The 50th International Paris Air Show was launched at the Le Bourget Airport near Paris on June 17, 2013, where the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) showcased in the main exhibition hall a variety of its aircraft models, including a single-seat version and a two-seat version of the Xiaolong Fighter China 1 (FC-1), the Hongdu L-15 "Falcon" advanced jet trainer (AJT), the Yilong/Pterodactyl-1 multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Y-8C transport aircraft, etc.

The following are the profiles of the military aircraft models that the AVIC exhibited at the Paris Air Show:

Xiaolong /FC-1

The Xiaolong FC-1 is an all-weather, single-engine, single-seat and multi-purpose light fighter jointly invested and developed by China and Pakistan. China named it the Xiaolong/ FC-1 while Pakistan named it the Thunder/ JF-17. Adopting an advanced aerodynamic layout, this aircraft is equipped with a high-thrust turbofan engine characterized by low fuel consumption, outstanding mobility, greater ferry range, air-staying time and combat radius, excellent short-distance takeoff and landing (STOL) characteristics, as well as strong weapon loading capability.

The entire aircraft possesses 7 hard points that can be mounted with multiple kinds of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, with a capacity of 3,600-plus kg for external fuel and ordnance as well as the capabilities of launching mid-range missiles and attacking multi-target beyond visual range (BVR). Meanwhile, it also features such functions as precise navigation, battlefield situation awareness, target detection and identification, electronic warfare (EW), and so on. Owing to the advanced technologies of research and development as well as manufacturing, the Xiaolong fighter has reached the comprehensive operational efficiency of the third-generation fighter with such characteristics as light weight, compact size, and low cost, meeting completely the demands of the international arms trade market. Its main parameters include:

Full aircraft length: 14.26m

Wingspan: 9.0m (including the missile center-lines at the wingtips)

Full aircraft height: 4.775m

Normal takeoff weight: 9,100kg (including wingtip missiles)

Maximum takeoff weight: 12,400kg

Normal takeoff distance: 407m

Distance of landing run: 735m

Maximum Mach: 1.6

Service ceiling: 16km

Basic ferry range: 1,800km

Maximum ferry range: 3,000km

Two-seat version of Xiaolong/FC-1B

The two-seat version of Xiaolong combat trainer FC-1B was developed on the basis of the same model of single-seat Xiaolong FC-1 with distinguished training functions while retaining most of the combat capabilities of the FC-1 at the same time. It is generally used for the refitting and flight training as well as tactical training of FC-1 pilots in peace time, and can also be used to perform combat missions in wartime. It is an important type of the Xiaolong series.

L-15 advanced jet trainer (AJT)

As a new-generation AJT independently developed by China, the L-15 aircraft is equipped with two all-new digital turbofan engines (AI-222K-25F) with high thrust-weight ratio, strong maneuverability and high reliability. It possesses the outstanding application characteristics of the third-generation fighter with a maximum takeoff weight of 10,500 kg, a maximum level flight speed of 1,200 km/h, a maximum rate of climb at 200 m/sec, a service ceiling of 16,000 m, a maximum controllable flight angle of attack greater than 30 degrees, and a maximum ferry range of 2,600 km.

Yilong/Pterodactyl-1 multi-purpose unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

The Yilong/Pterodactyl-1 UAV is a reconnaissance-attack-integrated unmanned aerial vehicle developed to meet international market demands. It is mainly used in traditional military fields, non-traditional security fields and civilian fields.

The Yilong/Pterodactyl-1 UAV features independent level-wheel take-off and landing and flight capabilities. It can be fitted with a variety of photoelectric reconnaissance (PER), electronic reconnaissance equipment and small air-to-land attack weapons with a maximum take-off weight of 1,200 kg, an effective payload of 200 kg, maximum duration of flight of 20-plus hours, and a ferry range greater than 3,000 km.

Y-8C transport aircraft

The Y-8C transport aircraft is a medium-size, mid-range and multi-purpose transport aircraft used mainly for air cargo transportation, aerial mapping, airdrop and airborne landing, and transportation of equipment and personnel. This aircraft can take off and land on a variety of standards and simple airport runways in all regions and is adaptable to various harsh conditions, such as high-temperature, high-altitude, and high and cold environments.

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