Myanmar Regime Buys FTC-2000G Fighter Jets from China

Myanmar’s Air Force has reportedly bought several Chinese FTC-2000G midrange fighter jets.

It is not clear when the agreement for the new aircraft was reached between Beijing and Naypyitaw. China’s semi-official Global Times had reported back in April 2020 that Beijing had bagged its first ever export contract for this jet from an undisclosed Southeast Asian country. It did not say how many units were to be sold, stating only that the deal was signed in January that year, about 15 months after the domestically-developed plane's first test flight.

The commercial process has been completed and the first batch will be delivered in early 2021, with full delivery expected to finish within two years, the report said. It did not reveal further key details about the deal, such as the cost or the number of aircraft. A single unit of the jet fighter costs around $8.5 million.

In June this year, approximately eight Air Force pilots with the experience of flying F-7 interceptor, A-5 bomber and K-8 W trainer and light attack jet, traveled to China via Kunming, The Irrawaddy reported Tuesday. They were joined by eight technicians and at least two armaments officers.

Sources told the newspaper that Gateways Hong Kong Ltd. was involved in brokering the deal. A key arms broker, Gateways Hong Kong Ltd is also involved in buying spare parts for F-7 and A-5 aircraft.

The FTC-2000G is an advanced light multi-role trainer/combat aircraft designed and manufactured by Guizhou Aviation Industry Corporation (GAIC) under the supervision of Chinese state-owned aerospace and defense firm Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).

It is the export variant of the Guizhou JL-9 trainer/combat aircraft, which is in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

The two-seat jet fighter has training capabilities with attack and fighting capabilities in combat.

It can be used to perform pilot flight training, aerial surveillance, patrol missions, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, close-in air support and air escort missions.