The UAE Air Force's Al Fursan aerobatic team has converted to China's L-15E advanced trainer and will take part in the 16th China Airshow in Zhuhai from 7 to 13 December. It will be the team's first visit to China in 12 years.
IT Home, citing China Central Television, reports that the UAE Air Force's Al Fursan (Knights) team has fully converted to the L-15E advanced trainer developed independently by China. The team is due to perform over Zhuhai in China-built aircraft.
광고 문의 · 300×250Its participation was reportedly confirmed at a coordination meeting and signing ceremony for the 16th China Airshow held on 28 October at the Central Military Commission's International Military Cooperation Office. This year's show runs from 7 to 13 December in Zhuhai, Guangdong, and marks the airshow's 30th anniversary.
Back after 12 years
The team first appeared before Chinese audiences at the 10th China Airshow in November 2014, flying Italian-built MB-339A trainers. It now returns to the same stage in Chinese aircraft, and the change of type is itself read as one facet of defence cooperation between the two countries. The scale of the L-15E purchase and the number of aircraft the team will bring were not stated in the reports reviewed.
Also flying are the PLA Air Force's August 1st team and Russia's Russian Knights team. The report says it is the first time since 2016 that two foreign aerobatic teams will fly at the show. This account rests on Chinese reporting, and the organisers' final schedule has not been published.
Differing perspectives
Chinese media present the news as a sign of international confidence in Chinese trainers. Western aviation outlets, by contrast, noted that the UAE team had already debuted the L-15 at the Dubai Airshow. How much the use of a Chinese trainer as an aerobatic mount by a Gulf air force should be read into may differ with the observer's standpoint.
