Hong Kong
CNN
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China showed off its rapidly advancing military technology last week with a flurry of cutting-edge hardware unveiled at the country’s largest air show.
Held every two years in the southern city of Zhuhai, the event provides a valuable public window into the military and industrial might of the emerging communist-ruled superpower, while also inviting international experts to assess its capabilities. It provides an opportunity to
Many of China’s new weapons are designed to rival those of the United States, experts say, as the authoritarian government modernizes its military and asserts a growing military presence in Asia. I’m looking at it.
This year’s event showcased a variety of new weapons systems, including fighter jets and missiles. For the first time, a dedicated area for unmanned aircraft has also been established, demonstrating the increasingly important role of unmanned aircraft on the battlefield, such as the war in Ukraine and possible future conflicts over Taiwan’s autonomous island.
The six-day exhibition attracted nearly 600,000 visitors and more than 280 billion yuan ($39 billion) in orders from around the world, state media said, as well as a stop by Russia’s former defense chief. .
Here are some of the most notable new weapons systems unveiled to the public at the show.
China’s long-awaited new J-35A stealth fighter, which has been in development for more than a decade, is widely seen as part of Beijing’s plan to match the capabilities of U.S. stealth fighters.
The J-35A is China’s second stealth fighter after the J-20, which entered service in 2017. The commission makes China the second country after the United States to have two types of stealth fighter jets.
Some observers have noted the similarities in appearance between the J-35A and the US F-35. Unlike the F-35, which has a single turbofan engine, the J-35A has two engines.
Song Xinzhi, a Chinese military expert and former PLA Air Force researcher, told state broadcaster CCTV that the maximum takeoff weight is likely to reach 30 tons, calling it a “breakthrough” for China’s new generation of medium-sized stealth fighters. He praised it for being “accurate”.
He added that the J-35A is an Air Force fighter jet. “(It) also has a twin navy version, which will be available to the public soon,” Song said.
Military commentator Wei Dongxiu argued that a key feature of the J-35A was its apparent versatility.
“It is capable of not only carrying out air combat missions, but also accurately attacking targets both on the ground and at sea,” he told CCTV, adding that the jet has a wide range of weapons, including small munitions, in its internal arsenal. He pointed out that it can carry precision-guided munitions. Air-launched cruise missile.
Experts are quick to compare China’s new-generation surface-to-air missile system “HQ-19” with the United States’ Terminal High Altitude Area Air Defense (THAAD) system.
According to state media reports, the HQ-19 will be mounted on an 8×8 high-mobility vehicle and carry six interceptor missiles, reducing stress on the launcher and allowing rapid redeployment of the interceptor missiles. It uses a “cold launch” mechanism.
China has not disclosed the technical details of the system, and it remains unclear whether it can match THAAD’s operational range and speed of attack. The US Department of Defense’s 2020 annual report on the Chinese military said it conducted tests to verify the HQ-19 interceptor’s capability against ballistic missiles with a range of 3,000 kilometers.
Chinese military experts say the missile is tasked with intercepting ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere, significantly extending the range of conventional interceptors such as the HQ-9.
Most notably, Chinese experts and state media also claim that the HQ-19 can intercept hypersonic gliders in the atmosphere.
PLA Senior Col. Du Wenrong of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences said such weapons are “challenging because they follow unpredictable trajectories.”
“However, our radar systems can track these complex trajectories and guide missiles for a final strike. “But by combining the HQ-19 missile with our radar system, we were able to solve this problem with a single radar and a single missile.” he told CCTV.
According to state media, the G-Tank is a giant carrier-type unmanned aircraft that can carry a payload of up to 6 tons, has a wingspan of 25 meters (82 feet) and a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tons, and is one of the largest carrier-type aircraft in China’s arsenal. It is said to be one of the largest weapons of its kind. .
The jet-powered attack and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) features eight external hardpoints for mounting missiles and bombs, as well as a rapidly interchangeable mission module that can carry various types of small drones.
Du Wenrong, a Chinese military expert, argued that it would “move the concept of an aircraft carrier from the sea to the sky, making it possible to launch large numbers of unmanned aircraft into the air and deploy them on the battlefield,” adding, “It is a significant innovation. ”.
JARI-USV-A, known as “Orca,” is a high-speed stealth unmanned surface combat vessel.
The ship is designed to be radar-resistant and has a unique trimaran structure that provides stability in harsh seas, state media reports said.
Measuring 58 meters (190 feet) long, 23 meters (75 feet) wide and 4 meters (13 feet) deep, Orca has a maximum speed of 40 knots and a range of 4,000 nautical miles. According to China Military Online, the official English-language news site for the Chinese military, the mission will be long without supplies.
“As an autonomous combat ship, it is like a mobile fortress on the sea, capable of carrying out missions such as fire attack beyond visual range, air and missile defense, and anti-submarine search and attack,” China Military Online claimed. Tuesday’s article.
“Such platforms can routinely carry out low-to-medium-intensity non-military and military operations, including patrolling and guarding around strategic locations, base ports, islands and reefs, and major waterways,” it added.
The ship is said to be equipped with four phased array radars and a vertical launch system, and can carry rockets, anti-ship missiles, air defense missiles, and remotely controlled weapons stations. According to the article, there is a takeoff and landing platform for unmanned helicopters at the rear, and a small docking bay at the stern that can be used to launch small underwater devices and sensors for submarine detection.
China also announced a new version of its PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile. It has a foldable tail and is designed to be more compact for storage in line with the country’s stealth fighter jets.
At the air show, the PL-15E was displayed next to a model of the J35-A steal fighter.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the PL-15 is one of China’s most powerful air-to-air missiles, with a range of about 200 kilometers and a top speed of more than five times the speed of sound.
It is often compared to the US AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile.
Also on display at the air show was Russia’s most advanced fighter jet, the Su-57, which was unveiled for the first time outside its home country.
The Su-57’s overseas debut in Zhuhai sent a clear message about close military cooperation between China and Russia.
Former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was in China for annual strategic and security talks, stopped by the air show to check out the Su-57 on display, according to the state-run Global Times newspaper.
At the air show, the first contract for Russia to export the Su-57 to a foreign customer was signed, Russian news agency TASS reported, without disclosing the identity of the buyer.
