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A Strategic Challenge In China’s New Tactical Fighter Exports by Richard Fisher, Jr. Published on February 7th, 2012 REPORTS As part of its campaign to build global strategic influence China is offering increasingly sophisticated weapons exports that it uses to reinforce important political and economic relationships. China is no longer a last resort supplier of cheap but obsolete weapons for isolated regimes; it can now offer a full range of weapons that are increasingly competitive with Western systems in capability and very competitive in terms of price. This increase in both capability and value is creating new weapons sales opportunities...

'Chinese AWACS will revolutionise air defence' Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Nov 21 (PTI) The induction of Chinese-made airborne warning and control system aircraft in the Pakistan Air Force beginning next year will bring about a "revolution" in air defence operations, the air force chief said today. Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, currently on a visit to China, told state-run APP news agency that his force has plans to induct four Shaanxi ZDK-03 AWACS aircraft in its inventory. Suleman recently attended the roll out ceremony in Hanzhong for the first ZDK-03 aircraft designed specifically for PAF. He said countries without...

The head of Russia's MiG and Sukhoi aircraft design bureaus has stopped further export of RD-93 engines to China, citing use of the engines in MiG-29 clones. Pravda, in a report earlier this week, said Mikhial Pogosyan sent an official letter to Russia's defense export enterprise Rosoboronexport, saying he made the decision because China's FC-1 jet fighter, which has been using the RD-93 engines, is a competitor to the MiG-29. "Russian engineers are facing a tough choice: either to refuse from the contract (with China) worth $3.75 billion or lose African and Asian markets," Pravda wrote. "China's FC-1 does not...

Russian and Chinese weapons manufacturers are clashing head on within the international arms market as China’s new fighter jet seems to be a cheaper imitation of the Russian original. The deal is facing opposition from Russian aircraft manufacturers, such as Mikhail Pogosyan, the head of the MiG and Sukhoi aviation holding, who said that the FC-1 is extremely close, if not the same, as the Russian-made MiG-29. Pogosyan claimed that FC-1 is a direct competitor to Russia's MiG-29 and the deal would incur losses for the Russian manufacturers. A source quoted by the Kommersant newspaper said there are significant price...

Pakistan has started the production of avionics and other important gadgets for the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets. The equipments for the combat jets would be produced at the Kamra based Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). Speaking on the occasion of the launch of the production line for the latest avionics, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman described the project as a step forward in making the PAF 'self-reliant.' "A strong air force is essential for the country's survival, therefore, it is important that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) gets self-reliant. Today's ceremony is an important step in...

French JF-17 Deal Could Anger India Feb 18, 2010 By Michael A. Taverna Paris Politics could yet derail French industry aspirations to upgrade Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter aircraft, even as the two sides near conclusion of a deal for the program. While the project is supported by the administration of French President ­Nicolas Sarkozy, reactions in New Delhi and Washington will also influence its fate . The U.S. is concerned about technology leakage to China, and India is already a lucrative market for French industry. Enthusiasm for the JF-17 upgrade could be tempered if there were signals that this might jeopardize...

Pak to get 100 fighter jets from China, US Islamabad, Sept 7 (PTI) Pakistan will acquire over 100 fighter jets from China and the US as well as airborne warning and air-to-air refuelling aircraft to maintain numerical parity with the Indian Air Force which enjoys a "qualitative advantage", the country's air force chief has said. Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed said the Pakistan Air Force was "very close" to signing a contract with China for serial production of 42 JF-17 fighter jets. It would also acquire two squadrons or 36 of the FC-20 multi-role fighters from China and 18...

China to Re-Export Russian Jet Engine The Russian Federal Military Technology Cooperation Service has permitted China to re-export Russian RD-93 fighter jet engines as part of FC-1 Chinese-Pakistani planes to six countries, including Algeria, which, until now, has only bought Russian jets. Besides Pakistan and Algeria, the countries that will receive the planes are Egypt, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. The presence of Algeria on the lost was unexpected. It is the third-largest buyer of Russian military hardware and has only purchased coast guard boats and Kalashnikov plants from China so far. Russia signed a contract with Algeria in March...

ISLAMABAD: The prototype of a new Pakistani fighter plane developed in cooperation with China is ready for its maiden flight, a senior air force official said on Saturday. The JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft is scheduled to have its first test flight within three or four days, Air Vice Marshal Shahid Lateef told reporters. Pakistan's air force has an annual budget of US$500 million. It operates 500 aircraft including several Chinese built models. The two countries have cooperated on a number of projects, and China is Pakistan's main defense supplier. Lateef, who is also the chief project manager, said that JF-17...

Home-grown JF-17 aircraft better than existing F-16: Tanvir KARACHI, Aug 7 (APP): Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir M. Ahmed has said that JF-17 aircraft being manufactured in collaboration with China will be a sound fighter aircraft which in some respects is better than the existing F-16. Talking to media at a book launching ceremony of ‘PAF Over The Years’, he said about 60 to 70 per cent manufacturing of the aircraft is being undertaken in Pakistan. The engine is presently coming from Russia but later it will be developed by China, he informed. Air Chief Marshal...