DefenseNew Chinese Jet Trainer Emerges in Flight Images
A new Chinese twin-engine jet trainer has been spotted in flight for the first time in images shared on Chinese social media. The aircraft, reportedly associated with Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG), had not been publicly known before these images surfaced.
Its official designation and development status remain unconfirmed. While the photographs show the aircraft airborne, there is no independent verification that it has completed a formal maiden flight.
The prototype features a twin-tail, twin-engine configuration and a two-seat cockpit — an uncommon layout among China’s existing trainer designs.
The aircraft appears to be painted in primer yellow and fitted with a head-up display in the forward cockpit. Reinforced landing gear and visible wingtip hardpoints suggest potential for both training and light combat roles.
Unconfirmed reports point to the use of WS-17 turbofan engines, but no technical specifications have been released. The aircraft’s design differs significantly from Hongdu’s L-15 Falcon, which has a single vertical stabilizer.
The robust landing gear and twin-tail layout indicate possible suitability for carrier operations, suggesting the aircraft may have been developed primarily for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), which is testing aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier Fujian.
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