China rolls out FTC-2000 export version

The first export version of China’s FTC-2000 supersonic advanced fighter trainer aircraft has rolled off the assembly line in China's southwest Guizhou Province.

The single-engine light versatile aircraft is a fighter trainer designed for advanced training and lead-in fighter training. The aircraft has a mach number of 1.5 with a maximum service ceiling of 16,000m.

Developed by the Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), this aircraft will be delivered to an international customer after necessary procedures and tests.

In China, the FTC-2000 is the main advanced trainer used by the PLA Air Force and the PLA Navy. The aircraft is designed for senior training, elementary combat training and tactical and countermeasure training for fighter pilots. It also has the ability to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

Hu Jianxing, deputy manager and chief designer with the AVIC, said: ‘The aircraft completed the 'Stall and Spin Flight Test' within two seconds at the research stage. The FTC-2000 has high safety characteristics.

'The domestic version and export version have the same flying platform. Both are installed with China's home-developed WP-13 turbojet engine, which has been tested for high performance. The export version will be installed with various avionics systems, navigation guidance systems or external stores tailored for overseas client's demand for multiple missions.’