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| Sukhoi SU-35 ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons/ Dmitriy Pichugin) |
Russia can provide five major weapons systems to the People's Liberation Army of China, writes assistant professor Robert Farley from the University of Kentucky in an article for the Washington-based National Interest magazine.
Russia's jet engines can solve China's lack of reliable power systems, Farley said. Not only fourth-generation fighters such as the J-10, J-11 and J-15 are facing this problem, but even fifth-generation stealth fighters like the J-20 and J-31 as well. "Russian engines don't have a reputation for extraordinary reliability, but they have consistently performed better than their Chinese counterparts," Farley said.
China will acquire a new jet engine from Russia through the purchase of Su-35 fighters, said an analyst. It is likely to examine and replicate the engines, possibly jump-starting China's own jet engine industry.
The provision of the Russian Tu-22M Backfire strategic bombers to the PLA Air Force would replace the latter's obsolete H-6 bombers. Even though the Tu-22M is an old bomber designed during the Cold War era, it is still more advanced than China's current bomber. "Whether Russia decided to export Tu-22Ms directly to China, to license their production, or simply to provide technical assistance with China's new bomber projects, collaboration could produce a much more lethal PLAAF," Farley wrote.
Russian submarines to the PLA Navy, such as Akulas, the Project 949s (Oscars), the Yuri Dolgurukiy, and even the troubled Ladas, can provide China with boosts to its technology.
To improve its ability to conduct anti-access and area denial strategies against the United States, Russia can sell advanced air defense systems to PLA as well. "If US aircraft and cruise missiles can strike Chinese airbases, communications nodes, missile launchers, and logistics centers, then the entire system could fall apart before completing its mission," Farley said. The S-400 could be exported to China to replace the domestic HQ-9 surface-to-air-missile.
Last, Farley talked about the export of Russian ballistic missile to China. "China still has much to learn from Russia, both in terms of short range and long range missiles. The Russian Iskander-E reputedly has terminal maneuvering characteristics that exceed any Chinese missile, and would provide the PLA with a major advantage in a wide array of potential conflicts." However, there are still objections in Russia about selling ballistic missiles to China due to security concerns.
Original link to the article: http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20140806000047
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