Moscow's ultimatum could disrupt the largest arms deal between China and Russia
Russia and China may soon conclude the largest in the last ten years weapons The contract, according to which Beijing will receive 48 multi-functional Su-35 fighters, the total cost of which, according to some sources, is $ 4 billion.
This information appeared at the moment when reports began to arrive that this year for the first time in the whole history China's army budget will exceed one hundred billion dollars. Already this week, military spending, which will be 670 billion yuan (106,4 billion dollars), must be approved by the NPC (National People’s Congress), which is the highest body of state power. The defense budget in 2012 exceeded last year’s budget by 11,2%.
Moscow and Beijing have practically agreed on the quantity of products for delivery: China intends to purchase X-NUMX Su-48 fighters. It is planned that each plane will cost 35 millions of dollars to the Chinese authorities, but it is possible that this price will change during the negotiations.
The contract will be the largest deal in the history of military-technical cooperation between Russia and China in recent years. There has been a steady decline in the PRC's share in Russian arms exports, and since 2003 there have been no substantial arms contracts between Beijing and Moscow.
At the same time, the parties cannot find a compromise on one important issue, despite the fact that the Russian Federation and the PRC express mutual readiness to conclude an agreement. The fact is that Moscow, in order to protect itself from a possible competitor that may appear in the markets of other countries, requires Beijing to issue legal guarantees related to its refusal to copy Russian fighters.
Despite the fact that the parties concluded an agreement on the protection of intellectual property in the field of military-technical cooperation, Russia still insists on concluding an additional agreement. Meanwhile, China is not in a hurry to give such guarantees.
Russia's perseverance is associated with unpleasant incidents that occurred in previous years. So, the Chinese-made fighter J-10 is a copy of the Su-27. An analogue of the Russian-made Su-33 aircraft is the J-15: it was copied by the Chinese from the T10K sample, which came to them from Ukraine. More recently, the Chinese aircraft factory located in Shenyang, the designers have created a Chinese copy of the Su-30MK2 fighter - the J-16 fighter.
Representatives of the Russian government recalled that there was already competition in the markets of third countries between Russian originals and Chinese copies. So, in 2009, the Russian MiG-29 and the Chinese FC-1 competed in the Myanmar market, and a year later - in the Egyptian market. At the same time, the Chinese car, despite its technical performance gap from the original Russian production, was in great demand among buyers due to its dignity alone - its favorable price - 10 million dollars against 35 million (this is the value of the Russian fighter).
Many experts believe that China will try to do everything to circumvent Russia's demand to give all the necessary legal guarantees that it will not copy aircraft. This is due to the fact that one of the main reasons why Beijing is entering into such a contract for the supply of fighters is precisely the possibility of access to the latest Russian weapons technology.
The Chinese military leadership has shown interest in the Su-35 fighter from 2008 onwards. In 2010, from unofficial sources, it became known that China intends to acquire Russian fighters, however, official confirmation of this appeared only last month.
Su-35 is a generation fighter 4 ++, having a long range. The machine is capable of reaching a maximum speed of up to 2,5 thousands of kilometers per hour, its range can reach 3,4 thousands of kilometers. The fighter is equipped with a 30-millimeter cannon, has 12 suspension points, intended for mounted weapons, as well as bombs and missiles.
On the eve of China, said that the budget in the field of defense of the country this year will increase by 11,2% and will be 106,4 billion dollars. This was announced at the opening of the annual session of the NPC by his representative, Li Zhaoxing. According to the Chinese authorities, the main task is to provide the Chinese army with weapons for victories in local wars, and not to establish military leadership in the region.
Despite the fact that the growth rate of the Chinese economy declined, Beijing does not cease to increase defense spending. Over the past twenty years, China’s military budget has grown by 13% per year.
Recently, China has been actively strengthening fleet and air force. So, in 2011, China began to experience the first Chinese aircraft carrier, and in the summer it was reported that this country made a technological breakthrough, creating a fifth-generation fighter.
According to experts, in reality, the budget of China is more than stated and amounts to 160 billion dollars. The fact is that in the budget of the Ministry of Defense there are no expenses for the purchase of foreign equipment, as well as for some military R & D. Despite the fact that China is making titanic efforts to increase its military power, in terms of defense spending, it is still noticeably inferior to the United States of America, whose budget is 613,9 billion dollars.
Although the Chinese authorities claim that the increase in defense spending will not lead to the militarization of foreign policy, many, especially neighbors, are alarmed by China’s position on this issue.
This information appeared at the moment when reports began to arrive that this year for the first time in the whole history China's army budget will exceed one hundred billion dollars. Already this week, military spending, which will be 670 billion yuan (106,4 billion dollars), must be approved by the NPC (National People’s Congress), which is the highest body of state power. The defense budget in 2012 exceeded last year’s budget by 11,2%.
Moscow and Beijing have practically agreed on the quantity of products for delivery: China intends to purchase X-NUMX Su-48 fighters. It is planned that each plane will cost 35 millions of dollars to the Chinese authorities, but it is possible that this price will change during the negotiations.
The contract will be the largest deal in the history of military-technical cooperation between Russia and China in recent years. There has been a steady decline in the PRC's share in Russian arms exports, and since 2003 there have been no substantial arms contracts between Beijing and Moscow.
At the same time, the parties cannot find a compromise on one important issue, despite the fact that the Russian Federation and the PRC express mutual readiness to conclude an agreement. The fact is that Moscow, in order to protect itself from a possible competitor that may appear in the markets of other countries, requires Beijing to issue legal guarantees related to its refusal to copy Russian fighters.
Despite the fact that the parties concluded an agreement on the protection of intellectual property in the field of military-technical cooperation, Russia still insists on concluding an additional agreement. Meanwhile, China is not in a hurry to give such guarantees.
Russia's perseverance is associated with unpleasant incidents that occurred in previous years. So, the Chinese-made fighter J-10 is a copy of the Su-27. An analogue of the Russian-made Su-33 aircraft is the J-15: it was copied by the Chinese from the T10K sample, which came to them from Ukraine. More recently, the Chinese aircraft factory located in Shenyang, the designers have created a Chinese copy of the Su-30MK2 fighter - the J-16 fighter.
Representatives of the Russian government recalled that there was already competition in the markets of third countries between Russian originals and Chinese copies. So, in 2009, the Russian MiG-29 and the Chinese FC-1 competed in the Myanmar market, and a year later - in the Egyptian market. At the same time, the Chinese car, despite its technical performance gap from the original Russian production, was in great demand among buyers due to its dignity alone - its favorable price - 10 million dollars against 35 million (this is the value of the Russian fighter).
Many experts believe that China will try to do everything to circumvent Russia's demand to give all the necessary legal guarantees that it will not copy aircraft. This is due to the fact that one of the main reasons why Beijing is entering into such a contract for the supply of fighters is precisely the possibility of access to the latest Russian weapons technology.
The Chinese military leadership has shown interest in the Su-35 fighter from 2008 onwards. In 2010, from unofficial sources, it became known that China intends to acquire Russian fighters, however, official confirmation of this appeared only last month.
Su-35 is a generation fighter 4 ++, having a long range. The machine is capable of reaching a maximum speed of up to 2,5 thousands of kilometers per hour, its range can reach 3,4 thousands of kilometers. The fighter is equipped with a 30-millimeter cannon, has 12 suspension points, intended for mounted weapons, as well as bombs and missiles.
On the eve of China, said that the budget in the field of defense of the country this year will increase by 11,2% and will be 106,4 billion dollars. This was announced at the opening of the annual session of the NPC by his representative, Li Zhaoxing. According to the Chinese authorities, the main task is to provide the Chinese army with weapons for victories in local wars, and not to establish military leadership in the region.
Despite the fact that the growth rate of the Chinese economy declined, Beijing does not cease to increase defense spending. Over the past twenty years, China’s military budget has grown by 13% per year.
Recently, China has been actively strengthening fleet and air force. So, in 2011, China began to experience the first Chinese aircraft carrier, and in the summer it was reported that this country made a technological breakthrough, creating a fifth-generation fighter.
According to experts, in reality, the budget of China is more than stated and amounts to 160 billion dollars. The fact is that in the budget of the Ministry of Defense there are no expenses for the purchase of foreign equipment, as well as for some military R & D. Despite the fact that China is making titanic efforts to increase its military power, in terms of defense spending, it is still noticeably inferior to the United States of America, whose budget is 613,9 billion dollars.
Although the Chinese authorities claim that the increase in defense spending will not lead to the militarization of foreign policy, many, especially neighbors, are alarmed by China’s position on this issue.
Based on materials from online publications
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