seven7seven
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2012
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Not sure why China would need this fighter jet. The current jets they already have and are inducting soon are more than adequate before they eventually introduce their 5th Gen fighters into service. Sounds like russia are trying to drum up hype and interest in their planes. China used to be the lifeblood for Russian arms exports but they know those days have come to an end. China, in my opinion have approached near parity in most fields and have surpassed in some. Russia knows it is pointless holding out on their latest technology to China because they already nearly have the capability to produce it on their own. This Su-35 sales pitch sounds like a last-gasp attempt to sell to China a fighter jet that may have marginal advantages over their own current inventory. I'm pretty sure the Chinese will pass on this as the reason they have been so determined to build all their own combat aircraft is that they were annoyed with the poor after-sales service of the Russians in both maintenance assistance and availability of replacement parts. Russia are mostly courting Asian nations as buyers for their weapons, as they are relatively unaffected by the global downturn, and China certainly have as much free cash to splash as anybody, it's just that they don't have the need for Russian military hardware anymore, and the related headaches that come with buying them. China's final few orders for engines to their J10A fighter will likely be the last significant purchase the Chinese make from Russia.