Chinese KJ-500 Early Warning Aircraft

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has tested two new aircraft- the KJ-500 early warning aircraft and the L-15 advanced training and light combat jet, even as the Chinese defence industry grapples with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

“Chinese arms enterprises have been racing to keep up with their production schedule after resuming work following an extended Spring Festival holiday due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. A key amphibious assault ship maker has been scrambling to outfit an "important" ship and aviation companies (are) running test flights for newly built warplanes,” state owned Global Times reported.

Shaanxi Aircraft Industry under AVIC successfully conducted a test flight for a newly built KJ-500 early warning aircraft on February 10, a week later than the original plan according to a website run by AVIC.

Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, another subsidiary of AVIC, conducted a test flight for a new L-15 advanced training and light combat jet on Monday, according to a statement on the company’s WeChat account.