Posted on 01/06/2007 9:10:15 AM PST by knighthawk
SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- China on Friday hailed the development of its Jian-10 fighter jet, aircraft engines and air-to-air missiles as a sign it had soared into the top levels of aerospace defense technology.
China "has become the world's fourth country that is capable of developing on its own advanced fighter planes, engines and missiles," Geng Ruguang, deputy general manager of China Aviation Industry Corp., was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency.
Geng made the comments at a news conference in Beijing on Friday where the state-run aerospace company, known as AVIC I, unveiled a model of the Jian-10, Xinhua said.
It didn't name the other three countries ranked alongside China, although analysts said Geng was likely referring to France, Russia and the United States, all leading exporters of high-tech military aircraft.
Geng's announcement seemed intended to underscore the growing sophistication of China's domestic arms industry, which has struggled following the imposition of a ban on weapons sales by the United States and European Union.
It also reflects China's attempts to develop homegrown technology and intellectual property to avoid paying licensing fees to foreign companies.
China is now heavily reliant on Russia for weapons and military technology but has being seeking to scale back that dependency.
Calls to AVIC's Beijing headquarters seeking additional information rang unanswered Friday.
Friday's public announcement seems to indicate a growing confidence in the Jian-10 on the part of the government and its developers, said Robert Karniol, Asia Pacific bureau chief for Jane's Defense Weekly.
While more than one dozen of the planes are known to have been deployed with Air Force units, officials have until now mostly avoided public acknowledgment of the program, he said.
"It does represent some achievement on China's part. It reflects a growing sophistication," Karniol said.
However, he added that the plane has yet to be proven in combat and some claims as to its capabilities may have been overblown.
China has also traditionally had little success with engine development and it wasn't clear what criteria Geng had been using when he ranked China alongside other nations in sophistication, Karniol said.
Several other countries, including Britain and Sweden, have also developed sophisticated fighter aircraft, he said.
Almost 20 years in development, the Jian-10 is a latest-generation multi-role fighter bomber believed to have been developed with Israeli help using the U.S. F-16 fighter as a template. The plane was reportedly being manufactured by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp. in southwestern China, a company believed to be controlled by AVIC I.
Overseas defense analysts say China was believed to have ordered up to 300 of the planes for the People's Liberation Army Air Force. However, that number may have been reduced due to the purchase of advanced Russian models such as the SU-27 and SU-30 from Russia.
Along with the Jian-10, Geng pointed to China's development of the Taihang turbofan engine and air-to-air missiles, which he didn't further identify.
While early models of the Jian-10 are powered by the Russian AL-31FN turbofan, later versions are to be fitted with the Taihang.
Geng also said China had achieved aerospace breakthroughs in the development of its ARJ-21, which is meant to be the nation's first contender in the market for regional jets. The plane, which reportedly is to seat 78 to 105 passengers, is made by AVIC I. The company hasn't said when it expects to bring its first models to market.
Ping
Thanks again Bill Clinton.
So, who do they consider will be their Enemy?
Fourth? Sweden, the UK, Italy, France, Russia, the US, Japan...
Does it have an anti-collision system?
Strike Italy and the UK from that list of yours. Neither country has much in the way of an aerospace industry -- or, put it this way, if you include them, then you also have to include Spain, Israel and Germany.
It also reflects China's attempts to develop homegrown technology and intellectual property to avoid paying licensing fees to foreign companies.
"developing homegrown tech" in much the same way a burgler breaks into a home to avoid paying DVD player purchase fees
Development?
It has a Russian nose, French wing and a US tail section.
They used Russian/French/US technology that they stole.
Next they will claim the developed the wheel.
Really!!!!! "China has also traditionally had little success with engine development"
Are you saying that Clinton and Gore forgot to give them that type of information? Amazing.....they gave them everything else.
How big do you think the radar signature is for this recycled F-16? Or should I say F-22 cannon fodder?
They did this right after Al Gore invented the internet.
Its design also looks about 30 years old. It looks about as stealthy as a garbage truck.
The J-10 is designed similar to the Israeli Lavi which was a concept design similar to that of the F-16. This makes the J-10 at best a 4th generation fighter even if massively upgraded and improved. As such it doesn't stand a chance against 5th generation fighters like the F-22 or the EuroFighter and is even inferior to fighters such as the MiG-35 and the Su-35.
LOL!
Now that's funny.
"How big do you think the radar signature is for this recycled F-16? Or should I say F-22 cannon fodder?"
Well, it has not only canards, but two dorsal fins, and the tail isn't shielded by the wings, and there are lots of sharp angles, so I'd say tthe thing glows like a Christmas tree.
It really isn't very F16ish if you look at it. Looks like tthey copied everyone circa 1982.
It looks pretty old tech.... can't radar pick that up about 100,000 miles away?
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