Su30MK by Andrei Pinkov

( Kanwa news Feb 9 ) Chief engineer M. P. Simonov of the SUKHOI Plane Designing Bureau indicated that this year, China would soon sign an agreement on the purchase of the SU30MK fighter-bombers. It was the first time for a Russian authoritative source to confirm with the Western media that the current round of negotiation China had with Russia on the purchase of the SU30MK had come to an end.

According to the source of the Moscow military industry, the quantity of the SU30MK that China purchases will be more than 20. At present, the negotiation on the transfer of the production technology is still under way. In addition to this, China will also further consider applying for the production licence.

China's decision to import the SU30MK planes while developing the JH7 and JH7A fighter-bombers indicates that the Chinese air force has come to realize the importance of the partial and overall adjustments to its structure in the implementation of the aerial combat theory of "positive defence". According to the Chinese military source, from the army building experience of the foreign countries, the fighter-bombers that the air forces of the advanced countries possess account for over 60% of the total quantity of their planes. "In comparison, the composition of our planes shows a seriousn lack of adjustment." Evidently, the reinforcement of the fighter-bomber unit will become a focus of development for the Chinese air force in the 21st century < Kanwa Digest news Andrei Pinkov).

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