Turning a New Leaf in Relations: Russia’s Renewed Arms Sale to China

By: Stephen Blank

Tensions in the arms sales relationship between Russia and China have been visibly on the rise in recent years. Yet, in November 2010, Moscow and Beijing announced a large new package of arms sales that appear to have turned a new leaf in this relationship. Much of the tension stemmed from the Chinese defense industry's practice of reverse engineering Russian weapons technology, indigenizing it and then reselling it in third party markets in competition with Moscow. In negotiations, China has long demanded that Russia sell it advanced technologies in its defense platforms or advanced weapons, something that Moscow has been loath to do regarding both the weapons and their components [1]. Russia has also always been concerned that China might ultimately employ these advanced technologies and systems against it or its friends in Asia. For example, in 2006 it refused to sell certain sensitive space technologies to China (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, December 27, 2006). Nevertheless the restoration of arms sales appears to be connected with a new turn in Sino-Russian relations in China’s favor. The fifth round of Sino-Russian strategic talks took place form January 23-25 and Russia’s arms sales organization, Rosoboroneksport, has announced that it sees China as Russia’s chief partner in Asia (Interfax, January 19). This turn in Sino-Russian ties, probably dictated form the highest levels of both governments, appears to have overridden Russia’s mounting concerns about Chinese military developments.

Russian concerns about Chinese competition in Asian, African, and Latin American arms markets and the fact that China’s J-11B and J-15 fighter planes were essentially "clones" of Russia’s SU-27 and Su-33 fighter planes, respectively, are public and cited. Coupled with China’s own growing domestic capability, these factors contributed to a sharp decline in Chinese military purchases, mainly of air and sea weapons (Oruzhiye Rossii, September 29, 2010; Wall Street Journal, December 6, 2010). Yet, whether or not China’s domestic capability had increased, there is little doubt of Russia’s anger over Chinese practices of copying its weapon systems, and the fact that there was no sign of Beijing stopping this practice. Consequently both sides had reason to slow down arms purchases and sales. Indeed, in 2009-10 China has reportedly not placed a major order with Russia and, according to foreign observers, at the Zhuhai Air show in November China displayed its biggest exhibition of aircraft for sale abroad, mainly built with Russian technology and a supposedly Chinese engine (Oruzhiye Rossii, September 29, 2010; Wall Street Journal, December 6, 2010).

China’s ambassador to Russia, Li Huei—at least publicly—attributes the decline in purchases to its own growing capabilities and claims that bilateral cooperation is actually moving to a higher phase while Russia is still implementing past contracts and transferring air, air defense, and naval weapons to China (Interfax, November 17, 2010). In other words, Li refused to discuss the charges of intellectual piracy in public. In fact, earlier this year Russia did send S-300 air defenses to China (Global Security Newswire, April 2, 2010; Reuters, April 2, 2010). So before the meting of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation there was no public yielding by either side. Russian producers like Sukhoi openly proclaimed their desire to ask probing question to China about its cloning of their systems [2]. Likewise, Russian and French experts were equally frank in stating their concerns that Chinese ship-to-ship missiles might undercut them on price in third party markets [3]. Finally both Russia and China are competing to bring out as soon as possible their fifth-generation fighter planes (Jane’s Defence Weekly, December 9).

Yet from subsequent developments it seems clear that there were other concerns on Russian minds that led them to resume arms and technology transfers to China--albeit at a reduced rate. First it is clear from the press record that China’s needs are changing. Although it still needs and is buying aerial platforms, China now manifests a growing interest in obtaining engines and technologies to maintain the air fleet that it has acquired by sale or by piracy from Russia. Russia clearly wants to sell China those engines and monopolize this situation, apparently believing that by doing so it will be able to keep selling it Russian aerial platforms and maintain its advantage in the Chinese weapon market (Interfax-AVN Online, November 17, 2010). Second, Russian arms sellers have found that the only way they can discuss their concerns about unlicensed copying is to actually have a relationship with China through formal sessions like that of the Intergovernmental Commission so they cannot simply cease and desist from selling weapons to China if they wish to influence its behavior (Interfax-AVN Online, November 17, 2010).

Third, the Russian government and defense ministry have announced ambitious plans to boost arms sales throughout the world in the next decade to finance concurrent Russian defense reforms. In 2010 alone, Moscow reportedly sold a record figure of $10 billion worth of arms (RIA Novosti, December 14, 2010). Yet at the same time Russian analysts fear that arms sales may actually drop because the markets that Russia found to compensate for reduced arms sales to China in the short run—Algeria, Vietnam, Syria, and Venezuela—cannot offset the size of the Chinese market over the long run (Trud, October 29, 2010). So while China may occupy a lower place or ranking among the customers for Russian defense systems, Beijing is eager to take advantage of those opportunities that are available to Russia, largely in aerial systems and engines [4]. Fourth, even as Russian military policy is shifting (e.g. to make the Pacific Fleet the main Russian fleet) because of the Chinese threat, Moscow needs to keep an eye on Chinese military policy, and the best way to do so is to preserve arms sales contracts [5].

For its part, China has entered into open rivalry if not confrontation with the United States over Southeast Asia, arms sales to Taiwan, the value of its currency, and the six-party talks with Korea. Beijing see the progress of the United States’ reset policy with Russia, and appears eager to improve its ties with Moscow and resolve outstanding issues, among which include the issues of piracy and the lack of arms sales. China also clearly feels the need to continue acquiring foreign systems for those sectors where it has yet to create an adequate domestic base for its own production (OSC Analysis, FBIS SOV, December 3, 2010). As a result, at the most recent meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission in November 2010 the two sides signed a protocol for resumption of sales of spare parts, engines for aircrafts, naval and aerial weapons systems and the design of defensive products in the interests of the Chinese side. The two sides also established a working group to monitor developments growing out of the 2008 bilateral agreement on intellectual piracy (which has not stopped China from its ongoing "cloning" of Russian systems) [6]. According to Mikhail Dmitiriev, director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation, the agreement "provides "the full picture of the contracts realization process and protects from unsanctioned capturing of our intellectual property," although China, he claimed has never transferred that property to a third country [7].

China is reportedly interested in buying at least 100 117-S aircraft engines (the upgraded version of the Al-31F engine intended for the SU-35 Fighter, the S-400 air defense missile, at least a 100 RD-93 engines, the existing Al-31F and Al-31FN engine for its existing Fighter component, consisting of SU-27s, SU-30s and its own J-10 (a knockoff of the Israeli Lavi Fighter). Russia has offered it New Ilyushin-476 military cargo planes, MI-171E Helicopters, and the SU-35 Fighter and the Irbis-e radar station. Meanwhile Rosoboroneksport, Russia’s designated arms seller, hopes to reach agreement with China on a formula for licensed arms production by Chinese firms of Russian arms that protects Russian intellectual property (Vedomosti Online, November 23, 2010; Interfax-AVN Online, November 16, 2010; Interfax-AVN Online, in English, November 18, 2010; ITAR-TASS, November 16, 2010; Interfax, November 15, 2010; RIA Novosti, November 16, 2010). In other words, Moscow has agreed again to offer China some of its most advanced systems despite prior misgivings about doing so. Yet, it is doubtful that the establishment of these mechanisms to oversee the proper enforcement of Russian intellectual property will be notably successful in preventing China from its long-standing and pervasive practices of copying Russian systems and selling them abroad after indigenizing them. Too many vested interest groups and long-standing practices are involved in this process for it to stop just to please Russia, although it is likely that some cosmetic efforts will be made for a while. In any case, Beijing has alternatives to Russia. For example, China is already exporting tanks made with Ukrainian engines and Ukraine will participate in the modernization of China’s Y-5 aircraft, probably not the last such occurrence either (ITAR-TASS, November 23, 2010).

These trends suggest that China remains, to some degree, dependent on Russia for the provision of advanced weapons and defense technologies, notably aircraft engines. This would also suggest a reason why Russian analysts profess not to be unduly alarmed at the unveiling of China’s fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter. They apparently believe that despite the hoopla attached to this unveiling, that China will remain behind Russia and the US in aircraft technology for a long time even if it will try to compete with Russia once it starts selling the plane (RIA Novosti, December 29, 2010). It should be noted here as well that the Pentagon too has its doubts as to just how advanced the J-20’s technology is (Bloomberg, January 26). Meanwhile China also needs to ensure that Russia does not lean closer to Washington than it does to Beijing. On the other hand, Moscow wants to ensure that a Sino-American rapprochement does not occur at its expense and, more importantly, it still has no means of controlling what China does with its systems. Despite Moscow’s successes in selling arms to smaller countries like Algeria and Vietnam in the global arms market, Moscow still needs to be able to sell in large quantities to China. Furthermore, it needs a friendly China on its border even as there are growing signs of alarm in Russia about China’s economic and military prowess.

The strain in the bilateral arms sales and geopolitical tension between a rising China and declining Russia still remain. Yet for the time being the two sides appear to have reached a mutual accommodation. A close examination of the accords reached here, however, suggests that Russia really cannot control China and furthermore that it needs Chinese cooperation more than China does Russian cooperation. The overall turn in the relationship indicates China’ growing ability to induce Russian cooperation even as it infringes on Russian interests. This could lead to more tension if Russia strives to break free of Chinese power. While there may be an agreement for now, one should not be unduly complacent about it lasting for a long and, more importantly, untroubled time.

http://www.jamestown.org/programs/chinabrief/single/?tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=37427&tx_ttnews%5bbackPid%5d=25&cHash=c2050b9af5

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China's J-20 Better Than F-22?

Bombardier unlikely to snag deal: analysts

Airbus, Boeing may get 100-plane order
By FRANCOIS SHALOM, The Gazette

Analysts said yesterday that Bombardier Inc. is unlikely to snag a 100-plane order from American International Group Inc.' s aircraft-leasing arm.

International Lease Finance Corp., owned by the insurance company that received a $182.3-billion bailout from Washington, is set to place its first plane order since 2007.

One report quoted insiders who said that the lessor was contemplating Airbus SAS's newly announced A320 neo, Boeing Co.'s 737 as well as Bombardier's CSeries.

But Scott Hamilton of consulting firm Leeham Co. LLC said that although the CSeries is in the running, the order is likely to be a split between Airbus and Boeing.

Richard Aboulafia of Teal Group, a Washington consultancy, said that "The CSeries is just not there yet in terms of appeal to the big leasers.

The CSeries is under development and faces a paradox, he noted: aircraft financiers prefer buying aircraft with a broad base of existing customers.

"It's a catch-22 thing for a plane like the CSeries," Aboulafia said. "They want a large customer base to guarantee marketability and remarketability, as well as the residual value."

"Remember, these things come off lease eventually," she said, making it a tough sell for an unproven -indeed, not yet existing plane -like the CSeries.

"The problem Bombardier has is that they have to gouge their way into that market," Abouafia said.

Bombardier Aerospace spokesman John Arnone said the company does not comment on discussions with customers "unless we're outed by an airline" or leasing firm.

Aboulafia also said the order might be a split, but added that Airbus might have an edge on the deal.

ILFC CEO Henri Courpron said in July that Boeing and Airbus were not the only aircraft manufacturers involved in talks.

ILFC has 939 planes in its fleet.

Airlines now get roughly 40 per cent of their planes from leasing firms.

fshalom@ montrealgazette.com

http://www.montrealgazette.com/travel/Bombardier+unlikely+snag+deal+analysts/4136670/story.html

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Bombardier Learjet 85 Aircraft: Trying to Define the Future

China Deploys New Stealth Missile Speedboat

Houbei Class (Type 022) Fast Attack Craft, Missile

In April 2004, China's Quixin Shipyard in Shanghai produced the lead Houbei Type 022 wave-piercing catamaran, hull number 2208. The Type 022 is 43 meters (140 feet) long and displaces 225 tons. It is equipped with two missile launchers and has a top speed of 38 knots. The Type 022 was the PLA Navy's new-generation stealth missile fast attack craft (FAC). The boat features a unique high-speed, wave-piercing catamaran hull design with evident radar cross-section reduction design features. A number of Chinese shipyards across the country were involved in the construction of the boat.

The Chinese trimaran fast attack craft (FAC) design will probably grow into a larger more versatile platform, similar to the U.S. Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. Catamaran vessels have existed for many centuries, mainly for sailing sport. At the end of the 20th century there was an increased trend of employing the catamaran design on high-speed ferries. Although a number of logistic and combat support vessels in the catamaran form were tested in the past, no catamaran had ever been built for direct combat role in the modern naval history. The Type 022 missile FAC is indeed the world's first combat catamaran that had been commissioned. Coincidently, the US Navy was also testing a high-speed, wave-piercing catamaran known as FSF1 "Sea Fighter" for the littoral warfare role.

The wave-piercing catamaran offers great high-speed, long-distance cursing performance. The twin hulls of the catamaran enable the vessel to be more stable when travelling at high speeds than the conventional single-hull craft. Catamarans are especially favourable in coastal shallow waters, where large single-hull warships have limitations due to their deeper draft. The Type 022 missile FAC was likely to be used for costal defence roles in conjunction with larger surface ships and land-based aircraft.

However, the catamaran hull design also has problems. One of them is from the submerged bodies of the hull. Scientists have known that the MUNK moment can cause the motion instability of submerged bodies. So the designer of catamaran will add the stabilized or controlling fins on the submerged bodies. But how to optimize the hydrodynamic of the catamaran is still being research by world.

The Australian company AMD exports various sizes of catamarans for commercial customers from all parts of the world. From 1993 until 2000, China procured seven AMD catamarans from 16 meters long to 30 meters (100 feet) long for river, seaport or local ferry duties. AMD had a joint venture company, Sea Bus International, located in Guangzhou that refined this catamaran design. After a review of competing designs, the PLAN selected a military patrol boat design based on the AMD 350, which was markedly like the Type 022 in specifications.

One notable area in which commercial hull construction is leading military development is the use of aluminum in fast ferries. The extra cost and complexity of designing and building ships with this aluminum are made commercially viable by the speed benefits afforded through lighter weight. The lower structural strength and melting point of aluminum, however, have limited its use in mainstream warship construction. Despite these strength and damage resiliency disadvantages, several navies have turned to aluminum as they look for high speed in specialized littoral warfare and transport vessels. In doing so, they have turned to leading commercial fast-ferry builders (such as Austal of Australia) for not only aluminum welding and fabrication techniques but complete aluminum hull designs. The trimaran variant of the U.S. Navy’s new Littoral Combatant Ship (LCS) was designed and built by Austal USA; in China, the aluminum catamaran hull of the new Type 022 Houbei-class fast attack craft is widely believed to be derived from Western fast-ferry designs. Consequently, whereas traditional types of PLAN frigates and destroyers are likely to draw only general benefits in hull construction quality from commercial shipbuilding development, smaller fast-attack craft and other specialized types may benefit heavily from commercial advances in aluminum hull construction.

Kamewa was a Swedish company which was acquired by the British Vickers group in 1986. Acquiring Vickers in 1999, Rolls-Royce plc now owns the Kamewa portfolio. The Swedish part of the business is called Rolls-Royce AB. Now it is unknown that what the exact type of waterjet is applied in Chinese fast attack craft. The most possibility is the Kamewa FF, a small series of waterjets for applications of 3 to 72 tonnes displacement. Here the individual components of the drive system are located in the stern section of the ship, as is also known from speedboats with waterjets and has long been normal in large shipbuilding for propeller drives. For reasons of effectiveness the waterjets are essentially located so that the jet is freely emitted, i.e. over water. This type of arrangement is however not suitable for achieving the objects in accordance with the invention.

The use of advanced trimaran hull showed that the Chinese are able to incorporate advanced European and Australian fast ferry technology a bit faster than the U.S., as American programs to use these ships and this hull technology are only in the design and experiment stage. While the U.S. did use some Australian designed fast ferries in the 2003 Iraq invasion, the U.S. did not have ships coming off the lines, like the Chinese do. On one level, this new FAC is a Chinese program to replace old conventional hull designs, and to exceed the capabilities of Taiwan’s new stealthy FAC design. The trimaran hull configuration confers greater high speed capability in heavy weather, while providing a large deck space for multiple uses.

This first ship appears to be focused on the FAC mission, and appears to be designed for the installation of anti-ship missile launchers amidship (in the middle of the ship). But some speculated that the Chinese will soon design and build larger models that can carry UAVs and small boats for landing commandoes, as the U.S. may soon be doing. The Chinese will probably already have its version of the digital connectivity which lies at the heart of the LCS program. So here we have an area of military technical competition in which the Chinese are demonstrating creativity and a potential ability to match the U.S. just as it is embarking on a new direction in naval warship and combat tactics modernization.

The new Chinese FAC design also demonstrates that the real naval threat from China is not aircraft carriers and large destroyers bought from Russia. The real threat is quiet diesel submarines and small ships like this new FAC. The real potential of this new design would be its use in co-ordination with their diesel subs and, possibly, theater ballistic missiles with precision guidance. A combination like that could enable the Chinese to deny the U.S. Navy the ability to safely move in some vital areas, such as the waters surrounding Taiwan

First spotted under construction at Qiuxin Shipyard in Summer 2004, the vessel completed sea trials in late 2004 and was possibly commissioned in 2005. It was followed by three additional boats (2209, 2210 and 2211) in or around the 2005-06 time period. More hulls were subsequently spotted under construction at other locations starting in early 2006. The Type 022 appeared to be replacing the ageing Type 021 (Huangfeng class) missile FAC in the PLA Navy service.

After several years of extensive prototype testing, Quixin then produced hulls 2209, 2210 and 2211. Many observers thought this could be only a four-ship design, such as the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) previous five new guided-missile destroyer (DDG) designs of only one or two hulls since 1991. The startup of production for additional Type 022 hulls in Dalian, Quixin and Jiangnan shipyards in Shanghai, as well as in the Huangpu shipyard in Guangzhou, changed this precept. The large number of wave-piercing catamaran Type 022 hulls being launched several at a time at five different shipyards was a major event in PLAN shipbuilding. By early 2008 China was believed to have built as many as 40 Type 022 missile boats to replace the ageing Huangfeng class missile boats.

The Type 022 Houbei PCFG appears to be building at a rate of about 10 units per year. The August 2009 US Office of Naval Intelligence report "The People’s Liberation Army Navy: A Modern Navy With Chinese Characteristics" stated " ... the PLA(N) has built up its long-range capability, it has also reinforced its coastal defense and near-littoral strengths with the introduction of the highly-capable Houbei class guided-missile patrol craft (PTG) in 2004. The Houbei utilizes a wave-piercing catamaran hullform, probably based on a commercial fastferry design, and water jet propulsion to attain considerably better seakeeping, speed, and mission flexibility than the older Gsa and Houku missile boats that they replaced. The relatively low construction, operating, and crew costs of the Houbeis have allowed China to build well over 50 to date, with more under construction."



http://www.kaskus.us/showthread.php?t=5942401
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/01/20/2011012000706.html
http://www.sinodefence.com/navy/littoral/type022.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houbei_class_missile_boat
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/houbei.htm


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PLANAVY Type 022 Missile Fast Attack Craft

Turkey ups order for F-35

ANKARA, Turkey,  (UPI) -- Turkey may buy up to 116 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, a deal that could be undermined by U.S. efforts to cut costs of one of the most expensive military programs ever.

"We're planning to buy 100 aircraft with an additional option of another 16," Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul was quoted as saying by Defensenews.com.

Turkey is a member of the U.S.-led nine-nation Joint Strike Fighter consortium, which is building three variants of the F-35. It had previously said it would buy 100 planes, with the Gonul statement for the first time indicating it could become a larger purchase.

Turkey, the NATO member with the second-largest armed forces behind the United States, has a fleet of 240 American-made F-16 jets it wants to gradually replace with new F-35 planes.

Yet as the JSF program is running into more and more trouble, Ankara is worried that the deal might never materialize.

The original development cost estimates for the program have increased 56 percent to $59.4 billion, Aviation Week reports, prompting the Pentagon to cut the program's funds in the 2012 budget. The United States is covering 90 percent of the program's costs.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is especially critical of the F-35B variant, a short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing aircraft that has become much more faulty and expensive than planned.

Gates said he would give producer Lockheed Martin two years to come up with a more efficient and less costly plane or the program would be buried. Meanwhile, Gates decided to delay the purchase of 124 of the 449 units of the F35-B version until 2016.

The United States isn't alone. Several governments have mulled delaying or cutting purchases of F-35A models to slash defense spending.

Norway in October said it would push back by two years to 2018 its order of 16 planes, reaffirming, however, its commitment as a "serious and credible partner" to the program.

Yet the delays could push up costs for orders, as the consortium is forced to produce and sell fewer planes. Moreover, new competition for the U.S. fifth-generation jet has arrived: The Chinese have recently tested what they said is their new stealth plane, the J-20, developed by China Aviation Industry Corp.

The JSF consortium is led by the United States and also includes Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, Norway and Australia. Apart from Lockheed Martin, suppliers involved in the program include U.S. partners Northrop Grumman and engine maker Pratt & Whitney, as well as BAE Systems from Britain.

 http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/01/26/Turkey-ups-order-for-troubled-F-35/UPI-10611296061150/#ixzz1CpHCi4Tq

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F-16 Fighting Falcon - [Music Video Tribute]

India unveiled its first domestically produced aircraft, R & D costs are very high

The Indian media, says that while the R & D “brilliant”, the parties position as the fourth-generation fighter, but the operation, only three generations can be counted as half or three generations of warriors.

According to British media reported on January 27, 2011 the lifting of U.S. sanctions against the military research sector in India, only a few hours later to India to open its first fighter aircraft manufactured in China, highlights the ability of growth Defence Technology.

Major components of aircraft imported

26 shows in its defense of the “ceremony of India’s Republic Day parade this beer for 30 years, with the light aircraft first public appearance. Costs” Brilliant “fighter R & D climbing, people in the country has been criticized Indian Air Force but should be used next year, this fighter.

Two weeks ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates during his visit to the U.S., China test home-made stealth fighter.

India sees China as a rising power in Asia and the Pacific military rival. aircraft “Brilliant” by the Indian government to the defense of Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bangalore Center. The use of GE aircraft engines. The position of the Indian military-industrial complex as part of a project are the Indian Air Force would be equipped with 140 “brilliant” warriors.

Just before the parade, the United States canceled DRDO and the Indian Space Research Organisation to carry out the export ban. India will be able to import high-tech equipment the U.S. military to overcome the advantage of China cheapest cartier watch.

India is modernizing the Air Force

India is the world’s fastest growing buyer of arms. The budget of the country, last year the national defense, about $ 300 billion, a series of military equipment will be purchased to fill the gap with neighboring China. border disputes between China and India, and China’s growing naval power, is so concerned with India.

India also suspected that his main rival, Pakistan, China has provided military support to the latter, in particular a jet fighter and the unmanned vehicle technology. In 1998, appalled by the Indian nuclear tests worldwide. After the U.S. imposed sanctions India. A few days after Pakistan conducted its nuclear tests, in order to increase the hostility between the two nuclear components. India open “brilliant” fighters at the time, the country is to achieve modernization of the Air Force. India plans to buy 126 multi-role combat aircraft, worth about $ 110 billion. Contract include MiG -35 competitors, Boeing’s Super Hornet, “French” Rafale “Lockheed Martin F-16, Saab Gripen and the” Eurofighter Typhoon ”

http://www.nichevolumes.com/india-unveiled-its-first-domestically-produced-aircraft-r-d-costs-are-very-high/

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China's Hopes for first ever military export to West

By Fu Wen
A possible deal to export helicopters to a US military aircraft purchase program is a sign of China's growing ability to produce aircraft according to international standards, experts said.
The UK-based Jane's Defence Weekly reported Monday that the State-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is preparing proposals, in collaboration with existing partner US Aero-space (USAE), to bid for the US Navy's VXX helicopter program and the US Air Force T-X project to procure advanced jet trainers (AJT).

The VXX program is worth about $6 billion, the report said.
The partnership is planning to bid AVIC's 13-tonne AC-313 medium-lift transport helicopter, which is principally designed for civilian use. In the T-X program, the bid would focus on AVIC's twin-engine L-15 Falcon AJT, the report said.
USAE and AVIC are planning to market the Chinese-produced C919 jet airliner in the US as a business jet and a regional aircraft, the magazine reported.

AVIC has refused to comment on the report.
"The authenticity of the bid still needs more confirmation, but if the news is true, it will be the first time that China has the chance to export nearly completed military aircraft to a Western country," Chen Hu, editor-in-chief of the Beijing-based World Military Affairs magazine, told the Global Times Thursday.
The Jane's Defence Weekly report quoted John C. Kirkland, a lawyer who represents USAE in its dealings with AVIC, as saying that AVIC would supply what would be regarded as civilian aircraft platforms that would be upgraded in the US with military avionics and a fire control system.
Although Chen is not very optimistic about AVIC winning the bid, he says that the fact they have the chance to promote themselves on the world stage is a sign that Chinese military industrial enterprises have made great strides in technology and production capacity.

"AVIC will benefit from the cooperation if they win the bid, since the company has to update its original technologies to produce helicopters that meet US civil aviation technology standards," Chen added.
China's arms sales to neighboring Asian countries have drawn attention from Western countries in recent years.
The Moscow-based Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade, a non-governmental research enterprise, reported Monday that China exported 90 fighter aircrafts from 2000 to 2009.
Shanghai-based news portal website eastday.com quoted a Russian military website as saying that Chinese military industrial enterprises have been actively exploring markets in Southeast Asian countries.
"Chinese military products are relatively cheap and reliable, which are key reasons why weapons made in China are so popular in many developing countries," said Chen.
"As far as I know, the Pakistani Air Force is equipped with some of the FC-1 fighter aircrafts jointly produced by China," Chen added.

http://military.globaltimes.cn/china/2011-01/617791.html

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U.S. May Allow India to Join JSF Effort ???

By DAVE MAJUMDAR

The United States is open to Indian participation in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, and eventual purchase of its fifth generation F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, Pentagon acquisitions Chief Ashton Carter said Jan. 26.

Pentagon acquisitions Chief Ashton Carter said there is "no principle" that would prohibit India from participating in the JSF program. (Senior Aiman Julianne Showalter / U.S. Air Force) "There is nothing on our side, no principle which bars that on our side, Indian participation in the Joint Strike Fighter. Right now, they're focused on these aircraft which are top-of-the-line fourth-gen fighters," Carter said.

However, the decision to pursue the F-35 is India's alone.

In a follow-up email, Pentagon spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin said, "If, at some point down the road, India were interested in purchasing JSF from us, then we would engage the Indians in an open, transparent manner at that time. But this would obviously be something that the Indian government would have to decide it wanted or needed."

Carter was speaking at the release of a report by the Carnegie Endowment's Ashley Tellis on India's Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) program. The Indian contract calls for the purchase of 126 fighters and is valued at more than $10 billion, Carter said. Competitors include the Lockheed Martin F-16IN Super Viper, Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale, Saab JAS-39 Gripen and the Mikoyan MiG-35.
Carter touted the American-built F-16 and F/A-18 as being the most technologically advanced aircraft in the competition.

"I think that, without saying anything disparaging about the other entrants, both F/A-18 and the F-16 offers include the best technology," he said.

Tellis echoed Carter's comments, saying the two U.S. competitors offered the best capability for the lowest price. Of particular interest to India are the American fighters' Active Electronically Scanned Array radars (AESA), he said. The European and Russian aircraft do not currently have operational AESA radars available. The U.S. military, meanwhile, is currently operating its second generation of AESA radars.

The most important factors in any Indian decision will likely be technology transfer and industrial participation, Carter said. Carter also stressed the importance of lifecycle costs because 70 percent of a weapon's total cost resides in not in the initial purchase price, but rather in sustainment. According to Tellis, both the F-16 and F/A-18 offer the lowest lifecycle costs out of the aircraft on offer.

Carter also stressed the importance of transparency.

"I'm committed to in our process, both with respect to India and in our own internal processes, an open and transparent process, and I think we can promise the Indian government that," he said.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5548948&c=AME&s=AIR
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-35.htm


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