The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is understood to have gone through with a controversial deal to buy Chinese advanced jet trainers.
The signing of the order for 12 Hongdu L-15 jet trainers during the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 21 was reported by several Chinese media outlets, citing the manufacturer, Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), although it is yet to be confirmed by Emirati authorities.
The reported signing comes almost exactly a year after the UAE defense ministry announced the agreement with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) on Feb. 23, 2022.
A model of the L-15 in UAE Air Force colors displayed on the CATIC stand at the show suggests the aircraft will be used for advanced jet training and equipped with an aerial refueling probe, potentially allowing it to refuel from the UAE’s Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports.
The original agreement with CATIC included options for up to 36 aircraft, but it is unclear how many of these options, if any, have been taken up.
Abu Dhabi has been looking for several years for a new jet trainer to replace its aging fleet of BAe Hawks.
A plan to purchase a similar number of Leonardo M346s was put on hold in 2011, while Korean Aerospace Industries in January 2022 proposed a package of 60 T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft.
The L-15 order comes after Abu Dhabi halted discussions in December 2021 for a $13.4 billion order of Lockheed Martin F-35s and General Atomics MQ-9 uncrewed aircraft systems after the U.S. expressed reservations about the UAE’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China.
UAE officials at the time said the L-15 order aligned with the UAE’s framework for diversifying the military’s sources of equipment. The move also appeared to send a message to the U.S. after Washington expressed reservations about the UAE’s close ties with China—including the use of telecommunications technology provided by Huawei and apparent plans for a Chinese military facility inside a UAE seaport.
The UAE is the first Middle Eastern customer for the L-15 platform. Other customers include the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force and the Zambian Air Force.
