JiaoLian-8, JL-8 (K-8 Karakorum) fighter jet trainer aircraft of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force
The JL-8 (K-8) is a basic jet trainer which was jointly developed by Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) in order to replace the old jet trainers in service in voth countries.
Pakistani Air Force is replacing the T-37 jet trainers with new build K-8 Karakorums while People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has adopted this jet trainer as JL-8 (JiaoLian-8) to replace its obsolete JJ-5 jet trainer.
The JL-8 can carry 23mm gun pod on its centeral hard point, 57 mm unguided rockets , 500lb bombs and PL-5/7 WVRAAM.
China and Pakistan has exported K-8 fighter jet trainer to Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Namibia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Sudan, Venezuela and Bolivia.
K-8 Karakorum has maximum takeoff weight of 4,468kg and its top speed is 800kilometers per hour. Aircraft has max range 2,140km and ceiling 13,600m respectively.
The maximum endurance of the K-8 Karakorum jet trainer is 4 hours and 25 minutes.
The maximum endurance of the K-8 Karakorum jet trainer is 4 hours and 25 minutes.
China should provide the Afghanistan Airforce with ten JL 8 Jet trainers. NATO and the US have fallen short by not providing Afghanistan with any combat capable aircraft and China could establish closer relations to Afghanistan by making up this neglected important need.
ReplyDeleteThe Americans failure to provide any combat capability to the Afghan airforce is mind boggleing.
ReplyDeleteThe US should cut the red tape on this fight over the Tucano and Beech trainer / light attack airplane. Buy a dozen of each for Afghanistan and then we can see which is the superior aircraft in combat. Then buy ten Hind attack helicopters from Russia. Convert two of the C27 cargo planes into COIN gunships. Last but still very important. Purchase a squadron of light combat / trainer jets for the Afghanistan airforce. The L-159 or the Korean T/A 50 would be good for this role. Without combat air capability the Afghan military will fold after the US goes home. Too late for the blame game after that happens.