Posted on 01/19/2005 1:54:48 PM PST by snowrip
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005 Moscow -- Russia has indicated that it may sell advanced weaponry to China, including strategic bombers that could pose a threat to U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific.
With China and Russia preparing to hold joint military maneuvers later this year, a top Russian military officer mentioned the possibility of selling strategic supersonic Tu-22M3 bombers, known by NATO as "Backfire," to China.
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"If they've got enough money, they should buy some" of Russia's latest aircraft, Russian Air Force commander Gen. Vladimir Mikhailov said, referring to the Chinese.
In the past, Russia has refused to sell the bombers to China on the grounds that they are "too powerful." Mikhailov's statement suggested a change in Russia's position, the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency said.
Were China to acquire the Tu-22M3, armed with the latest Russian Granit cruise missiles, the bombers would be able to "threaten the Americans" in any future dispute involving Taiwan, the news agency quoted military experts as saying.
A Chinese purchase of two Tu-22M3 regiments - or up to 40 aircraft - would be enough to guarantee the destruction of a U.S. carrier group, the agency commented.
Russian military expert Mikhail Barabanov said the only long-range bomber China currently has in its arsenal is the subsonic Tu-16.
The Soviet Union sold a license for its production to China in the late 1950s, but the aircraft became obsolete long ago and poses no threat to Taiwan.
In recent years, China has been a top buyer of Russian military hardware, accounting for nearly half of Russia's arms exports. Beijing has bought Russian anti-aircraft systems, destroyers, and submarines.
Russia and China have been proposing a "strategic partnership" intended to counter U.S. domination in global affairs.
President Vladimir Putin's latest visit to China, in October, served to boost bilateral ties. During the visit, the neighbors also signed an agreement on their long, joint border, bringing to an end a decades-long dispute.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province and has vowed to use force if necessary to prevent any formal declaration of independence by the self-governing island. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. has pledged to help Taiwan to defend itself.
© 2005 CNSNews.com. All Rights Reserved.
Editor's note:
The Phoenix air-to-air missile with the capability to shoot down an aircraft at over 100 miles, before they get into cruise missile range, is why the F-14 should not have been retired.
Didn't Lenin say something about the capitalists selling him the rope he would use to hang them....
The ABL will replace it, with an atmospheric kill range of 400 miles. Just imagine what it can do to satellites, or humans on the ground. 747 Battle Star.
Sure would not want to have any money invested in China if they took a shot at one of our carriers. Makes you wonder how they would fund their economy after that happened.
We actually still have F-14 converted to bomber rolls in our carrier groups. I'm sure they can still utilize the Phoenix. The multi-layered defense of a carrier battlegroup would prevent these bombers from getting within range of a battle group. If some did happen to get close enough to launch cruise missles, the Phalanx (sic) close in weapon system would automatically fire 100 rounds per second at the incomming missles. I think we'll be ok.
Won't they be surprised when China turns around and absorbs the Russian Far East.
Only the Russian will be suprised at that.
Looks like a continuation of the Cold War by proxy while taking our capital. Why am I not surprised. The Commies are still in charge.
They also want to sell to Syria:
SA-18s http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/sa-18.htm
and
SS-26's http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/ss-26.htm
We need to bring back nuclear air to air missiles.
The Backfire is early 80s technology and the entire AEGIS system was specifically designed to stop massive attacks by Regiments of Backfires.
Amusing that it's abundantly clear the US Navy would have wiped the Soviet Navy, at its peak in the early 80s, off the seas, and with the US Navy only somewhat smaller now and far more technologically advanced, people panic about the Russians selling early-80s weaponry to the Chinese in far tinier quantities than the old Soviet Navy posessed.
Unfortunately, the reality is that those old airframes are tired and going to the boneyard soon. It was fast, it had the legs, and it sure looked cool, but it was designed in an older age where spending 60 hours per flight hour in maintenance was acceptable.
Fortunately, the Backfire will make the Tomcat look like the epitome of forward thinking maintenance.
Good post! In Asian, sons are treasured, but does the Party have the "will" to dictate to the peons?
This is getting to be a real love-fest swinger swapmeet.
Lets see...we have:
Russia-China
Russia-Iran
China-Iran
Africa-Iran
China-Africa
Iran-Mexico
Venezuela-China
And then theres France...who shows up..like a sloppy old trollup looking for some spare cash.
Did I leave anyone out...outside of the US of course...we arent invited to this lovefest.
"If some did happen to get close enough to launch cruise missles, the Phalanx (sic) close in weapon system would automatically fire 100 rounds per second at the incomming missles. I think we'll be ok"
Tell that to the crew of the USS Stark....
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