News Story: China Airshow Will Unveil J-31

By WENDELL MINNICK

TAIPEI — A Chinese airshow official has confirmed that China will unveil its stealthy J-31 fighter aircraft at China’s biggest commercial and defense airshow next week in Zhuhai, in the southern province of Guangdong near Hong Kong.

Known officially as the 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, the event will be held from Nov. 11-14. About 700 aviation companies and 120 aircraft will participate.

Built by Shenyang Aircraft, this will be the first public demonstration of the twin-engine J-31. The fighter is similar in configuration to the single-engine Lockheed F-35 stealth fighter. Chinese-language military blogs posted photographs of the J-31 practicing demonstration flights at Zhuhai last week.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) will be exhibiting the JH-7A and J-10 fighters, Z-8KA helicopter, and the upgraded H-6M medium-range bomber capable of carrying cruise missiles. The Hongdu L-15 Falcon fighter trainer is not yet listed nor is there a press conference. Hongdu has made a special effort at other air shows in the Middle East and Asia to promote the aircraft.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: PLA Navy set to build 10 domestic aircraft carriers

Liaoning: China's First Carrier (File Photo)

To create its first blue-water navy, China plans to construct a total of 10 domestic aircraft carriers according to the Kanwa Defense Review, a Chinese-language military magazine operated by Andrei Chang also known as Pinkov, a military analyst from Canada.

After Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the US chief of naval operations visited China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, introduced from Ukraine, the blueprint of the nation's first domestic carrier is nearly complete, according to the Kanwa Defense Review. Greenert said that China is speeding up the construction of its second aircraft carrier. He stated that the vessel will begin its service with the People's Liberation Army Navy in the near future.

Read the full story at Want China Times

Editorial: Aircraft Carriers or Not? Flattops in the Pacific

CGI of HMAS Canberra (File Photo)

By Mike Yeo

A number of countries are building amphibious ships with the potential to operate fixed-wing aircraft. Could an arms race ensue?

The Pacific region—for this article, the line of nations bordering the Pacific Ocean stretching from Australia to Japan and the Korean Peninsula—has in the past decade or so witnessed a surge in the number of naval ships sporting a “through deck” design to allow flight operations to be conducted from their flight decks. Usually classified as amphibious ships or helicopter destroyers/cruisers, they had mostly escaped serious scrutiny in the mainstream consciousness. Until the past few weeks, that is, when a series of events thrust these vessels into global news headlines.

Excluding the United States’ two forward-deployed flattops—the USS George Washington and the USS Bonhomme Richard—in Japan, there are now at least eleven such ships planned, being built or in service among the Asia-Pacific’s navies as of today. These ships are officially described as being designed for amphibious operations, while their ability to operate helicopters will also be useful in anti-submarine warfare and to provide aid in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. Still, most are a refit away from (or in China’s case, already capable of) operating fixed-wing aircraft, sparking fears of an arms race against the backdrop of simmering territorial disputes in the region.

Read the full 3 page story at The Diplomat

Brunei: US & Chinese Ships arrive for HA/DR Exercise

MORE ASSETS TO ARRIVE FOR UPCOMING HADR EX

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Saturday 15 June 2013 – More military assets and personnel are arriving from the countries involved in the upcoming HADR exercise. The miitary assets are comprised of naval, air and engineering assets, followed by Real-Life Support (RLS) assets where logistical and administrative support and assistance are also provided such as rations, transport and accomodation. 

The great number of assets contributed by each respective country is a testament to the scale and magnitude of the HADR exercise. The assets ensure that the scenarios played out during the exercise are realistic and mirrors wartime environment as close as possible.

Expected assets yet to arrive to their designated areas include air and naval assets from China and the United States of America. Chinese assets expected to arrive include one Z-8, the Hospital Ship ‘Peace Ark’ and PLA-N Kunlun Shan. Assets expected from the United States of America include T-AKE 9 U5N5 USS Matthew Perry and two Puma aircrafts.

Brunei MoD

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US AND CHINA SHIPS ARRIVED TODAY

MUARA, Sunday 16 June 2013 – Ships from the United States of America, T-AKE 9 U5N5 USS Matthew Perry and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), PEACE ARK arrived today to partake in the ASEAN Defense Minister’s Meeting Plus Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief & Military Medicine Exercise scheduled to start tomorrow, 17 until 20 June 2013. 

News Story: The newest development of China’s armed helicopters

Z-10 Attack Helicopter (File Photo)

By Peter Wood and Cristina Garafola

From atimes.com

While much attention has been given to Chinese development of fixed-wing aircraft like the J-20 and J-31, relatively little has been devoted to China’s helicopter development. On March 16, 2013, a CCTV television news segment featured a squadron of Z-10 helicopters in Jinan Military Region (MR), marking the fifth squadron of China’s primary attack helicopter observed in public and the fourth squadron to appear since October of last year. The other four squadrons are based out of Nanjing, Beijing, Guangdong and Shenyang MRs.

The Z-10 has been flying since at least 2003 and was revealed to the public in 2004. Now being deployed to units, the Z-10 is an indicator that China is making more significant progress in terms of aerospace development than it is generally given credit for.

Read the full 3 page story at China Defense MashUp