Islamabad to buy 22 more K-8 trainers
Written by PakRev.com
Thursday, 25 August 2005 **ISLAMABAD: **The Pakistan government has decided to buy 22 K-8 jet trainers from China, which offers a modern training platform to pilots of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Sources said the decision to buy more K-8 jet trainers was taken on seeing the aircraft’s suitability, outclass functions and the best results. Pakistan has earlier purchased 12 jet trainers from China in the last fiscal year 2003-04 for training purposes. A $20mn K-8 advanced jet trainer has been designed and produced by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), Kamra and China’s Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company (NAMC) and is manufactured at the NAMC.
The K-8 is a tandem-seat advanced jet trainer with a low-set unswept wing. It was first flown in 1991 and is intended to completely replace the T-37s in service with PAF. The aircraft has the capability for light air-to-ground close support. .
Presently, 22 aircraft have been ordered but the number might reach 100 keeping in view the PAF demand, sources said. PAF usually orders planes in batches to get the planes earlier, and keep the pilots under trained.
The K-8 jet is a two-seat advanced jet trainer and is a light ground attack aircraft. It has a Collins EFIS-86 system in first 100 aircraft, incorporating CRT primary flight and navigation displays for each crewmember plus dual display processing units and selector panels for tandem operations.
The jet provides basic training for A-5 and F-5, advanced training for F-7, F-8, F-16 and F-18, air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon delivery, spin and other aerobatic flights, taking off and landing training and close support on ground strike.
The first batch of six K-8 jets (with Collins EFTS-86 MFD and Allied Signal TFE-731-2A turbofan) was delivered to PAF in January 1995 and the second batch is designed for air defence role with the Chinese PL-7 under wing Sidewinder AAMs and a gun pod (23mm) under the fuselage.
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