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| JF-17 Thunder (Pakistan) / FC-1 Xiaolong (China) Fighter |
Now that it can design and produce more sophisticated aircraft, China will no longer export low quality fighters to the overseas market, according to the China Youth Daily, a paper operated by the Communist Youth League, on July 11.
China began to provide its fighters designed based on Soviet MiGs to developing nations in the 1950s. Since China itself was a developing nation at that time, the nation was unable to design a good quality fighter itself. Unlike most US fighters of the same period, the Chinese fighters did not have modified cockpits to make the pilot safer and more comfortable. For this reason, China donated these fighters to its allies instead of selling them.
From 1979 onwards, China sold thousands of military, aircraft, commercial jets and unmanned aerial vehicle to 60 nations around the world. With more experience of introducing its fighters to the overseas market, the quality of Chinese aircraft has gradually improved. At the same time, the price of Chinese fighters is more reasonable than their US or European counterparts for developing nations to afford, which is one of China's biggest advantages.
Read the full story at Want China Times