Scale model of a Chinese L15 advanced combat trainer aircraft is on display at IDEX 23 held in Abu Dhabi, the UAE from February 20 to 24, 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Aviation Industry Corporation of China

China's aviation industry announced on Tuesday that a deal to export the domestically developed L15 advanced trainer jet to the UAE has been sealed, as it put the latest, aerial refueling-capable variant of the aircraft on display at an ongoing defense expo in Abu Dhabi, with experts hailing the aircraft as one of the best trainers in the world.

Top Chinese aircraft including the Y-20 large transport aircraft and the FC-31 stealth fighter jet are also offered to the international market at the event.

Having already successfully signed a contract with the UAE over the L15 project, China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) again displayed the aircraft at the 16th International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 23), which is being held from Monday to Friday, the Global Times learned on Tuesday from the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the maker of the aircraft.

The done deal was announced after the Defense Ministry of the UAE revealed in February 2022 that it intended to buy 12 L15s from China, with the option for 36 additional aircraft of the same type in the future.

The L15 displayed at IDEX 23 is painted in the colors of the UAE Air Force, and it has been equipped with the additional capability for aerial refueling, AVIC said.

As the new generation of light attack and combat trainer jet independently developed by China, the L15 can be used to train pilots for fourth- and fifth-generation fighter jets, or it can also carry out air-to-air combat and land attack missions, according to an AVIC press release.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert who participated in the evaluation of the L15 before it was commissioned in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force under the designation of the JL-10, told the Global Times that the L15 is an outstanding trainer with excellent maneuverability and a fly-by-wire flight control system.

Many pilots who have flown the L15 drew the conclusion that the trainer is on par with fourth-generation fighter jets, Fu said. 

"If a fourth-generation fighter jet engages an L15 in a dogfight, the trainer might end up winning," Fu said, highlighting that this means the L15 is well-liked by pilots and it can serve well to train cadets in piloting skills and tactics.

As an advanced trainer jet, the L15 has reached the world's highest level in all aspects, including aerodynamic and structural design, engines, control system, avionics and radar, Fu said.

Scale model of a Chinese Y-20 large transport aircraft is on display at IDEX 23 held in Abu Dhabi, the UAE from February 20 to 24, 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Aviation Industry Corporation of China

Other attractive exhibits from CATIC and AVIC displayed at the IDEX 23 include the Y-20 large transport aircraft and the FC-31 stealth fighter jet, as well as drones including the Wing Loong 10A, the AR-500W, the AR-36 and the VESPA, AVIC said.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times that it is only a matter of time before China exports the Y-20 cargo plane, as many Y-20s have entered service with the PLA Air Force and displayed proof of their capabilities.

China is the only country that can reliably deliver transport aircraft as large as the Y-20 to the international market, with the US stopping production of the C-17 and Russia's limited capacity to produce the Il-76, analysts said.

Scale model of a Chinese FC-31 stealth fighter jet is on display at IDEX 23 held in Abu Dhabi, the UAE from February 20 to 24, 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Aviation Industry Corporation of China

As a stealth fighter jet, the FC-31 is also attractive to countries in the Middle East, as it has much potential in capabilities and cost efficiency, Wang said.

Just as with large transport aircraft, there are only a few countries that can export stealth fighter jets. The US' F-35 often comes attached with many political and military restrictions, while Russia's Su-57 is also limited in production capacity and is questionable in terms of stealth performance, analysts said.

When the domestic-use version of the FC-31 enters service with the PLA, the aircraft will become even more attractive to the international market, observers said.