China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned Hongdu JL-10H advanced trainers in a ceremony at Naval Aeronautical University.

According to local media, PLAN received a new batch of twelve Hongdu JL-10H advance jet trainers designed and manufactured by Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) of China.

The use of such an advanced trainer jet at university-level training programs shows the PLA Navy is exploring a more streamlined training system which will conclude after only two stages at the university and the navy. This is a significant streamlining of the previous process, which involved a three-level system consisting of training at military bases between the two, said a military expert Song Zhong.

The Chinese navy will urgently need about 400 pilots, as China is expected to roll out at least four aircraft carriers in the near future.  For their training are needed modern training aircraft.

Hongdu JL-10H, also known as the L-15B Falcon, is a twin-engine, modern jet trainer designed for training Chinese naval pilots of Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter aircraft.

The new JL-10H trainers likely are powered by two Ukraine-made Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25F turbofan engines.  Aircraft can climb at the rate of 150m/s. Its maximum speed is 1,715km/h. The range and combat radius of the aircraft are 3,100km and 550km respectively.

The service ceiling of the aircraft is 16,000m. Its maximum loitering time is two hours. The aircraft weighs around 4,960kg and its maximum take-off weight is 9,500kg.