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| A C919 aircraft model exhibited at the 9th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition.(Photo: Xu Tianran / GT) |
The delivery of COMAC's ARJ-21 regional jet, a program deemed as being a prelude to China's large passenger aircraft, was delayed from 2007 to 2013 due to various difficulties.
In the field of military aviation, the first contract to buy 12 L-15s, an advanced two-engine supersonic trainer aircraft, was signed between Aviation Industry Corporation of China Hongdu (AVIC Hongdu) and the China National Aero Technology Import & Export Corporation.
Since the intended end-user of the L-15s was not revealed at Tuesday's ceremony, the contract implied a milestone for China's military aviation export eforts. Previously, the only aircraft incorporating fourth-generation fighter technologies that had been successfully exported was the Chengdu FC-1/JF-17 Thunder, a lightweight fighter co-developed by China and Pakistan and only exported to the latter.
Li Yuhai, vice general president of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), said the L-15 was an old friend of the Airshow China. It made its public debut in Zhuhai in 2004 and has performed two aerobatic displays there since. "It is the Airshow that gave birth to L-15's first deal. Several countries have clearly expressed their intention to purchase it after the show," Li said.
For many spectators, the most eye-catching exhibit was a large-scale model of China's second stealth fighter dubbed as the J-31, which made its maiden flight on October 31.
The fighter, designed to deliver a stealth configuration at low cost, is under development for the international defense market, according to AVIC.
According to Aviation Week, the fighter has a heavy load capability over a wide combat radius and is therefore almost equivalent to most typical fifth generation fighters.
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