June 7 (Xinhua) -- The K-8E aircraft, a new jet used to train pilots, made its maiden flight in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, early this week.

Today's China Daily quoted officials as saying that the successful flight indicates that China has made progress in carrying out a 347.4-million-dollar deal to export the jets to Egypt.

According to Zhang Yanzhong, general manager of China Aviation Industry Corporation II (CAIC II), a contract to export 80 K-8E aircraft and its production line were signed with the Egyptian Defense Department in December 1999.

It is the largest deal China's aviation industry has concluded in terms of the number of aircraft and sum of money involved. Company spokesman said that several Middle Eastern countries have shown strong interests in the new jet, as well as some Southeast Asian and South American countries.

The K-8E is an upgraded version of the K-8 that is designed not only for training missions of pilots, but also for armament operation training.

The K-8 aircraft has been exported to several countries such as Pakistan, Myanmar and Zambia.