there is a misconception regarding weapon costs of PLA need to be rectified.
people conviniently to think that
the reason of our weapons are cheap is becuse 1:cheap labour; 2:"copy"
but in fact, the labour costing factor only contributes little to our weapon cost, R&D, moulding, production line and suppliers co-developing are the four major factors!
for these four factors, we are not that "cheap" compared to the U.S, some are even more expensive```for example at the very early days of our military development, we virtually had nothing, so had to pay ridiculously high premium prices to purchase necessary tools and equipments from Western countries and Japan, and those things were even considered sub-standard to their industrial standard````and the result was our production line's deffective rates are very high, which ultimately drove up the production cost and undermines our weapons quality.
(now we still have a vivid example of this bizarre situation which is India, they still have such problem that we faced 30 years ago)
luckily after 30 years stride, much of the industrial complex, fundations and technological know-how were established, advanced and grasped with our own effort. So this helped our weapons costing factors enormously!
And now lets talk about economy of scale. this concept is well-known to educated people, and infact a very important factor to make our weapon systems cost effective. However this step cannot be achieved if you have not accomplished advanced industrial complex, fundations and technological know-how.
for example, it costs India $3 billion to acquire 4 Russian designed frigate, but with that money, China can produce 10 054As, people conviniently to believe that the reason 054A is cheap becuase its "not advanced"``and it is far from the truth, as its air defence system, electronic combat suit and anti-ship capability is world-class, not to mention its anti-sub capability is among world's premium.
I will leave the topic of "copy"````as only clueless and ignorant people would parade on serious discussions with such shallow rants````
anyway, for recent years, the generals of PLAAF and PLAN are very very happy, not because their units are getting top quality leading edge weapon systems that only the U.S can develop alone, but also very cheap in quantity! Because in real war, quantity is always the decisive factor to assure victory!
btw, our J-16Ds and J-15Ds are very very very expensive, more costly than J-20 and the other new 5th gen fighter```````2 J-15Ds can black out an entire Japanese task fleet, or a battle threatre, like the U.S did to us 2 decades ago```````````!
What is the powerplant we can expect? WS19?
ideal, yes``````could be ready around 2025
That's why there are NO corruption at the ruling power circle there, aside from the facts that they're filthy rich after taking their long term seats.. for all the benefits are legitimized... Check also the Revolving Doors practices!! 
CORPORATOCRACY at the finest form.. so great... HAHA!!!
