Armée Chinoise / People's Liberation Army (PLA)

2012.03

Citation :

China’s defence budget to aid air force modernisation


China has announced that it will raise its 2012 defence budget by 11.2% year on year to CNY670 billion ($106 billion), although it provided no details of how this will affect aircraft procurement and research and development (R&D) activities.

In a report by China's official Xinhua news agency published on the Ministry of National Defence website, spokesman Li Zhaoxing stressed that China's defence spending, at 1.28% of GDP, is proportionally lower than countries such as the USA and the UK.

As is typical with China's annual defence budget announcement, there were no details about specific programmes. China is, however, engaged in a major effort to upgrade both its air force as well as the aviation arm of its navy.

The Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) continues to replace older types with the Chengdu J-10 and Shenyang J-11, as well as the Sukhoi Su-30. It is also reportedly interested in obtaining the Su-35 from Russia.

China is also adding modern helicopters, improving its airlift capabilities, and improving niche, but essential, capabilities such as airborne early warning and control.

© Greg Waldron/Flightglobal

Meanwhile, development continues on the J-20, a large aircraft optimised for low observability that analysts feel is well suited to the long-range strike role. Rumours abound on Chinese aviation web sites of one or more development programmes for advanced fighters that have low observability characteristics.
The Peoples' Liberation Army Navy is also in the process of developing its aviation arm. The aircraft-carrier capable J-15, a local copy of the Su-33, is still undergoing testing. It will eventually be deployed on the former Soviet carrier Varyag, which is now undergoing sea trials after being re-fitted in Dalian.

In 2011, photographs emerged of a Shaanxi Y-8 transport aircraft that was modified for the maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare role.

Apart from developing advanced capabilities, a good deal of any R&D funding is bound to go towards developing reliable fighter engines, so that China can reduce its heavy dependence on Russian engines. It will also continue to develop aircraft sensors and precision weapons.

Richard Bitzinger, senior fellow of the Military Transformations Programme at Singapore's Rajaratnam School of International Studies, believes that about 10% of China's overall budget for 2012 will be spent on aircraft procurement and R&D.

He notes that in defence white papers, China has indicated that its budget is divided roughly between three main areas: personnel, operations, and procurement (which also includes R&D).

He dismisses the often-cited belief that China's military spending is up to double the stated figure. "It is one thing when you have an official budget of $10 billion and another $10 billion is off the books, but going from $100 billion to $200 billion is much bigger."

Given the ambiguities around China's defence spending and its increasing stridency with regard to territorial claims in the South China and East China Sea, its neighbours will likely continue acquiring new aircraft and upgrade existing types, namely the Lockheed Martin F-16,

At the recent Singapore Airshow, a senior executive at a major US defence contractor said that nations do not buy capabilities for the threats they face today, but as insurance against possible threats in 10-15 years.

Citation :

Armement: Moscou et Pékin sont près de conclure un contrat de 4 mds USD

La Russie et la Chine s'apprêtent à conclure un contrat de livraison de 48 chasseurs russes SU-35, estimé à près de 4 milliards de dollars, annonce mardi le quotidien Kommersant.

"La Russie et la Chine sont près de conclure le plus gros contrat de livraison d'armement de ces dernières décennies. Les parties se sont pratiquement mises d'accord sur la livraison en Chine de 48 chasseurs polyvalents Su-35, pour un montant estimé à 4 milliards de dollars", écrit le quotidien se référant aux sources militaires russes.

Selon le journal, un seul obstacle empêche la signature du contrat, Moscou exigeant que Pékin fournisse des garanties juridiques notifiant son engagement à ne pas imiter les appareils russes. Des garanties que la partie chinoise ne s'empresse pas de donner.

"Moscou n'aspire pas seulement à s'établir sur le marché chinois, mais souhaite également éviter à l'avenir que ses avions soient copiés et vendus à des pays tiers à bas prix. Moscou a de bonnes raisons de redouter ce genre d'opérations. Ainsi, le chasseur chinois J-10 est une vraie copie du chasseur russe Su-27, le J-11 est une copie du Su-30, tandis que le FC-1 est le Mig-29 contrefait en Chine". Cela dit, tous les appareils russes ont été mis à la disposition des ingénieurs chinois, a indiqué au journal une source au sein du gouvernement russe.