News Story: Chinese Aircraft Carrier Program Progressing Substantially Into the New Year

China's first Aircraft Carrier: Liaoning (File Photo)

By: Mike Yeo

MELBOURNE, Australia — China continues to make strides in its aircraft carrier program, with a number of milestones achieved in 2016 and looks set to make more in 2017. 

The country’s sole carrier, the refurbished Soviet-era Kuznetsov-class ship, now renamed the Liaoning, was declared “combat ready” in November by Senior Capt. Li Dongyou, the political commissar onboard the ship as it departed for a training cruise that included a stopover at the purpose-built pier at the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) base near Sanya on Hainan island on the edge of the South China Sea. 

The ship sailed with a battle group comprising of several PLAN destroyers, frigates and corvettes, while the Liaoning itself carried more than a dozen Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark carrier-borne fighters and several Harbin Z-9 and Changhe Z-18 helicopters onboard, including at least two Z-18J airborne early warning (AEW) helicopters. 

Meanwhile, the same shipyard at Dalian that refurbished the Liaoning is building China’s second carrier. Known for now as the 001A — the Liaoning was designated the Type 001 — the new carrier is broadly similar to the Liaoning and retains the ski jump for launching aircraft, but contains a revised flight deck arrangement and other differences. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Beijing Announces First Aircraft Carrier Ready for Battle

China state media reported Tuesday that the country’s first aircraft carrier is prepared for combat, as the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) looks to bolster its presence in the region and abroad.

The state-run Global Times said the aircraft carrier Liaoning, named for her Chinese home province, has “formally been described as having a real combat capacity,” and Li Dongyou, the Liaoning’s political commissar, was quoted as saying the ship is "constantly prepared for war." 

Li remarked, "As a military force, we are always prepared for war and our combat capacity also needs to be tested by war … At this moment, we are doing our best to promote our strength and use it to prevent war, and are prepared for actual combat at any time."

The 60,000-ton vessel was purchased from Ukraine in 1998 as an incomplete Soviet Navy hull, and was formally commissioned to be completed in 2012. Beijing is also in the process of building the first indigenous aircraft carrier which will be able to house up to ten rotary wing aircraft, including the Harbin Z-9, Changshe Z-18 and Ka-31 helicopters, along with 24 Shenyang J-15 multirole fighter jets. 

News Story: China battles fierce competition and quality issues in fight for weapons sales

JF-17 Fighter of the Pakistan Air Force

Minnie Chan

More than 900 Chinese weapons will be on display at Zhuhai air show, but it still trails US and Russia in global market share

The biennial Airshow China expo in Zhuhai, which starts on Tuesday, will showcase many advanced, Chinese-made weapons to potential customers in Asia and Africa.

More than 900 Chinese weapons will be on display, according to the organiser of the six-day show, which will feature more than 700 exhibitors from more than 42 countries and regions – with more than 400 exhibitors from China alone.

But while military experts say the quality of cheaper Chinese weapons has improved, Chinese manufacturers are still struggling to build brands in an international market dominated by competitors from the United States and Russia.

At September’s Africa Aerospace and Defence air show in Pretoria, South Africa, Chinese exhibitors struggled to find buyers even though Beijing tried hard to secure sales of its L-15 Falcon trainer and JF-17 fighter, Andrei Chang, the founder of military magazine Kanwa Asian Defence, told the South China Morning Post.

C-705 Anti-Ship Missile

He said Cameroon had received four Harbin Z-9 attack helicopters from China after Beijing offered a US$100 million loan last year, but one of them had crashed soon after being handed over. Cameroon was still negotiating with China over the accident and had no any plans to buy any more Chinese weapons due to quality concerns, Chang said.

Professor Jonathan Holslag, head of research at the Brussels Institute of Contemporary China Studies, said financial problems were causing many countries, including South Africa, to be more hesitant and cautious when purchasing new arms.

Read the full story at South China Morning Post

News Report: South China Sea Ramp-Up - New Chinese Aircraft Carrier’s Shocking Combat Features

China's Liaoning Aircraft Carrier

As tensions mount in the South China Sea, the country’s state television has heralded the Liaoning aircraft carrier’s expanded lethality.

Last week, Chinese TV boasted about the "growing combat capabilities" of its Liaoning (CV-16) aircraft carrier, noting that the battle platform can carry up to 20 fighter jets, bolstering Beijing’s balance of naval and aviation power in the Pacific rim amid growing tensions.

Last Monday’s footage revealed the Liaoning carrying eight Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) J-15 fighters, along with a Z-18 and a Z-9 helicopter, the largest number of aircraft yet seen on the carrier, suggestive of plans by China to build up its aerial presence in the Pacific Ocean.

Editorial: China Pledges New Military Aid to Cambodia

By Prashanth Parameswaran

Beijing agrees to provide further assistance to one of its staunchest Asian partners.

China and Cambodia agreed to boost their military ties following a meeting between their defense ministers on November 6 in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.

According to Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh in remarks after consultations with his visiting Chinese counterpart Chang Wanquan, China agreed to provide Cambodia with further military assistance to boost the capabilities of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

Though specifics of the assistance remain unclear, Banh, who is also a deputy prime minister, indicated that it includes telecommunications and radio equipment from China to improve Cambodia’s ability to communicate across all command headquarters. It also reportedly involves continued Chinese assistance in training and constructing military academies as well as increased exercises and exchanges.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: China supplies Cambodia with anti-aircraft hardware in new military aid

Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; 

Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; 

Editing by Robert Birsel

China have provided Cambodia with shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, Cambodia's defense minister said on Friday, as the two countries agreed on new military aid to boost close ties.

Cambodia is one of China's most stalwart allies in Asia, routinely backing China's position at international forums in a region where China and United States vie for influence.

"The visit of the defense minister of the People's Republic of China has achieved good results," Defense Minister Tea Banh told reporters after a signing ceremony with his visiting Chinese counterpart, Chang Wanquan.

Tea Banh attended a meeting of defense ministers from the region this week where they scrapped plans for a joint statement because they failed to agree on whether to include a reference to the disputed South China Sea, which China had objected to.

Tea Banh made no mention of those negotiations but said China had recently delivered shoulder-fired missiles.

Read the full story at Reuters

News Story: China developing new attack helicopter with stealth power

Chinese WZ-19 Attack Helicopter

China has begun to develop a fourth-generation attack helicopter which will have stealth capabilities and expects to deliver it to the People's Liberation Army by around 2020, according to a report by the English-language China Daily.

Aviation Industry Corp of China, an aircraft manufacturer and supplier to the PLA, has been given the responsibility of researching and developing the helicopter, Cankaoxiaoxi.com website reported Sunday, citing Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster.

The company disclosed the information in a media brochure distributed to domestic journalists taking part in the Third China Helicopter Expo, which opened on Wednesday in Tianjin, according to the China Daily report published Friday.

The company gave no further details but according to the report, it was the first time that China has confirmed it is developing a new-generation combat helicopter.

Read the full story at Want China Times

News Report: Analysts See Cambodia Bolstering Military Ties With China

Neou Vannarin

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA—Cambodia is strengthening its military ties with China, and analysts say it is likely to continue doing so for the forseeable future.

Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh made a five-day trip to China last week, meeting with high-ranking military officials and receiving pledges of assistance from the Chinese military.

In a recent interview, he told the VOA Khmer service that the visit was successful in bringing military cooperation between the countries even closer. That relationship is closer than Cambodia’s military ties with the U.S., he said.

Analysts say Phnom Penh is likely to look more and more to Beijing for support because of growing tensions with its old patron, Vietnam, over border issues.

Editorial: China Just Gave Cambodia’s Military a Boost

By Prashanth Parameswaran

Beijing delivers another batch of defense equipment to its Southeast Asian partner.

On May 23, China delivered a range of defense equipment to Cambodia as part of Beijing’s ongoing efforts to boost the capabilities of one of its key partners in Southeast Asia.

According to The Cambodia Daily, the delivery included 44 vehicles – including jeeps, rocket-launcher mounted trucks and at least a half-dozen anti-aircraft guns mounted on wheels – 20 forklifts, four mobile kitchens, some 2,000 kg of unspecified chemicals and 10,000 kg worth of spare parts. The delivery was formalized through a handover ceremony between Cambodian defense minister Tea Banh and Chinese ambassador Bu Jianguo which took place at the Infantry Institute in Kampong Speu province – a facility which was itself funded by Beijing.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

Editorial: With Fourth 'Submarine-Killer' Corvette, China Makes ASW Headway

By Ankit Panda

China just commissioned its fourth “submarine-killer” corvette. ASW’s rising on the PLAN’s list of priorities.

On May 6, China commissioned its fourth anti-submarine warfare (ASW) optimized Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvette, the Huangshi. The Huangshi will join the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) North Sea Fleet as the most advanced PLAN ASW corvette. Since November 2014, China has commissioned two other Jiangdao-class ASW variants, including the Sanmenxia on November 13, 2014 for the East Sea Fleet and Zhuzhou on November 28, 2014 for the South Sea Fleet. The Diplomat reported on the inaugural Type 056 variant last November.

The 1,500-tonne displacement corvettes mark an important step in the PLAN’s ASW capabilities, an area that several analysts have noted as a weakness for China. The ASW variant Jiangdao-class ships feature four YJ-83 anti-ship missiles for surface warfare, and two triple-tube torpedo launchers, according to a report by IHS Jane’s Navy International. Additionally, the corvette’s flight deck allows for the operation of a single Z-9C helicopter (though limited maintenance facilities constrain the length and complexity of any helicopter operations).

Read the full story at The Diplomat

News Story: Z-20, China's version of Black Hawk, to enter production 2018

Chinese military analyst Li Xiaojian has told the state-run Global Times that the production of Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation's Z-20 medium-lift helicopter is likely to begin in 2018, five years after its first test flight.

Sources suggest that the Z-20 was designed based on the stealth version of the crashed US Black Hawk that was abandoned by US Navy SEALs in Pakistan during the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on May 1, 2011.

Read the full story at Want China Times

News Story: Chinese Carrier's Purported Air Wing Deemed Plausible but Limited

By WENDELL MINNICK

TAIPEI — New details have emerged on the aircraft lineup for the new carrier Liaoning, which analysts say is a “plausible” mix of foreign-designed fighter jets and various helicopters, yet limited due to its lack of other necessary aircraft.

According to the Aug. 28 edition of the Chinese-language Shanghai Morning Post, the carrier will house 36 aircraft, including:

■ 24 Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark fighters.

■ 6 Changhe Z-18F anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters.

■ 4 Changhe Z-18J airborne early warning helicopters.

■ 2 Harbin Z-9C rescue helicopters.

The article was based on quotes from Cao Dongwei, senior colonel and researcher at the People’s Liberation Army Naval Research Institute. The Liaoning is a refurbished Soviet-era Varyag aircraft carrier procured in 1998 by China and commissioned in 2012.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: Lineup of 36 aircraft on China's Liaoning carrier revealed

Z-18F anti-submarine warfare helicopter

China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, can carry four Z-18J airborne early warning (AEW) helicopters, six Z-18F anti-submarine helicopters, two Z-9C rescue helicopters, and 24 J-15 shipborne fighter jets, the Chinese-language Shanghai Morning Post reported on Aug. 28.

Cao Dongwei, senior colonel and researcher at the People's Liberation Army Naval Research Institute, said the aircraft carrier could gain the upper hand in any potential battle for air or sea supremacy. The lineup may differ for various missions, however. The full lineup of 36 aircraft shows that the "PLA Navy's era of aircraft" has arrived, the report said.

On the tail of the Z-18F helicopter is the image of a sea eagle sprawling its talons, which suggests that the aircraft's mission is to seek out and attack enemy submarines, according to the paper. Cao said it is common practice to mark aircraft with physically tough and fierce animals to "show the spirit of bravery of the pilot and the craft itself."

Read the full story at Want China Times

News Story: The Helicopter China Cannot Get Enough Of

Mi-171 (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

August 9, 2014: The Russian Helicopter Corporation delivered to China the last of 52 Mi-171E helicopters ordered since 2012. This model can carry up to 37 passengers or four tons of cargo and has engines that are particularly effective under "hot and high" conditions. This is useful for the Chinese, who need equipment that can operate in Tibet (where many areas are at altitudes of over 4,000 meters). China is quite fond of the Mi-17 and the older Mi-8 it is derived from. Currently China operates 160 Mi-171 helicopters.

In 2008 China signed deals that allows it to legally manufacture the Mi-171, but it is still buying them from Russia because it takes time to set up manufacturing facilities and China needs more military transport helicopters right now and can afford to pay. Currently China has about 300 Mi-17/Mi-8 type helicopters and over 500 locally made helicopters. Most (Z9/Z-19) of these local builds are based on the Eurocopter AS 365 Dauphin while another hundred locally built Z-10 gunships were based on a Russian design. China has shown a preference for the Mi-8/17 design and would like to build a thousand or more Mi-171s locally under license.

In 2010 Chinese and Russian helicopter manufacturers established a joint venture to perform maintenance and refurbishment on helicopters, especially those of Russian design. This is part of a larger plan, which also includes the factory in China building Mi-171s.

Read the full story at StrategyPage

News Report: Update Naval Aviation Bangladesh

Chinese Z-9 Helicopter

Russian and Chinese planes and helicopters entered service Bangladesh Navy

Command Naval Aviation Bangladesh will receive nine training aircraft (TCB) K-8W manufactured in China by the end of 2014. Commissioning of the Russian Mi-171SH is expected by 2015. It is reported IHS Jane's. Assumed that K-8W will be used for training pilots of naval aviation in Chittagong. TCB were booked under a contract with the China National Corporation for the export and import of aviation technology CATIC (ChinaNationalAero TechnologyImport & ExportCorporation) last year. Amount of the transaction and its composition were not disclosed. K-8W is an improved version of TCB JL-8, which introduced digital wire control mode, as well as improved helmet system indication.

According to ARMS-TASS, Bangladesh Navy also expects delivery of five multipurpose helicopters Mi-171SH Russian production. It is assumed that after the commissioning they will be used for maritime surveillance and search and rescue operations. According to the official representatives of the country, the commissioning of new aircraft will greatly enhance the combat capability of naval forces Asian state.

Russian Mi-171Sh Helicopter (Image: Wiki Commons)

Command of Naval Aviation Navy Bangladesh was established in July 2011. Its members originally included two AW109 helicopters manufactured by Agusta / Westland. Later, the two aircraft were delivered to Dornier-228NG. In addition to Mi-171SH and K-8W expected commissioning of three Chinese Z-9 helicopters. Earlier at an arms fair DSA-2014 April, the head of the delegation of "Rosoboronexport" Nikolai Dimidyuk announced the signing of an agreement with Bangladesh for the supply of five Mi-171SH. He said that Bangladesh will receive these transport-combat helicopters provided within Russia in January this year loan of $ 1 billion for the purchase of military products.

This story first appeared on Military-Industrial Courier (translation: Google Translate) & is reposted here with permission.

News Story: China Pushing Into SE Asia's Defense Market

By WENDELL MINNICK

SINGAPORE — At this year’s Singapore Airshow, Chinese aviation companies AVIC and CATIC are pushing into the export defense market for Southeast Asia.

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) provided brochures and models of their platforms at this year’s airshow.

On display were models of the L-15 Falcon advanced jet trainer, FC-1/JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, Z-9WE attack helicopter, Wing Loong (Pterodactyl) unmanned combat aerial vehicle, ASN-209 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and the K-8 basic jet trainer.

Missing this year from the AVIC/CATIC booth are models and brochures of the J-10 fighter.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Story: 12 China-made helicopters delivered to Cambodia

Z-9 Helicopter (File Photo)

Twelve Chinese-built Zhi-9 (Z-9) utility helicopters, which Cambodia had purchased from China, were delivered to the Royal Cambodian Air Force on Monday.

The handover ceremony was held at the capital's Military Airbase between Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Bu Jianguo.

Tea Banh said the helicopter delivery was a new historic achievement in addition to numerous supports the Chinese government has given to Cambodia.

"The helicopters will be used to serve training in order to strengthen capacity for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in defending territorial integrity and in cracking down on offenses in remote areas," he said. "They will also be used for humanitarian activities such as disasters."

Read the full story at Global Times

News Story: China to send soldiers and armoured vehicles to Russia for 20 days of joint anti-terrorism exercises

China on Saturday, July 27, 2013, began to send military personnel and armaments to Russia, where they will join 20-day joint anti-terrorism drills held by both parties. The transfer of Chinese troops for the exercise will be completed by Aug. 2, according to Zhang Yan, deputy commander of the 646 Chinese military personnel participating in the drills.

The Chinese officers and soldiers will be sent to the drill venue in seven batches, with four traveling by air and three by train, Zhang said.

With 72 people on board, two Mi-171 military transport helicopters and four Z-9 armed helicopters from the Chinese side took off from an airport in Hailar in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Saturday morning.

They will travel more than 5,000 km with several stopovers and are expected to arrive at the drill venue in five days.

Read the full story at Army Recognition

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