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China air force much improved though still lagging Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press Writer – Thu Nov 5, 12:21 pm ET BEIJING – China's rapidly modernizing air force is planning a display of its new military might for its 60th anniversary, showcasing a wide-ranging technical upgrade that has boosted its capabilities, though it still lags far behind its main rival, the United States. The People's Liberation Army Air Force is marking the occasion this Sunday with an aerial show and skydiving exhibition, using some of the state-of-the-art combat aircraft that have replaced hundreds of antiquated MIG fighters. While only about 20...

TAIPEI--Aggressive military action by China's air force in the East China Sea triggered alarm in Japan that resulted in emergency scrambling by Self-Defense Forces fighter jets on two days in September. Chinese bombers made more than 40 sorties in airspace around the disputed Chunxiao gas field, known as Shirakaba in Japanese. SDF jets were scrambled 12 times, according to Taiwanese military sources. Japanese government sources later confirmed the account. China's action initially was seen as provocative. However, Japanese experts say the exercise could have been part of the Chinese military's readiness in the East China Sea in the event of...

Analysis: China attains nuclear strategic strike capability HONG KONG, Sep. 7 ANDREI CHANG Column: Military Might China has been upgrading its H-6 bombers and producing H-6K bombers in an effort to improve its aerial nuclear strategic deterrence. The subsonic speed of the H-6 and non-stealthy sorties prevented it from breaking through the air defense networks of Russia, the United States and Japan. Fitted with D-30-P2 engines of greater thrust power, the new H-6K has a greatly increased range and combat payload. The two engines, each with a thrust power of 12,000 kilograms, may enhance the H-6K's ammunition capacity to around...

China in mind, India to boost eastern air power Wed Aug 8, 2007 6:25PM IST By Bappa Majumdar KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - India will embark on a major effort soon to boost air power on the eastern front, a top military commander said on Wednesday, adding new fighter jets among others, in an apparent move to guard against China. The plans include moving two squadrons or 36 state-of-the-art Russian-built Sukhoi-30 aircraft to an air base in the east, adding advanced helicopters, strengthening runways and upgrading other air force facilities. "The perception of east India has changed and our defences are...

With J-10, China Finally On Course In Military Export Field BY DOUG TSURUOKA INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY Posted 4/3/2007 It has swept-back wings, small fins near its nose and a turbofan engine. It knocks down enemy planes with missiles and guns, or bombs targets on the ground. It's called the Jian-10 or J-10 (Jian means fighter in Chinese), and it's China's answer to the most advanced models of the U.S. F-16 fighter, an almost-outdated plane that entered service in the late 1970s. China unveiled the aircraft at the start of this year — after developing it in a top-secret project that...

Experts pooh-pooh China's J-10 By Jimmy Chuang STAFF REPORTER Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007 Local air defense specialists yesterday dismissed reports that China's J-10 jet fighters -- the latest major aircraft to be deployed by the Chinese air force -- poses a threat to Taiwan. "Based on our analysis of the aircraft's background and [our knowledge] of the training of Taiwanese and Chinese pilots," the J-10 is not a threat to Taiwan, said Pan Kong-hsiao (àN‹±�F), director of the National Defense University's air force department. Pan was approached yesterday for comments regarding the Chinese air force's admission early this year that...

Chinese J-11B Presages Quiet Military Revolution By Douglas Barrie 11/05/2006 09:17:03 PM POWER PLAY China is in the midst of a critical period of testing an "indigenous" version of the Russian Su-27 Flanker, known as the J-11B, with propulsion, radar and weapons system integration underway. The effort is emblematic of Beijing's efforts to recast its capabilities for the 21st century as its military and associated defense-aerospace sector undergoes its own revolution in military affairs. The development of the J-11B, if successful, will mark a notable change in capability--not only for key elements of the country's defense industrial base, but also...

Picture: Chinese precision-guided gliding bomb revealed A picture has been published of what appears to be a new precision-guided bomb developed by China, possibly under the designation LS-6. The image has been revealed on the Chinese Military Aviation website which says the weapon was first revealed this month and is apparently in the 500kg class. The bomb has what are presumably foldable wings, and cruciform tail surfaces for guidance, giving a possible stand-off range of tens of kiometres depending on launch altitude. Conceptually it closely resembles the US Longshot system used to give precision capability to dumb bombs. It is...

Taiwan leader's plane targeted by Chinese fighter jets: report TAIPEI (AFP) Nov 11, 2004 Fighter jets from China locked on to a plane carrying Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian during a trip over the Taiwan Strait, it was reported here Tuesday. Chen's Air Force One official plane had been heading for Penghu, an island group in the strait, when it was targeted by the warplanes from China, the United Daily News said, quoting unidentified Chinese defense sources. Vice President Annette Lu's plane was also targeted by Chinese fighter jets when she was flying to Penghu on October 2, the paper said....

China Plans Sophisticated Line of Military Exports Aviation Week & Space Technology 11/08/2004, David A. Fulghum Washington China plans a more sophisticated line of military exports as it continues to buy Russian technology Trading Up U.S. officials are closely studying what was displayed at the Zhuhai air show. They're looking for clues about what China is selling and buying, and how those transactions may change the makeup and tactics of its military forces. At the top of the items of interest that have already caught the U.S. Defense Dept.'s collective attention is a 7% increase in value in arms agreements...

China is about to receive 24 advanced Sukhoi Su-30MK2 Flanker fighters from Russia. The new fighter jets are reported to be the naval versions of the Sukhoi Su-30MKK fighter. The new Chinese fighters are reportedly equipped with enhanced anti-ship strike capabilities including the Kh-31 Krypton supersonic anti-ship missile. China has already purchased 78 Su-27SK/UBK fighters and 76 Su-30MKK fighters from Russia, and is building 200 more Flanker jets under license from Sukhoi. The PLA Naval Air Corps will deploy the latest batch of Su-30MK2 fighters. The disturbing news from Beijing adds to recent bad news for the U.S. Air Force....

CHINESE AIR FORCE TOWARDS 2015 Dr. Srikanth Kondapalli Research Fellow Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis Paper presented at the National Seminar on “Air Power in Indian Security” Organized by Institute for Defence Studies & Analysis, At Gulmohar, Habitat Centre, New Delhi October 9-10, 2000 While China’s People’s Liberation Army Air force [PLAAF] did not possess among its ranks a person of the caliber of Admiral Liu Huaqing who was instrumental in steering the Chinese Navy in to a well articulated naval power projection scheme abroad till the period 2045 and beyond, concerted modernisation of the PLAAF in the last...

Chinese Airlines Serve PLA Military The Chinese army operates over 2,000 front companies inside the United States. Newly declassified documents from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) show that China United Airlines is a one such front company. China United Airlines is a most curious business. A Chinese air force general heads China United. China United aircraft also double as troop transports for the People's Liberation Army. Yet documents obtained from the Defense Intelligence Agency show that China United is allowed to do business inside the U.S. without question. The newly declassified documents from the Defense Intelligence Agency had the names...