[TigerLikesRooster]

So how far could PLAAF reach with refueling?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Aerial refueling, ping!

[SevenofNine]

BIG Deal Tiger I think US or Israel probably beat the Chinese to it LOL!

[keithtoo]

Not a problem. This is a country with fighter planes that can be outmaneuvered by American prop-driven reconaissance planes.

[stboz]

Are these knuckle-draggers backwards or what?

Dang! I remember KC-97s refueling B-47s back in the Fifties!

Sheesesh!

[VadeRetro]

We were doing that in the fifties, at least.

[johnnyBbad]

PLAAF is stil flying largely MiG-19/21 models (the Shenyang J-6/7 copies) but have recently bought Su-27s from Russia (J-11). Including the J-8s and you've probably got around 800+ modern/semi-modern fighters.

Gettin' there but not yet a real threat to us.

[Conservative Firster]

H-6 Tanker with J-8 fighters

[Begin]

We're doomed!

[A.A. Cunningham]

China to Buy 38 IL-76 Heavy Transports, IL-78 Tankers

[Husker24]

making China the fifth country in the world to accomplish the risky procedure

Wow, I thought this was much more common than that.

[poindexter]

This just in....Chinese engineers have invented a device they say will revolutionize transportation. It is a round, disk-shaped device which is used to carry heavy loads with little effort. They call it the "wheel".

[stevem]

While there isn't anything here to write home about there is one part of this that needs to be thoroughly understood. Using baby steps China is developing capabilities in every military area. China is also a rival to the US in the world of ideas as well as the real world.

The United States can ill afford to allow her own military strength to atrophe in the air, on land or sea.

The United States can also ill afford to stop R & D in making sure capabilities remain on the cutting edge, no pun intended. We also need to keep attracting the best of the best into our military and keep their training second to none in the world.

It's still a dangerous world and holds the potential for being more dangerous in the coming years.

[FreedomCalls]

So how far could PLAAF reach with refueling?

There's no limit with refueling.

[adam_az]

"France, Russia, Britain and the United States can also refuel planes in midair."

So can Israel.

So much for the accuracy of Kyodo News.

[JSteff]

"So how far could PLAAF reach with refueling?"

We can stay up almost indefinitely, easily go around the world. So assuming their planes are as good as ours.. they can go anywhere.

[Red6]

Wow-

This only sets them 40 YEARS behind?

But I'm sure some Chinese guy will tell us that the Chinese actually mastered this 5000 years ago. Lets not forget a German who will tell us that all this was only possible because of German secret scientists working for us in the background.

http://www.answers.com/topic/aerial-refueling

http://avstop.com/news/fat.html

Red6

[Steely Tom]

Now they've just got to get the hang of refueling a robot aircraft.

From another robot aircraft.

[PAR35]

France, Russia, Britain and the United States can also refuel planes in midair.

So can Italy, or they just wasted a pile of money buying a new tanker from Boeing.

[penelopesire]

I guess those Clinton era military secrets r finally paying off! (sigh)

[Dundee]

making China the fifth country in the world to accomplish the risky procedure

Hell, even Indonesia has been doing midair refueling for nearly twenty years.

Maybe if they said fifth last country in the world they'd be more accurate.