Russia Plan to Induct 55 PAK-FAs by 2020

The Russian Air Force (VVS) will have received 55 Sukhoi PAK-FA (T-50) fighter aircraft by 2020, according to Vladislav Goncharenko, the deputy director of the United Aircraft Corporation's (UAC's) combat aircraft department.

The first PAK-FA deliveries are scheduled for 2016.

 

 

Sukhoi PAK-FA (T-50) fighter aircraft

 

Pakistan Air Force has an edge over Indian Air Force: Indian Parliamentary panel

NEW DELHI- The strength of Indian Air Force combat fleet is down to 25 squadrons, the Parliamentary panel observed.

"With regard to the existing squadron strength, we are down to 25 squadrons today while Pakistan Air Force has 26 squadrons of operational combat fleet," the committee pointed out.

The standing committee on defence in its report observed that the national security was being compromised.

Pakistan Air Force

According to the committee, one of the reasons for the plight of their combatant strength in the skies is the considerable delay in procurement of various platforms.

The 33-member panel said, "Our capability in contrast to our neighbors is eroding quickly."

The committee members were concerned to know about the strategy being pursued to fill the huge gaps in sanctioned and existing trainer aircrafts.

Russian ‘ABM killer’ Intercontinental Missile to enter service in 2016

Russia’s newest RS-26 missile system, dubbed the ‘anti-missile defense killer’, will join the ranks of the country’s defenses in less than two years, Russia’s Strategic Missile Force commander said.

“We are continuing the test program for RS-26 and plan to finish it next year, with the missile to be put on combat duty in 2016,” Lt. Gen.Sergey Karakayev said.

Currently, there is hardly any information available about the new missile system because it was developed in secrecy.

Reportedly, the RS-26 is a solid-fuel missile with an advanced splitting warhead, which is launched from a mobile platform.

It was designed at the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology, apparently under the codenames Rubezh (Frontier), or Avangard (Vanguard).

Previously, the Russian deputy prime minister in charge of defense,Dmitry Rogozin, referred to the RS-26 as “the ABM killer.”

“Neither modern nor prospective American missile defenses will be able to prevent this missile from being able to hit the bull’s eye,” Rogozin explained.


According to RIA Novosti, the new missile has been test-fired previously on at least four occasions, with three tests registered as successful.

However, there was no official information on any new RS-26 tests carried out after 2013.

Karakayev also said development of the new silo-based heavy ballistic Sarmat missiles will be completed by 2020.

“This heavy rocket will be deployed in Uzhur [in the Krasnoyarsk Region] and Dombarovsky [in the Orenburg Region],” the Strategic Missile Force commander said.

Sarmat is said to weigh around 100 tons and has an operational range of some 5,500 kilometers.

It’s seen as a replacement for the Russian military’s current SS-18 Satan intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Russia’s New Military Doctrine Lists NATO As Key Threat

Russia has approved an updated version of the country’s military doctrine which considers NATO military buildup as a major foreign threat against its national security.
The new doctrine, which was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, also lists the American Prompt Global Strike (PGS) concept among the top security threats to the country, Russia Today reported.
The PGS is an effort by the US military to develop a system which would allow the Pentagon to deliver precision strikes with conventional weapons at any target in the world in one hour.
The core of the new military doctrine remains unchanged as the Russian army is still a defensive tool, which Moscow has vowed to use only as a last resort.
The principles of the use of nuclear weapons have not changed since their primary goal is to deter potential attacks on Russia. However, the country would use them to protect itself in the face of the military assaults that could threaten its existence.
The new sections of the doctrine outline the threats that Russia sees in NATO’s expansion and the fact that the Western military alliance is taking upon itself “global functions realized with violation of international law.”

China's PLAAF Review In Year 2014

This was a particularly eventful year for PLAAF when one looks at the progress of the various new projects. The most noticeable of which is J-20, but this most will look at various other projects too.
Coming into this year, the J-20 project seemed to be a little behind schedule compared to PAK-FA. There were a lot of questions about when the 3rd flying prototypes will come out. Earlier on, we saw the appearance of a heavily modified prototype No. 2011 which first flew in March. As previously discussed, this prototype really transitioned the project from the concept/demonstration phase to pre-production engineering phase. The next prototype No. 2012 appeared in July and had its maiden flight near the end of the month. Most recently, prototype No. 2013 and 2015 appeared in quick succession in the past month and had their first flights. These 2 prototypes have their pitot tubes removed. Speculations have been that No. 2016 and 2017 will also appear soon to join the flight testing phase. With the quick succession of these prototypes, it appears that J-20 may have moved into LRIP. I have in the past compared these prototypes to F-22's EMD phase, which had 9 flying prototypes. Bu in that case, the 9th EMD first flew 5 years after the first EMD. So it seems like J-20 is using a more aggressive flight testing program. We know that there is already a radar testbed testing out J-20's radar and possibly other avionics. So next year, we should see more of the initial prototypes coming out and getting transferred to CFTE for flight test programs. At some point, I think we should see J-20 prototypes starting to using domestic engine options. We should also see J-20s starting to be delivered to FTTC for developing tactics and testing out flight envelopes. But a lot of that stuff really cannot be tested fully until WS-15 becomes available. Despite all of the fast progress by CAC the past year, it's unclear what they will do with the engine problem. The earlier J-20s will probably use an underpowered engine.
The other project that received a lot of attention this year is FC-31, because of its appearance at Zhuhai air show. From what we've seen, it is still in the conceptual demonstrator phase waiting to get picked by PLA. J-20's first 2 prototypes were probably further along than No. 31001, so this project is several years behind J-20. PLAAF have the option of going with hi-lo option of J-20 and FC-31 or J-20 and some heavily modified variant of J-10. The next generation of naval aviation can either go with a naval variant of FC-31 or something completely different. At this point, it does look like FC-31 will be picked up by PLAAF and the official version will feature much changes compared to No. 31001. They will probably have to use some under powered interim option from Russia in the beginning while the domestic option is even further behind than WS-15.
J-10 program was in the background this year, but it may have been the most active PLAAF program. J-10A production and delivery continued into this year. J-10B production finally started at end of last year after a very long flight testing period, but the production level this year has been quite high. Most recently, the 48th J-10B came out. We've seen one brigade of J-10B joining service with FTTC aggressor squad. A second regiment/brigade will also be formed from this year's production. After this first batch of J-10B production, things are a little muddled. We saw a J-10B in primers with factory number 201 that came out at end of last year with some minor changes from the first batch of J-10Bs. Chinese bbs have speculated that this is the first of J-10C variant. The big speculation is that J-10C will be using AESA radar (as opposed to PESA on J-10B) and improved avionics compared to J-10B. I'm not sure that really deserves a new variant, but it seems like this particular aircraft has went through more flight testing than a usual production aircraft. So the second batch will definitely be different from the first batch. This second batch should be the first PLAAF aircraft to be equipped with AESA radar.

US Considered Bombing Chinese Nuclear Site Declassified Docs Showed

Recently declassified documents obtained by the National Security Archive reveal that the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations were considering military action to prevent or delay China from building nuclear weapons — even if that meant working with Moscow to stage an accidental bombing.

The pertinent document is the June 21, 1963 entry in the journal of Glenn Seaborg, who was chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1961 to 1971. Seaborg describes a White House meeting on the nuclear test ban negotiations with the Soviet Union. The discussion then turned to China — which had refused to support a test ban treaty — when President Kennedy asked how the U.S. might handle the issue in the Moscow talks. William C. Foster, the director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, confidently observed, "if we could get together with the USSR, the Chinese could be handled even if it required an accidental drop on their facilities."

As the National Security Archive notes:
The reference to an "accidental drop on their facilities" was excised when the diary entry was published in the Foreign Relations of the United States but it was declassified through a request to the Department of Energy for a new review of the document…. just how the United States or even the Soviet Union could have staged such an event in the interior of China, where Chinese nuclear facilities were located, is an interesting problem…..In any event, Foster's statement is one more bit of evidence that senior officials were interested in the possibility of taking action against the Chinese nuclear program, even to the point of arranging an "accidental" bombing with Moscow.

Russia Signs Contract To Deliver S-400 Missile Systems To China

Russia “has signed a contract” to deliver the S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to China, Vedomosti daily reported on Wednesday, citing its sources. The contract between Russia’s Rosoboronexport and China’s Defense Ministry on the delivery of at least six divisions of the S-400 systems for more than $3 billion was concluded at the beginning of autumn, according to the sources. Russia’s defense concern Almaz-Antey has not commented on the report. The talks between the two states on the issue have been continuing for several years.

How China Will Track and Shoot Down US’s Newest Stealth Jets

A gang of advanced missiles and a bleeding-edge radar unveiled at a Chinese air show could mean big trouble for the Pentagon’s best fighters.

A useful lesson to bear in mind at last month’s Zhuhai air show—China’s only domestic air and defense trade show, held once every other year.It was the Shenyang J-31 stealth fighter, which resembles a twin-engine version of America’s newest stealth jet, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. But the real tricks lay in Beijing’s growing family of advanced missiles and radars. 

The J-31 prototype was hidden except when it was flying, and not much detail was available. But the display was notable for the eruptions of smoke from the engines, most likely Russian RD-93s.

That is important, because until China builds its own fighter engines it cannot build stealth fighters without approval from Vladimir Putin’s desk. That includes the Chengdu J-10B, China’s most modern, in-production fighter, or its bootleg versions of Russia’s Sukhoi Flanker fighter family.

China says it’s working on indigenous fighter and trainer engines, but the samples on show were exactly the same as those seen two years ago.
What was new and important on the Chinese military’s outdoor display line at Zhuhai was a mix of mature and new technology. And by “mature” I mean the 1950s-design Xian H-6M bomber, with something suspiciously like a World War II Norden bombsight visible through the windows of the bombardier station. But the bomber was surrounded by guided weapons, some seen for the first time in public. The same went for the somewhat more modern JH-7 light bomber.

Zhuhai was full of new missile hardware, from the 3 1/2-ton CX-1 ramjet-powered anti-ship and land-attack missile down to the QW-19 manportable air-defense system. (China’s military believes in these small air-defense missiles, both in their classic standalone form and integrated into small mobile systems.)Not many of those missiles were individually surprising. The CX-1 is different in small details from the Russian-Indian BrahMos but very similar in specifications. Two-stage short-range surface-to-air missiles borrow the concept invented for Russia’s KBM Tunguska and Pantsyr systems, and so on.
What is impressive, however, is how many of the new Chinese missiles there are, and how they fit together.

One visible trend is the re-use of components to meet different mission needs. Since the CM-400AKG air-to-surface missile appeared at 2012’s edition of the Zhuhai show, it has gathered a lot of attention as a high-supersonic anti-ship weapon. This year, the exhibit strongly suggested that it shares its solid rocket motor and warhead with the surface-to-surface SY400 ballistic missile, and a passive radar seeker with the new B611MR semi-ballistic anti-radiation missile. The B611MR, in turn, has a common motor and controls to the 175-mile-range M20 GPS/inertially guided missile—China’s equivalent to Russia’s Iskander—and both are intended to use the same mobile launcher and command-and-control system as the CX-1. Lots of interchangeable parts: That is how China can roll out so many missile types so quickly. 

PLA's YJ-18 Anti-Ship Missile Useful Against US Navy Aircraft Carrier

Footage of what appeared to be China's YJ-18 anti-ship missile, rumored to be in development, was shown recently in a news report on state broadcaster China Central Television.If reports about the missile are accurate, it will be China's first combination subsonic and supersonic anti-ship missile.
　　
According to an unnamed source cited by a military affairs column on Chinese news web portal Sina, the YJ-18 will be the basis for a series of models that will be adapted for launch from warships, submarines and from the coast and will likely replace current anti-ship missiles, given its versatility.

The People's Liberation Army Navy currently employs several different models of anti-ship missile, which requires a great deal of logistics and maintenance planning.
The six series of anti-ship missiles the PLA Navy uses include the HY series developed from the Soviet-era P-15, the YJ-8/YJ-83 series developed from the YJ-8, the YJ-62 series developed from the YJ-6 and the most recent YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile. Imports include the 3M80E/BE and the 3M-54E series. Each of these missile series requires its own launcher and guidance system, which places logistical pressure on the navy, making the simplification of anti-ship models a major priority.

YJ-18 anti-ship missile

According to overseas media outlets, the YJ-18 is likely similar to the imported 3M-54 Klub series, which itself is part of a series of missiles including the 3M-54E subsonic anti-ship missile, the 3M-54E1 subsonic anti-ship missile, the 3M-14E inertial guided land attack cruise missile and the 91RE1/RE2 anti-submarine missile. The anti-ship and land attack missile variants in the series are said to be the same in their basic structure and their rocket boosters and turbojet propulsion systems are also said to be identical; the difference is that the warhead of the 3M-54E incorporates a fixed rocket propulsion system, which at its terminal stage velocity approaches Mach 3, increasing its defense penetration capabilities. The anti-ship variants of the 3M-54 are over eight meters long however, and weigh over 2,000kg, so they can only be carried on destroyers or larger vessels. The 3M-14E land attack variant is similar in structure to ordinary anti-ship missiles; it is a low altitude sea skimming missile and is reduced to 6.2m in length, weighing just 1,500kg, meaning it can be launched from small and medium-sized naval vessels, such as corvettes. The 3M-14E1 is a remodel of the 3M-54E1 control system, using a highly explosive warhead, to raise the surface impacted by the missile. As they are all part of the same series, they share the same basic structure, and they all have a diameter of 0.533m, which simplifies logistics and maintenance. 

China Moves Ahead To Develop Sixth-Generation Strike Stealth Fighter

China is moving ahead to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter after it finishes the fifth-generation J-20 and J-31, Igor Korotchenko, head of the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade, has told Voice of Russia.

The United States is the first nation to forge plans for the design of a sixth-generation fighter. Several artist renditions have already been revealed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing. In an official statement, the US Navy claimed that a sixth-generation fighter — called FAXX — will replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growler by 2030. A source from the US military said that the Department of Defense has already prepared a budget for the development of FAXX in 2015.

Russia has recently gotten on board with its own next generation fighter program, said Andrei Grigoryev, the head of the Foundation for Advanced Military Research. The real "secondnd place," however, has to go to China in the race, said Korotchenko. A research team was established in northeastern China's Shenyang much earlier than Russia for the country's 6th-gen program. 

Xian JH-7B Fighter Bomber Has New Homegrown Engine

China has installed an indigenous engine in its Xian JH-7B fighter bomber. The plane has been designed to be difficult to detect, reports Huanqiu.

A Xian JH-7B that has carried out test flights has been powered by the LM6 turbofan engine designed specifically for the aircraft which boasts more powerful thrust than the country's latest WS-10A engine. The LM6's air intake has been designed to be less visible and its exterior is coated with materials that can absorb electromagnetic waves. The engine is undergoing fine-tuning in preparation for mass production and the fighter bomber will be installed with new avionics and may use an active phased array radar. 

Xian JH-7B fighter bomber

The development of the plane began as early as 1974 after a battle against Vietnam in the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. The incident prompted Beijing to decide to develop a supersonic all-weather aircraft that could be used by both the navy and air force. Development was slow, however, since a suitable engine for the aircraft could not be found and other countries were unwilling to sell advanced engines to the country.
The Xian JH-7 was China's first aircraft capable of mid-air refueling. Its advanced JH-7A variant has seen service with three navy battalions and three air force battalions.

China's Dark Sword Could Become World's First Supersonic Drone

China's mysterious "Dark Sword" combat drone could become the world's first supersonic unmanned aviation vehicle, reports the website of the country's national broadcaster CCTV.The Dark Sword — known in Chinese as "Anjian" — made quite a stir in 2006 when a conceptual model of the unusually shaped triangular aircraft made its debut at the Zhuhai Airshow in southern China's Guangdong province.

The model was subsequently exhibited at the Paris Air Show but has disappeared from future airshows, with no official word on the development of the UAV. Some claim the project has already been scrapped due to insufficient funding or other reasons, while others believe the development of the drone is now being kept secret as it is undergoing further research and testing.

 

China's Dark Sword Drone

Chinese aviation expert Fu Qianshao told CCTV that while he does not know the status of the Dark Sword project, the drone could become the world's first supersonic UAV if it proves a success. He said he would not be surprised if the project is still ongoing in secret as a lack of transparency is nothing new for the aviation industry and is an approach commonly taken by the Americans.

Fu believes even conceptual models of aircraft can reveal something about a country's technology and the quality of its research and development, adding that analyzing models at Zhuhai can allow experts to gauge the pulse of China's aviation industry and pick up data that may be more valuable than what the developers are leaking out to the public.
Fu said he was excited by the appearance of the US Air Force's C-17 Globemaster III large military transport aircraft at Zhuhai this year because it demonstrates that China's aviation industry has reached a certain level.

China's battle tank, VT-4 (formerly MBT-3000) Is Camparable to Its Westen Counterparts

Formerly designated as MBT-3000, the tank features superb mobility and strong firepower as well as a cutting-edge data exchange network.

According to Western military publications, the VT-4 is equipped with an electronic-controlled diesel engine with 1,200 horsepower, giving the tank a cruise speed of 68 kilo-meters per hour. Its main gun is a 125-mm smoothbore that can fire various shells, including a kinetic energy penetrator and high explosive anti-tank warhead. In addition, it can also fire anti-tank missiles with a maximum range of 5,000meters.

"It has an advanced fire-control system, a new-type active protection system and a state-of-the-art fully automatic transmission device," he said. "In addition, the inter-unit network connects commanders of tanks and armored vehicles under a combat group, enabling them to share battlefield data in real time."

The VT-4 can compete with any first-class tank used by Western militaries such as the United States' M1A2 Abrams and Germany's Leopard 2A6,  adding that Russia's T-90 is no match for the Chinese tank in terms of technology.

Other weapons Norinco highlighted at the show included the PLZ-52, a new-generation, 155 mm self-propelled howitzer whose predecessor sold well in the Middle East, and the HJ-12 anti-tank missile, which has fire-and-forget capability and can even hit a helicopter flying at slow speed.

"Many of our products were specifically designed for the overseas market. Their capabilities are as good as those of Western weapons, but the prices are much more competitive," Liu said.

Eurofighter Typhoon Jet To Get New Captor-E Radar

Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain have through their Eurofighter project signed a 1 billion euro (0.83 billion pound) contract to provide their jointly backed Typhoon jet with a new sort of radar, in an effort to secure new orders.

The fighter is produced by Eurofighter partner companies BAE Systems , Airbus and Finmeccanica , and BAE said it signed a contract worth 365 million pounds ($572 million) to integrate the new radar onto the jets.

Under the deal signed in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Wednesday the Typhoon jet will in future be available with the "Captor E-Scan radar".

Eurofighter Typhoon

The four countries, which had already funded the initial development of the advanced radar, believe that the new radar will help the fighter jet secure new orders from other countries.
"This will give Eurofighter Typhoon one of the most advanced radar systems in the world providing a wider field of regard than any other combat aircraft. Other benefits include increased detection and tracking ranges, advanced air-to-surface capability and enhanced electronic protection measures," BAE said in a statement.

Eurofighter lost out on a $20 billion deal to sell 126 jets to India in 2012. While Saudi Arabia and Oman have ordered Typhoons, Eurofighter suffered a major blow last year when United Arab Emirates quit talks over a possible 6 billion pound order.
Royal Bank of Canada analysts said a new radar for Typhoon would "close a performance gap against most other western-made fighter jets".

Russia Loses Patience Because of French Indecision Over French Mistral helicopter carrier

Russia is ready to wait for the delivery of the first French Mistral helicopter carrier till the end of November. If France does not meet obligations under the contract, Moscow will present a significant financial claim, RIA Novosti reports with reference to a high-ranking source in Moscow.

"We get ready for different variants. We will wait till the end of the month and then we will bring serious claims," the agency's source said. He noted that experts currently analyze amounts of possible losses, should France fail to execute the contract accordingly. "This amount will not be a secret," assured the source.

French Mistral Helicopter Carrier

At the same time, a military and diplomatic source told that Russia may bring penalties against France for non-delivery of Mistral vessels as early as in February 2015. "Under the terms of the contract, France has the right to prolong the term of the delivery of the ship to the customer for three months. During this period, Russia can not present any penalties to French shipbuilders," he explained.

"There is every reason to believe that in this period of time, France will deliver the helicopter carrier to the Russian Navy." "If it does not do it, then, in addition to aggravated social situation at French shipyards, Paris will have another problem: what to do with this ship. Selling it to a third country is unlikely, as the vessel has been adapted to requirements of the Russian Navy," the source added.

US Needs New Stealth Fighters To Combat China's J-31

China recently demonstrated its second fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-31, for the 10th Zhuhai Airshow held in Guangdong from Nov. 11-16. Dave Majumdar, an American defense expert, thus suggests in Washington's National Interest that the US must put the F-35 into service or develop new fighters to face this challenge.

China has come to realize that fourth-generation fighters such as the J-10, J-11, Su-27 and Su-30 will be obsolete when facing American fifth-generation stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35, an official from the Pentagon said. "The price of admission for a fifth-gen war is a fifth-gen airplane and they get that," the official was quoted as saying. Many US aviators believe that the J-31 was built based on stolen F-22 and F-35 technologies and will eventually be as powerful as the two American fighters.

 

J-31

"I think they'll eventually be on par with our fifth-gen jets because industrial espionage is alive and well," an F-35 test pilot told the US Naval Institute. A senior official from the US Air Force said that an F-22 has a 30-to-one kill ratio versus a Su-30 or J-11 outside of a surface-to-air missile environment. When the J-20 and J-31 enter service with the PLA, even a three-to-one kill ratio advantage becomes costly.

Facing this new challenge, the official suggested those who question the need for the F-35 to rethink their logic. "They may be complex, expensive and still immature, but they are a quantum leap over every other fighter in our arsenal," said he. Believing that China will eventually make the J-20 and J-31 into perfect stealth fighters, the official suggested the United States to learn from China's commitment to upgrading its military technology.

Chinese CX-1 Cruise Missile Better Than Indo-Russian BrahMos

After China's CX-1 supersonic cruise missile, displayed at the recent Zhuhai Airshow, was noted to resemble India's BrahMos missile, the Beijing-based Sina Military Network undertook a comparison between the Chinese and Indian missile.

The Chaoxun-1 missile designed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has earned the nickname Cahoxi 1 ("Copy 1" in English) because of its uncanny similarity to the BrahMos missile jointly developed by Russia and India. However, Wang Hongpo, the chief designer of the missile, said the CX-1 is a completely new design. Wang said it has different wings, aerodynamic guidance and jet vane.

Under the restrictions of the Missile Technology Control Regime, the attacking range of cruise missiles like the CX-1 and BrahMos can not exceed 300 kilometers. Wang said this is the main reason the CX-1 shares many similar characteristics with the BrahMos. Sina Military Network noted that the CX-1 flies faster than the Indian missile. It is capable of reaching a speed of Mach 3 at 17,000 meters, whereas the BrahMos can only reach Mach 2.6 at an altitude of 14,000 meters.

 

CX-1 Cruise Missile

CX-1 Cruise Missile

Launched against targets in low altitude, the speed of the CX-1 is Mach 2.3., while the Russian-built P-800 Oniks on which the BrahMos is designed can only reach Mach 2. Sina Military Network said the CX-1's ramjet engine may be better than the solid rocket motor of the P-800. However, it pointed out that the attack range of CX-1 can be reduced to 40 kilometers at low trajectories while the Russian missile can travel 120 kilometers.

Since the BrahMos is designed to conduct attacks below an altitude of 500 meters, the Sina Military Network said the Indian missile is unsuitable for actual combat situations. Though India plans to produce 2,000 BrahMos, only 200 of them have been produced, the report said, adding that the proof of the CX-1's superiority will rest in how many nations wish to purchase it.

Will Turkey Stick With Chinese Missile defense Deal?

After Turkey decided in 2006 to procure a long-range air and anti-missile defense system known as T-Loramids, a long and a hot contest pitched the US PAC-3 Patriot, Russian S-400, French/Italian SAMP/T and Chinese HQ-9 models. Raytheon-Lockheed Martin of the US and European Eurosam companies made particular efforts to win Ankara’s favor. While everyone was expecting one of these two companies to win the contract, in September 2013 a bombshell hit the agenda when Turkey decided on China’s state-owned Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp (CPMIEC), which was on the US sanctions list on charges of violating the embargo on Iran. The contract was awarded for the FD-2000 model, the export derivative of HQ-9 system manufactured by the company.

 According to some columnists, the decision was based purely on CPMIEC’s low price bid and its unconditional agreement with Turkey’s contractual conditions. Columnists claimed that the Chinese company overcame the competition with its offer of 50% joint production and technology transfer.

 

FD-2000

According to some other writers, political motives — not just economic and technology-transfer ones — played a part. For example, economics writer Suleyman Yasar of the pro-government daily Sabah said the world’s economic and political focus was shifting to Asia. As Turkey is rapidly progressing toward becoming a global actor, it wanted to shape its security policy in line with economic opportunities.

From a commercial viewpoint, China's bid was significantly lower when compared with US-Russian-EU missile systems. Strategically speaking, the Chinese bid was offering a flexible system that is conducive to technology transfer, joint production and resales to third countries as well as opening the gates of Asia to Turkey.

According to a defense official in Ankara who didn’t want to be identified, Western countries, instead of trying to understand Turkey’s demands, simply say, “Trust us, we are your ally.” The same official noted that the persistent US and European disregard of Turkey’s requests for transfer of nuclear and space technology spurs Turkey to work with Russia in nuclear energy and with China in space activities. The understanding in Ankara is that the United States and Europe want to keep the reins on Turkey in these two fields. The official believes that the real culprits are the United States and Europe, which leave Turkey in the dark in these fields and do not behave as true allies. It is not wrong to say that a vast majority of the military and civilian security bureaucracy in Ankara subscribe to the same view.

China raised issue of U.S. spy flights during military talks: Pentagon

China raised the thorny subject of U.S. military spy flights during talks that led to agreements this week on reducing friction between the two militaries, but was told U.S. missions in international airspace and waters would continue, the Pentagon said.

The closed-door conversations underscore China's sensitivity to surveillance by U.S. P-8 Poseidon spy planes and other aircraft, especially off Hainan Island, home to a major Chinese submarine base. A Chinese intercept of a P-8 plane in international airspace off Hainan in August was described as dangerous by Washington. 

U.S. President Barack Obama announced the military agreements on Wednesday after meeting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.

They require each country to notify the other of major military activities, including exercises, as well as cover rules of behavior for air and maritime encounters. Guidelines on encounters between naval surface vessels had been drawn up, the White House said, adding similar guidelines governing air-to-air encounters would be formulated.

U.S P-8 Poseidon spy plane

At one point during the discussions, Chinese officials had raised the matter of U.S. military spy flights that, in Beijing's view, have come too close to Hainan, said Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Pool, a Pentagon spokesman.

"China did raise the issue of restricting U.S. operations in international airspace and both sides discussed their positions," Pool told Reuters.

"We have consistently opposed any Chinese proposals that would limit U.S. operations in the air or sea beyond the territorial limits of coastal states, place U.S. alliances at risk (or) constrain activities with U.S. allies or partners."

The Chinese Defence Ministry did not respond to questions from Reuters on this issue.
However, the ministry said in a statement that the military agreements were the result of more than 10 rounds of "deep consultations" and an important step in increasing understanding of each other's strategic intentions.

"China is willing to work with the United States and take this opportunity to continue deepening military exchanges, trust, cooperation and the appropriate handling of differences," it said.

China sees the airspace around Hainan as part of its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, which, in its view, ought to be restricted. The U.S. military says it has the right to fly any kind of mission it chooses in international airspace, which begins 12 nautical miles from a country's coastline.

J-31 Stealth Jet Still Needs Fifth Generation Engine To Compete With Rivals

Without a Fifth Generational Aero-Engine, the J-31, China's second fifth-generation fighter designed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, is unable to compete against Lockheed Martin's F-35, according to the Guancha Syndicate based in Shanghai.

The J-31 is currently equipped with two RD-93 engines imported from Russia. However, the Russian engine was designed for fourth-generation fighters such as the MiG-29. The thrust of two RD-93 combined cannot match a single F-135 engine on an F-35 fighter, according to the report. When compared with the two F-119 engines of F-22 Raptors, the gap is even wider. In addition, the Russian-built engines also shortened the range of the J-31.

FC-31

Pointing out that the J-31 was unable to fly directly from Shenyang in northeastern China to Guangdong province in the south for the Zhuhai Airshow, the Guancha Syndicate said that the range of the aircraft is estimated at no more than 2,000km. This is only half the range of the J-11 fourth-generation fighter, designed based on the Russian Su-27. It then indicated that this is why several modifications had been revealed for the J-31, also designated the FC-31, at the Zhuhai Airshow.

China-Pakistan JF-17 Fighter Jet Nears First Foreign Deal

An unidentified Middle Eastern country is in “advanced” talks to make the first foreign purchase of JF-17 fighter jet jointly developed by Pakistan and China. 

The joint sales team from the Pakistan Air Force and China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation also known as CATIC, are in advanced talks with 10 other countries to sell the JF-17 Thunder, said PAF Air Commodore Khalid Mahmood, who heads sales and marketing for the fighter jet. 

“We are in advanced negotiations with a Middle Eastern country, but the political situation over there has delayed the deal,” said Mahmood in an interview at the Zhuhai Air Show yesterday, declining to give more details. “But we still expect them to be our first foreign client.” 

JF-17 Thunder

The JF-17 Thunder fighter jet is among several aircraft China is seeking to export, after designating its domestic aerospace sector as a key national strategic industry. The single-engine jet was jointly designed and manufactured by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of state-owned Aviation Industry Corp of China, also known as AVIC. 

The partners are in “advanced talks” with clients in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America for jet sales, Mahmood said. He declined to identify any of them. Prospective orders will be for the third block of 50 planes, with the Pakistan Air Force having ordered the first two blocks of 50. 

China’s New Y-30 Medium-sized Transport Aircraft

In the Zhuhai Airshow 2014  China will give flight show of its formerly confidential heavy transport Y-20 and display a physical Y-9, its new medium-sized transport. In addition there will be the model of Y-30 transport, a new medium-sized transport it is developing.

Y-9, the improved version of China’s Y-8 old transport, uses China-made 5,000 hp turbo-propeller engines with six-blade propellers of synthetic materials to increase its takeoff load, cruise speed and climbing ability, but its size is not large enough to carry modern tank with heavy armor and equipment or modern heavy attack helicopter.

Y-30 Transport Aircraft

Y-30 Transport Aircraft

Y-30 Transport Aircraft

China has to transport its heavy tanks and helicopters by train, which is not only time consuming but wastes precious flight time of helicopters.

Y-30 is being developed precisely to meet the need for carrying heavy tanks and helicopters.

JY-26 Phased Array Radar to Detect F-22 Feature at Zhuhai Airshow 2014

JY-26 Phased Array Radar

One of the highlights at the Zhuhai Airshow 2014 will be a new phased array radar designed to detect and track stealth aircraft such as America's F-22 fighter jet, reports Huanqiu.
The JY-26 phased array radar, co-developed by the Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology, also known as the 14th Institute, will be on display at the 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai commencing Tuesday.
Other top attractions at China's largest airshow will include the J-31 fifth-generation jet and the Y-20 large military transport aircraft.

The JY-26, which is said to have an unusual appearance featuring small cylindrical columns, will be primarily used for remote air surveillance missions. The newly designed VHF/UHF radar has a detection distance of 500 kilometers and high accuracy capabilities, earning comparisons to the KJ-2000 Chinese Airborne Early Warning and Control system.
A researcher at the 14th Institute told Huanqiu that the JY-26 has three main characteristics: a large data transfer rate, super high speed and excellent flexibility, as the direction of the radar beam can be changed according to need.

China And US In A Race To Develop The World's First Aircraft Carrier-Borne Stealth Fighter

China and the US could be on the verge of a new arms race, as both countries appear to be developing fifth-generation stealth aircraft that can launch from aircraft carriers. 

David Axe, at War is Boring, notes China has placed a full-scale model of its fifth-generation J-31 stealth prototype aboard a mock-up of China's single aircraft carrier. China frequently tests new additions to its military arsenal by building these kinds of model prototypes first — although the J-31 also underwent its first test-flights this past June.  

If China is actually planning on deploying its J-31 fighter aboard its Liaoning aircraft carrier, the J-31 would be a direct competitor to the US's troubled F-35C. The F-35C, which is meant to deploy to the US's carrier fleet by 2018, would be the first stealth plane that can be deployed from sea. 

China's aspirations towards such advanced military capabilities come at a time that the US is attempting to pivot much of its military and diplomatic efforts to the Asian Pacific region. China believes it stands to lose from this possible gain in American power in Asia, and Beijing is seeking to counterbalance any increase in US influence in its backyard. 

J-31 Stealth Fighter

The ability to launch fifth-generation fighters from the open ocean would be a huge boon to both the US and China, and it's a capability that could dramatically shift the balance of power in the Pacific. Tensions have continued to rise between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea to the south and Japan to the east; a carrier-borne fifth-generation fighter could hypothetically give China greater first-strike capability in the event of a war. 

Russian Kamov Designed Chinese WZ-10 Attack Helicopter - Russian Engineer

The Changhe Aircraft WZ-10 attack helicopter is based on a Russian design commissioned by the Chinese, Kamov's chief design engineer says.
In 1995, Kamov developed a preliminary design in the 6t weight class under a contract with the Chinese government, says Sergey Mikheev, Kamov's chief design engineer.

"Due to understandable reasons, this information was kept secret," he says.

The Project 941 design was not based on any Soviet-era attack helicopter project and was strictly designed for China's unique requirements, Mikheev says. "They gave us the desired weight, we discussed preliminary performance parameters, then we signed a contract and we fulfilled the contract," he says.

 

Kamov Designed WZ-10 Attack Helicopter

After Kamov completed the design, the Russian design bureau verified the design via testing. Kamov then delivered the design to China and the Project 941 concept was accepted by that country's government for further development, he says. Kamov did not participate in any further developmental work on the WZ-10, he insists.


Thereafter, to the country's credit, Mikheev says, the Chinese handled the rest of the developmental work. That includes the developmental prototypes and the operational aircraft that is currently in production for the Chinese military.
"So I wish success to the helicopter," Mikheev says.

Russian Air Force Su-35 in Zhuhai Airshow 2014

Russian Su-35 in Zhuhai Airshow 2014

Russian Su-35 in Zhuhai Airshow 2014

Russian Su-35 in Zhuhai Airshow 2014

China's Pterodactyl B CH-4 Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV)

China's Pterodactyl B CH-4

China's Pterodactyl B CH-4

China's Pterodactyl B CH-4