HARBIN, (Xinhua) -- Three China-made light aircraft from a manufacturer in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province were delivered to Zambia's Defense Ministry on Monday.

The 19-seat Y12 series planes are twin-engine, general-purpose monoplanes designed and developed by the Harbin Aviation Industry (Group) Ltd. (HAI), based in the provincial capital Harbin.

The aircraft would be mainly used for troop transport and emergency rescue operations, said Chilufya Kapwepwe, counselor at Zambia's embassy to China.

Zambia bought five of the Y12 series in the deal. The other two will be delivered in November.

By the end of 2005, HAI had sold more than 100 such aircraft to 20 countries and regions, such as Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Tanzania and Namibia.

China's home-made aircraft are gaining popularity abroad, especially in developing countries.

Last Friday, China delivered two domestically manufactured Xinzhou-60 passenger planes developed by the Xi'an Aircraft Company, to Laos and the Republic of Congo, the first such sales to the two countries.