GWERU (Agencies): The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) have confirmed the death of Air Lieutenant Nesbert Tambudza, who died in an aircraft crash during a training mission near the Guinea Fowl area in Gweru. The accident involved a Karakorum-8 (K-8) jet trainer, which was extensively damaged upon impact with the ground. Air Lieutenant Tambudza, who was undergoing a jet flying conversion training course at Number 2 Squadron, Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base in Gweru, had shown immense potential and was in the final phases of training on the K-8 jet at the time of the incident.
The crash occurred approximately 5 kilometres east of Guinea Fowl. No civilian casualties or property damage were reported. The ZDF has initiated a Board of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident.
The K-8 jet trainer, a China-Pakistan jointly developed aircraft, crashed during a solo navigation training mission on February 6, resulting in the complete destruction of the aircraft upon impact. The K-8 is widely used for advanced pilot training and light attack roles.
The ZDF has initiated a Board of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident.
The Air Force of Zimbabwe began using the K-8 jet trainers in 2012, acquiring a total of 12 jets from China in 2006. This acquisition was part of an effort to modernize their training aircraft and replace the aging fleet of British-made BAE Hawks.
- The Karakorum-8 (K-8) Jet Trainer
The Karakorum-8 (K-8) is a single-engine advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft jointly developed by China’s Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIC) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). It was designed to replace the aging Cessna T-37 Tweet jet trainers in service with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
China also developed a domestic variant of the aircraft, known as the JiaoLian-8 (JL-8), which was introduced into the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to replace its outdated JJ-5 jet trainers.
The collaboration between Pakistan and China on the K-8 project dates back to 1986, with Pakistan contributing 25% of the funding. The development phase began in 1987. Initially, plans to incorporate American technology were scrapped due to US political restrictions on China in 1989, leading to the use of alternative components. The K-8 officially entered service in September 1994.
Since 1992, over 500 K-8 aircraft have been built, capturing 70% of the global market share for intermediate trainer aircraft. The K-8 comes in several variants tailored for specific operational needs:
- K-8E: Developed for the Egyptian Air Force, featuring an improved airframe and avionics.
- K-8P: Pakistani variant with a modern glass cockpit.
- K-8V: Integrated flight-test simulation aircraft (IFTSA) for design testing.
- JL-8: Chinese version powered by the Ivchenko AI-25 TLK turbofan engine, featuring an indigenous avionics suite.
- L-11: Advanced iteration of the JL-8, incorporating the WS-11 turbofan engine.
- K-8W: Upgraded variant with an improved cockpit and head-up display (HUD).
- K-8VB: Export version delivered to the Bolivian Air Force.
The K-8 is in service with multiple air forces worldwide, including those of China, Egypt, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka. Its affordability, ease of maintenance, and adaptability for training and light combat roles have contributed to its widespread adoption.