-Bounce-So-Bolivia-Goes-Chinese-05844/
- ^ http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=24827
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5991VK20091010
- ^ http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20091002_006868/nota_262_888860.htm
- ^ Ghanese military aviation OrBat
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1994/1994%20-%202405.html?search=Pakistan%20F-7
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%201628.html?search=F-86%20Pakistan
- ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/special/arms-trade/export.asp
- ^ Sri Lankese military aviation OrBat
- ^ http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080921230912.0dszz961&show_article=1
- ^ http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/army49.18719.html
- Donald, David and Lake, Jon, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft (2000) p. 391-392. NY: Barnes & Noble. ISBN 0-7607-2208-0
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: K-8 Karakorum |
- Flight International - Hongdu closes in on export deal for K-8 trainer. (23/09/09)
- K-8 Karakorum at FAS.org
- K-8 Karakorum at Aerospaceweb.org
- JL-8 at Chinese Defence Today
- Karakorum-8 at PakistaniDefence.com
- K-8 Karakorum at PakDef.info
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