Military Aspects of the Air Show China 2008

[gpit]

Report: Military Aspects of the Air Show China 2008 - SinoDefence.com

The biannual China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (also known as Zhuhai Air Show or Air Show China) was held in the southern city of Zhuhai between 4th and 9th November 2008. This is the 7th such airshow to be held by China since 1996. This year’s show featured the biggest line-up of Chinese-made civil and military aircraft, as well as aviation systems and conventional weapon systems developed by the Chinese aircraft industry. For the first time, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has sent its aircraft in current service to participate in the event.

The 7th Zhuhai Air Show coincided with the recent merge of China’s two consortia of aircraft manufacturers – China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC-I) and China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC-II). Once a single entity, they were divided in 1999 in order to boost competition and as a consequence drive efficiency. However, the restructuring had not worked as expected and running the two separately also split resources and resulted in duplicates in investments. The newly merged China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) has brought a wide range of aircraft designs, aviation systems, and conventional weapon systems to the show.

PLAAF Debut

Previously the PLAAF had shied away from the Zhuhai air show, largely due to the concern that its military secrets may be disclosed. In previous years’ shows, Chinese indigenous military aircraft were only displayed in forms of prototypes and demonstrators carrying manufacturer liveries. This year, the PLAAF sent a line-up of seven combat and support aircraft to participate in both static displays and flight demonstrations, providing a valuable opportunity to examine some of its latest inventory at a close range. PLAAF aircraft displayed this year include two J-10 fighters, two J-8D fighters, a JH-7A fighter-bomber, a H-6 refuelling tanker, and a Y-8 turboprop transport aircraft. Additionally, the PLA Army Aviation Corps sent three helicopters: a Z-8 helicopter, a Z-9GA attack helicopter, a Mi-171 helicopter to the air show. The China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) also displayed its L-15 advanced jet trainer and Z-11G attack helicopter.





Military Aircraft: The PLAAF and Army Aviation Corps sent a line-up of 10 aircraft to this year’s air show, including two J-10 multirole fighters, a JH-7A fighter-bomber, two J-8D interceptor fighters, a H-6 refuelling tanker, a Y-8 transport aircraft, as well as three helicopters of the Army Aviation Corps. AVIC displayed its latest L-15 Falcon advanced jet trainer in the air show (Photo: Duncan Yum)

 

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Fighter Aircraft Technologies

This year for the first time general public was allowed to watch the PLAAF’s J-10 multirole fighter in both static display and flight demonstration. The aircraft, which entered service with the PLAAF in 2003, is likely to become available in the export market in the years to come. Pakistan has reportedly ordered 32~40 J-10 fighters and the deliver is expected to begin in 2009. Currently the aircraft is powered by a Russian AL-31FN turbofan, but China is developing an indigenous turbofan WS-10 to power future J-10 productions.

However, there were some important designs missing in this year’s air show. Previously it was reported that the Pakistani Air Force was going to send two of its Chengdu JF-17 (a.k.a. FC-1 in its Chinese designation) to the air show, but the plan was cancelled the last minute possibly due to security concerns. Instead, a FC-1 training simulator was displayed in the air show. Another absentee was the J-11B, which was said to be based on the Russian Su-27SK airframe but fitted with Chinese indigenous avionics and weapon suites. The aircraft has been developed by AVIC Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) since 2001.

China is known to have been developing its next-generation fighter aircraft since the late 1990s. So far no much detail regarding the programme has been disclosed, but some technologies potentially linked to the future Chinese fighter aircraft could still be found in this year’s air show. One example being the a ‘glass’ fighter cockpit developed by AVIC, featuring a panoramic display system that resembles that of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightening II.



Fighter Aircraft Technologies: (Top) AVIC displayed a glass fighter cockpit design featuring a panoramic cockpit display system, which resembles that of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightening II; (Bottom) The WS-10 'Taihang' turbofan engine intended to replace the Russian AL-31FN currently being used by the J-10 (Photo: Chinese Internet and FYJS)

 

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Air-Launched Weapons

Air-to-air weapons displayed in this year’s Zhuhai air show included the PL-5E, PL-9 and TY-90 IR-homing short-range AAM, as well as the SD-10 active radar-homing medium-range AAM, all of which were developed by the Luoyang-based China Academy of Air-to-Air Missile. Historically China was behind Russian and Western countries in the precision strike weapon technology but it has been quickly catching up. The LeiTing-2 (LT-2) 500kg laser-guided bomb (LGB) and LeiShi-6 (LS-6) precision-guided glide bomb first revealed in 2006 return to the air show this year. Additionally, a new design known as LeiTing-3 (LT-3) features a combined laser/GPS/inertial guidance for capability to operate in all-weather conditions.




Air-Launched Weapons: (Top-left) SD-10A active radar-homing MRAAM; (Top-right) PL-5EII IR-homing SRAAM; (Middle-left) LT-2 and LT-3 LGBs; (Middle-right) 500kg LGB; (Bottom) FeiTeng series guided bombs (Photo: Duncan Yum)

 

[gpit]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

So far the Chinese aerospace industry has only successfully developed two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV): the WZ-5 based on the 1970s U.S. AQM-34N Firebee technology and the ASN-206 based on Israeli UAV designs. This year’s Zhuhai air show featured scores of UAV concepts and designs introduced by different Chinese aerospace companies, but most of them had little hope of becoming reality. One design known as “Yilong” appears to be similar to the Predator RQ-1 in size. It was reported that the UAV development began in May 2005 and the maiden flight took place in October 2007. The UAV is powered by a 100hp piston engine. The UAV has a top speed of 240km/h, a service ceiling of 5,000m, and a maximum flight duration of 20 hours. The maximum take off weight is 1,150kg and the mission payload is 200kg. Another smaller tactical reconnaissance UAV known as “Dufeng-II” has a flight endurance of 1 hour and a maximum speed of 65km/h. The electric-powered propeller UAV can be carried and launched by a single soldier, who can control the UAV using his helmet-mounted sight via an upward datalink.




Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Scores of UAV concepts were unveiled in this year’s Zhuhai air show. (Top-left) Yilong reconnaissance UAV developed by CAC; (Top-right) Tactical reconnaissance UAV developed by Beihang University; (Middle-left) SH-1 UAV; (Middle-right) Dufeng-II tactical reconnaissance UAV; (Bottom) UAV-borne air-to-surface missile concept (Photo: Duncan Yum and FYJS)

 

[gpit]

Anti-Ship Missiles

Over the years, the China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (CASIC) has developed a range of sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, including the C-801, C-802, C-602, and the smaller C-701 series. This year’s Zhuhai air show featured several new members of these families. The C-705 air-launched anti-ship missile is the latest variant of the C-701 series, featuring a maximum range of 75km without the rocket-booster, or 170km when fitted with a rocket –booster. Using a GPS/inertial seeker, the missile carries a 110kg warhead and flies at an attitude of 12.15m above the sea level. The missile is designed to sink a small surface combatant of 1,000~1,500t displacement. The C-704KD was described as an air-to-surface missile similar to the U.S. AGM-65 Maverick in size and performance. Additionally, the Hongdu Aviation Industry Group of AVIC has also displayed its own TianLong (TL) series air-to-ship missiles.



Anti-Ship Missiles: (Top-left) C-705 air-launched anti-ship missile; (Top-right) C-704KD air-to-surface missile; (Bottom) the TL-1 and TL-2 air-launche anti-ship missile (Photo: Duncan Yum)



Air-Defence Missiles

No new air-defence missile was unveiled in this year’s air show, though new systems are still being introduced based on existing missile designs. In particular, China has developed a range of mobile air-defence missile systems aimed to engage low-flying aircraft and helicopters on the battlefield. These systems all use fire-and-forget missiles derived from AAM designs such as PL-9, SD-10, and TY-90, or man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), coupled with an electro-optical targeting unit and/or a surveillance radar, mounted on a 4X4 wheeled vehicle. These designs are intended for the export market, with little possibility of being accepted by the PLA.



Air-Defence Missile Systems: Various mobile air-defence missile systems and MANPADS designed to engage low-altitude and ultra-low-altitude airborne targets on the battlefield (Photo: Duncan Yum)

 

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Land Warfare Systems

Although an aerospace show, the Zhuhai air show also featured some land warfare weapon systems developed by the Chinese aerospace industry. An unexpected star of this year’s air show is the SY-400 multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) developed by the 9th Academy of the China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation (CASC). The SY-400 rocket features four large stabilising fins in the mid-section of the fuselage, four control surfaces installed near the rear end of the fuselage, and four gas-dynamic spoilers installed at the nozzle end of the engine. Unlike all existing MLRS, the SY-400 is launched from a vertical position, and steered to the intended target in the initial flight phase by the four control surfaces and gas-dynamic spoilers. This allows multiple rockets aimed at different targets to be launched in salvo firing and also ensures greater accuracy compared to conventional MLRS. The rocket is equipped with GPS/INS guidance, and fly in inertial in the final stage of its flight. Eight ready-to-launch rockets are stored and launched from box launchers mounted on an 8X8 TEL vehicle. Its manufacturer confirmed that the weapon system was intended for the export market.

Other land warfare systems displayed in the air show include the B-611M tactical ballistic missile system. An earlier variant B-611 has already entered service with the Turkish Army. The WS-1 and WS-2 series MLRS have been promoted to the export market for many years but so far has received no interest from foreign or domestic customers.



Land Warfare Systems: (Top) SY-400 multiple-launch rocket system; (Bottom) B-611M tactical ballistic missile system (Photo: Duncan Yum and Chinese Internet)

 

[TOPGUN]

Thx for the info boss but cant see the pic's!!

 

[Imran Khan]

 

[TOPGUN]

That is deadly beauty !!