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DUBAI—The United Arab Emirates Air Force's newly re-equipped Fursan Al-Emarat aerobatic display team is flying the Hongdu L-15 advanced jet trainer at the Dubai Airshow.
The UAE Defense Ministry announced it was acquiring the Chinese-developed jet trainer back in February 2022. It then confirmed an order for 12 aircraft with the China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) to equip the display team at the 2023 edition of the Dubai Airshow.
The introduction of the L-15 has allowed the team to replace their aging Aermacchi MB-339 jet trainers—a type also flown by the Italian Air Force’s Frecce Tricolori, which helped establish the UAE team. Fursan Al-Emarat, a staple of the Dubai Airshow and other events in the Middle East, generally fly seven aircraft in their high-energy aerobatic close formation displays.
Each of its L-15s has been painted in a distinctive gold and black color scheme, with the UAE flag painted on the underside of each wing. A small diesel fuel tank is fitted on a centerline pylon to support smoke generation. In the Dubai Airshow flying display rehearsals the team only used white smoke; the MB-339s previously used dyes to generate other smoke colors.
The UAE announced it was acquiring the L-15 in the midst of a spat with the U.S. about a potential acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-35. On buying the Chinese trainer, officials from Tawazun Economic Council, the organization involved with UAE defense procurement, declared that diversity of supply would help the UAE “obtain the best capabilities that fit their needs and achieve their strategic goals.”
The UAE has been a major buyer of Chinese-made armed uncrewed aircraft systems, along with other nations in the Middle East. Chinese fighter aircraft also feature in the inventories of Egypt and Iran.
It is unclear whether the UAE will make use of the 36 L-15 options it has to equip its fast jet training units. The UAE has been looking for a new-generation jet trainer to replace its aging fleet of BAE Hawks. It has previously examined an acquisition of Leonardo M-346s and had received proposals for the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50. UAE officials at the 2023 event said conversion of the options would depend on the success of the operation of the L-15 with the display team.
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