DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: China’s New Freight Plane Extends Military Modernization Program

DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: China’s New Freight Plane Extends Military Modernization Program

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Bloomberg

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 28, 2013: China successfully tested a locally- built freight plane, two months after the debut of its fighter jet, boosting the nation’s efforts to use homegrown technology to expand defense capacity.

The Yun-20, which had its maiden flight yesterday, can take a maximum load of 66 tons and is suited for long-distance transportation, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The plane will aid the armed forces and will help deliver disaster relief and humanitarian aid, according to the report.

China achieved a military milestone when its fighter jet landed on its new aircraft carrier in November, extending a modernization bid that’s recorded advances in submarines, cyber warfare and in outer space.

The J-15 jet was developed and built by AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Corp., a unit of China’s largest aerospace company, Aviation Industry Corp of China. It can carry multi-type anti- ship, air-to-air, air-to-ground missiles and precision-guided bombs.

The aircraft tests underscore China’s progress in military modernization, which has been accompanied by a doubling of the defense budget in six years. China, the biggest spender on defense after the U.S., has become increasingly assertive in the region as President Barack Obama executes a strategic shift toward Asia and tensions rise with Japan and other nations over territorial disputes.

China’s defense spending, estimated at 670 billion yuan ($108 billion) in 2012, has more than doubled since 2006, tracking a rise in nominal gross domestic product to 47.2 trillion yuan from 21.6 trillion yuan.

*China Conducts Jumbo Freighter Test Flight ~ Reuters

China has conducted a successful test flight of its first domestically developed jumbo air freighter, the official state news agency Xinhua reported.

The Yun-20, or Transport-20, is designed for long-distance air transport of both cargo and passengers, Xinhua reported.

"The successful maiden flight of Yun-20 is significant in promoting China's economic and national defence build-up as well as bettering its emergency handling such as disaster relief and humanitarian aid," Xinhua said, adding that further test flights are scheduled.

China is determined to reduce dependency on foreign firms such as Boeing, Airbus, General Electric and Rolls-Royce for the country's rising demand for planes and engines.

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the country's dominant military and commercial aviation contractor, has lobbied for Beijing to back a multi-billion dollar plan to build a high-performance engine.

Meanwhile a host of design flaws has delayed approval by the Civil Aviation Administration of China for the country's homegrown 90-seat ARJ21 regional passenger jet.

At last November's China Airshow, China unveiled 50 new orders for its COMAC C919 passenger jet which is designed to challenge Airbus and Boeing in the USD$100 billion annual airliner market.

The orders for the 150-seat jet boosted the official tally to 380, reaching the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China's declared breakeven point of 300-400 orders.

However, analysts say it will be some time before the aircraft, due to make its maiden flight in 2014, proves both its technical worth and its financial viability.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Bloomberg
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News: China Preps To Showcase Air Power At Zhuhai Show

DTN News: China Preps To Showcase Air Power At Zhuhai Show

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Wendell Minnick - Defense News

(NSI News Source Info) ZHUHAI, China - November 15, 2010: About 70 aircraft from 35 countries and more than 600 domestic and foreign exhibitors are showcasing their wares at China's biggest aerospace and aviation show, the 8th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Zhuhai Airshow), beginning Nov. 16 in the southeastern province of Guangdong.

The biennial aviation exhibition has become a must-see for foreign defense officials and academic analysts seeking information on China's opaque defense industry and military establishment. The show is unlikely to disappoint, with displays of new UAVs, missile and rocket systems, and other equipment not seen before.

Journalists were allowed a preshow visit Nov. 15.

There were several detailed artist renderings of anti-ship cruise missiles destroying a U.S. aircraft carrier. Two displays by the China Aerospace and Science and Technology Corp. demonstrated how using aerial reconnaissance from UAVs and Beidou satellite communication and navigation satellites could coordinate an anti-ship cruise missile assault from aircraft, surface ships, submarines and land-based coastal batteries.

The show is operated by the government-owned, commercially run Zhuhai Airshow Co. and sponsored by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), Civil Aviation Administration, China Aviation Industry Corp. (AVIC) and a variety of defense and commercial aviation industries and supporters.

Foreign commercial aviation and defense companies exhibiting this year include Airbus, AgustaWestland, Bombardier, GE Aviation, Irkut, Pratt and Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Rosoboronexport, Sikorsky, Sukhoi Aviation and Thales.

A new U.S. exhibitor this year is Moog, and Honeywell is returning to the show after a long absence, show officials said.

Asian exhibitors are low-keyed at the show, but include the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies and Korea Aerospace Industries Assoc.

Among the new exhibitions are a variety of UAVs, including models of AVIC's Warrior Eagle combat UAV and an armed CH-3 UAV being produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. A new air-to-ground missile for the CH-3 dubbed the AR-1, which resembles the U.S.-built AGM-114 Hellfire, also is on display.

The PLAAF is showcasing a wide range of aircraft, including the Kongjing-200 advanced warning and control system aircraft, H-6 medium-range bomber and JH-7 and J-10 fighters. The service's August 1st aerobatics team will be flying six J-10s.

AVIC will show off the new L-15 advanced jet trainer. Sources at the show indicate that a new supersonic version of the L-15 has been developed.

The Pakistan Air Force will participate with flying displays of the JF-17 Thunder fighter and K-8 jet fighter trainer.

The JF-17 is a joint development program between the Chinese and Pakistan governments. The Pakistan Air Force's Sherdils aerobatic team will make its show debut with nine K-8s.

There are a number of seminars and conferences, mostly dealing with commercial aviation issues. The Military Flight Training Conference, jointly sponsored by the PLAAF and AVIC, ran from Nov. 14-15, with attendance from various countries, according to a show press release, but journalists were not allowed to attend.

"The main themes of the conference will concentrate on the pilot training from a future perspective," the release stated.

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News, contact: dtnnews@ymail.com

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DTN News: Chinese Jet Maker Ends Global Search, Hires Locals

DTN News: Chinese Jet Maker Ends Global Search, Hires Locals

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BEIJING, China - August 6, 2009: After a highly publicized global search for foreign managers to help it modernize, China's main military jet maker has hired six executives-all of them Chinese, a company spokesman said Thursday. Aviation Industry Corp. of China announced in February it wanted "new blood" from overseas to help it compete in commercial aviation. The move was unprecedented for a Chinese military contractor and reflected Beijing's ambitions in civilian aerospace. AVIC received nearly 1,000 applications from 20 countries and 10 foreign nationals were among 67 people in the final round of interviews, said AVIC spokesman Ding Zhiyong. Ding said he did not know why only Chinese nationals were hired. "Maybe there was a mismatch between the recruits and the posts," he said. "We are still in contact with some candidates for experts' posts. Some of them might not fit into management posts, but they are very skillful." Government-owned AVIC is trying to develop aircraft including a 150-seat jetliner to compete with Boeing Co. and Europe's Airbus. The new managers, who include a former Chinese deputy mayor, will be vice presidents of AVIC's defense, aircraft, helicopter, investment and international divisions, Ding said. He said several have doctorates or master's degrees from foreign universities. (Photo of Harbin Y-12 aircraft) The Beijing-based company said in February it wanted to hire 13 vice presidents to help improve production, marketing and management in divisions including defense, a job it said might be open to a non-Chinese citizen. AVIC said it would be the first time a Chinese military enterprise "lifted its veil of secrecy" by bringing in foreign executives. A growing number of Chinese companies including personal computer manufacturer Lenovo Group and automaker SAIC Motor Corp. have hired foreign executives to fill gaps in skills as they try to expand into global markets. The communist government created AVIC in November by merging its two biggest military aircraft companies. It hopes to speed up weapons development and help to nurture a Chinese commercial aerospace industry.

Beijing has spent heavily on weapons development and has bought Russian technology, including the right to manufacture a version of the supersonic Su-27 fighter. But analysts say China still lags Western countries in many areas. An AVIC subsidiary got a 176 billion yuan ($26 billion) credit line from state banks in January to finance development of a jetliner. China's aviation market is one of the biggest and fastest-growing but has relied until now on Boeing and Airbus to supply jetliners. Boeing has forecast Chinese carriers will need 3,400 new aircraft over the next two decades. Another subsidiary is trying to develop a mid-range jet to compete with Canada's Bombardier Inc. and Brazil's Embraer SA. A third subsidiary is building China's first helicopter factory and says it should produce its first aircraft this year.

China Stepping Into Aviation Industry / Leading Aircraft Manufacturers Would Face Competition "Made In China" In Near Future - Report

China Stepping Into Aviation Industry / Leading Aircraft Manufacturers Would Face Competition "Made In China" In Near Future - Report

(NSI News Source Info) February 26, 2009: In this March 30, 2007 file photo, workers gather for a ceremony marking the start of final assembly of the homegrown ARJ-21 regional jet at the Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Factory in Shanghai, China. Aviation Industry Corp. of China, which makes the homegrown ARJ-21 jet and Beijing's fighter jets, says it will recruit its first executives from abroad, an unprecedented step for the secretive world of Chinese military contractors, amid efforts to create a commercial aerospace supplier to compete with Boeing Co. and Europe's Airbus.

AVIC is looking for vice presidents for 13 subsidiaries who have experience at multinational companies in marketing, research and production, said Ding Zhiyong, a company spokesman.

He said most posts were in civilian areas such as helicopters and cargo planes but some were in defense, though he declined to give other details.

The company says it plans to formally launch the recruiting efforts Thursday, Feb. 26.