K-8E Karakorum in Egypt
Mon, 2006-12-11 01:32 | 
Ace
Egypt has worked out a deal to manufacture Chinese JL-8 jet trainers. This is an extension of a purchase deal, from 1999, in which Egypt agreed to buy 80 JL-8s for about $4.4 million each. It took six years to work out the details of the technology transfer and foreign (in Egypt) manufacturing part of the agreement.
China put a lot of effort into this deal, winning out over other aircraft builders (the Czech L-59, Italian Aermacchi 211, and Brazilian Embraer Tucano)by agreeing to take part of the payment in Egyptian products and share aircraft technology, and the actual manufacturing. Egypt has a similar deal with the United States, for assembling U.S. M-1 tanks in Egypt. In both the JL-8 and M-1 deals, some Egypt parts are used, and most of the labor is Egyptian.
The JL-8 is replacing Czech L-29 trainers from the 1960s. The JL-8 is a joint project of China and Pakistan. This sale to Egypt is important because it makes it easier for China and Pakistan to market other joint weapons projects (missiles, tanks) to other Arab countries. The Egyptian sales was the first big one for the JL-8, as the Chinese air force refuses to use it in large quantities, because so many components are manufactured outside the country (in Pakistan and Ukraine.)
The JL-8 (also called K-8E) is a 4.3 ton, two seat, jet trainer. It uses an Ukrainian engine. Originally, China was going to use 3600 pound thrust American engines. But after the 1989 Chinese crackdown on pro-democracy forces, the United States cut off the supply of engines. This encouraged China to design a similar engine (the WS-11). But China has had a hard time mastering the precise technologies and manufacturing techniques needed to build jet engines. So it has been buying the Ukrainian AI-25TLK.
VARIANTS
|
Designations
|
First Flight
|
Description
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| K-8 | 21.Nov.90 | Initial export variant powered by a TFE731-2A turbofan |
| JL-8 | Dec.94 |
Domestic variant for the PLAAF, with all indigenous
avionics and WS-11 turbofan engine |
| K-8E | 2001 | Licensed production variant built by Egypt |
| K-8 technical demonstration testbed | ? | Technical testbed converted from the K-8 for the test of fly-by-wire (FBW) technology. The rear seat of the aircraft was removed to accommodated data recording equipment |
DESIGNS
The JL-8/K-8 has low-mounted wings, lateral air intakes, and whole-piece bubble canopy. Two pilots are accommodated in a tandem, air-conditioned cockpit, with the back seat slightly higher than the front seat. The domestic JL-8 differs from the export variant K-8 in avionics configuration and power plant.
WEAPONS
The JL-8/K-8 doesn't have a fixed weapon. There are four under-wing pylons to carry up to 1,000kg payload, each rated at 250kg. The stations can carry drop tanks, 23mm cannon pods, unguided rockets, 250kg bombs, short-range air-to-air missiles (e.g. Magic R550).
AVIONICS
EFIS-86 system, with twin-MFD, VHF/UHF radio, VHF landing/navigation, TATAN system, and air data computer.
POWERPLANT
Options include:
- U.S.-made TFE731-2A turbofan.
- Ukrainian-made AI-25TL turbofan.
- indigenous WS-11 (an AI-25TL clone, 16.87kN thrust).
PERFORMANCE
- Crew: Two
- Wingspan: 9.63m
- Length: 11.6m
- Height: 4.21m
- Max take-off weight: 4,332kg
- Max weapon payload: 1,000kg
- Max speed: 800km/h
- Range: Ferry range 2,140km
- Service ceiling: 13,600m
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