The K-8 Karakorum is a Chinese-Pakistani two-seat jet trainer built around a low-cost advanced-training role but wired for light-attack stores. In Myanmar service, open-source investigators documented locally assembled K-8Ws, underbelly cannon-pod carriage, and repeated post-coup strike sorties with rockets, bombs, and cannon fire.
Myanmar Witness documented K-8 aircraft firing rockets, aerial bombs, and 23 mm cannon rounds in Kayah and Karen states, while #Airbusted recorded K-8 rocket and cannon attacks in Karenni, Karen, and Shan states in 2023.
CATIC markets the K-8W as a tandem-seat basic and advanced jet trainer that can also perform light-attack missions. The family spread through customer-specific variants rather than a single uniform standard, so speed, engine, cockpit, and stores details should be read against the operator and batch being described.
The aircraft keeps a tandem cockpit, turbofan power, side air inlets, and stadium seating for instructor visibility.
Source: CATIC K-8W trainer product page.
Technical sources describe a 23 mm belly cannon-pod option, four under-wing hardpoints, and compatibility with bombs, rockets, or short-range air-to-air missiles.
Sources: K-8 Karakorum GlobalSecurity specifications; Myanmar Witness K-8 profile.
CATIC history and GlobalSecurity material describe the K-8 as a multinational export program, including Egyptian K-8E production-line transfer and later customer-specific variants.
Sources: CATIC history; K-8E Karakoram-8 Egypt profile.
Public references use JL-8 for the Chinese trainer line and K-8 designations for export or customer-specific variants, with avionics, engine, and local-assembly differences depending on operator.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| JL-8 | Chinese service trainer | The Chinese-market JL-8 is the domestic trainer branch of the same Hongdu/PAC family. Sources: K-8 Karakorum project profile |
| K-8P | Pakistan-specific trainer variant | Airforce Technology describes the K-8P as a Pakistan-specific version upgraded with a glass cockpit and related avionics changes. Sources: K-8 Karakorum project profile |
| K-8E | Egyptian export and license-production variant | Airforce Technology identifies the K-8E as the Egyptian variant with airframe and avionics modifications and local assembly from Chinese-supplied kits. Sources: K-8 Karakorum project profile |
| K-8W | Myanmar and export variant | Myanmar Witness identifies K-8W aircraft commissioned in Myanmar service and describes later examples as locally assembled under CATIC license. Sources: Myanmar Witness K-8 profile |
| K-8V | Flight-test simulation aircraft | Airforce Technology lists K-8V as an integrated flight-test simulation aircraft used to test aircraft-design characteristics. Sources: K-8 Karakorum project profile |
| L-11 | Chinese WS-11-powered development | GlobalSecurity describes L-11 as a further development variant powered by the indigenous WS-11 turbofan. Sources: K-8 Karakorum program developments |
| K-8VB | Bolivian export variant | Airforce Technology identifies K-8VB as a Bolivian export variant in the K-8 family. Sources: K-8 Karakorum project profile |
FAS says China and Pakistan agreed to jointly develop the K-8, with prototype manufacture starting in January 1989 before U.S. content restrictions reshaped the program.
Sources: K-8 Karakorum FAS profile
FAS records the first K-8 flight test on 21 November 1990.
Sources: K-8 Karakorum FAS profile
FAS says 12 aircraft had been delivered by the end of 1996, split evenly between China and Pakistan, and notes that Pakistan had decided against domestic series production in 1994.
Sources: K-8 Karakorum FAS profile
GlobalSecurity says the PLAAF JL-8 first flew in December 1994 and that the WS-11-powered L-11 development variant was first tested in December 1998.
Sources: K-8 Karakorum program developments
Myanmar Witness says the Myanmar Air Force first received K-8 aircraft in 1998/1999, creating the fleet that later absorbed local assembly and combat upgrades.
Sources: Myanmar Witness K-8 profile
GlobalSecurity says CATIC signed a December 1999 contract with Egypt to export 80 K-8 aircraft and the associated production line.
Sources: K-8E Karakoram-8 Egypt profile
Myanmar Witness says KNDF footage showed a K-8 over Demoso on 31 December 2021, with reports claiming two aircraft carried out strikes in the area.
Sources: Myanmar Witness K-8 profile
Myanmar Witness says it verified a K-8 flying and firing over the Pan Kan area of Loikaw on 8 January 2022, shortly after the Demoso strike footage.
Sources: Myanmar Witness K-8 profile
Myanmar Witness says at least one K-8 was seen firing its underbelly 23 mm gun pod in the Demoso area, with casualties reported.
Sources: Myanmar Witness K-8 profile
#Airbusted says K-8 aircraft were spotted dropping bombs and strafing civilian infrastructure in Nam Neint village, Pinlaung Township.
Sources: #Airbusted report
#Airbusted cites Myanmar Witness information that K-8 aircraft were recorded firing 23 mm cannons on ground targets in Karen State.
Sources: #Airbusted report
#Airbusted says K-8 aircraft were recorded on video firing 57 mm rockets in Karenni State on 25 June 2023.
Sources: #Airbusted report
#Airbusted says the Myanmar Air Force carried out airstrikes using FTC-2000G and K-8 aircraft in Karenni State on 8 September 2023.
Sources: #Airbusted report
Myanmar Witness describes the K-8 as a trainer that became the Myanmar Air Force's workhorse light-attack jet before Yak-130 deployments absorbed more of the strike load from April 2022.
The fleet first arrived in Myanmar in 1998/1999.
Source: Myanmar Witness K-8 profile.
Later K-8Ws were assembled locally under CATIC license, with Chinese and Myanmar engineers involved.
Sources: Myanmar Witness K-8 profile; #Airbusted report.
Verified and reported post-coup footage shows K-8s using 57 mm rockets, aerial bombs, and a 23 mm cannon pod.
Sources: Myanmar Witness K-8 profile; #Airbusted report.
