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| L-15 / Defense Security Asia Aircraft |
International Military - Currently the UAE is making the US side heat up. This is because the UAE has terminated an agreement with the US side to procure F-35 aircraft for the UAE. Quoted from The Eurasian Times, the UAE government has told Washington that it can terminate the deal on F-35 aircraft, Reaper drones and other advanced munitions.
Not only that, the UAE Embassy in Washington also said the same thing. That the discussions with the US will be suspended and do not know when to resume. "The US remains the UAE's preferred provider for advanced defense requirements and discussions for the F-35 may reopen in the future," the embassy said in a statement.
Not long after delaying the procurement of F-35 fighter jets with the US. It turns out that the UAE is showing signs of having the Chinese L-15 trainer jet. Reporting from military-history.fandom.com, this aircraft made its maiden flight on March 13, 2006. The L-15 has two seats, two engines featuring the latest advanced technology developed by China.
These technologies include digital quadruple fly-by-wire (FBW), glass cockpit (two multi-colored head-down displays for the front and rear cockpits), and additional head-up displays for the front cockpit), and hands-on-throttle flight control. -and-stick (HOTAS).
The downward field of view for the front cockpit is 18°, and 6° for the rear cockpit, exceeding US requirements. Quoted from Defense Security Asia, the Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has agreed in principle to purchase 12 Fighter Lead In Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT/LCA) type "L-15 Hongdu" made in China, an action that will further complicate matters. existing relationship. long ago with the United States.
The UAE is expected to increase its holdings to 36 L-15 aircraft in the future. "We are in the final stages of talks with China. The final contract will be signed by both parties in the near future," said Tareq Al Hosani, chief executive of the Tawazun Economic Council.
Tareq said the plane had advanced technology. The UAE's proposed purchase of FLIT/LCA aircraft from China is expected to worsen relations between the UAE and the United States after Washington acted to delay the sale of the fifth-generation F-35 aircraft to the rich Gulf nation.
President Joe Biden's administration has acted to delay the sale of the fifth-generation F-35 aircraft to the UAE following the Gulf state's move to forge closer commercial ties with Chinese telecommunications infrastructure provider Huawei through 5G technology. After the United States postponed the sale of F-35s to the UAE, the Gulf state decided to buy 80 Rafale planes from France.
The UAE is expected to purchase the FLIT/LCA aircraft from the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC). For now, the value of the UAE's purchase of FLIT/LCA aircraft is unknown but the L-15 aircraft are estimated to be worth between US$ 10 million and US$ 15 million per unit, according to industry information.
The value per unit of the fighter aircraft makes it cheaper than fighter aircraft made by US and other European companies. The L-15 is described by observers as one of the best in its class.