< Kanwa news March 11, 1999> As the source of the Russian military industry indicated to the KWIC reporter, Russia is in negotiation with China on the transfer of the Russian torpedo technology that was formerly used in the 'KILO'-class submarine. The same torpedoes can also be used in the China-made 'Song'-class submarine.

Russian Prime Minister Premakov publicly indicated last month that Russia was willing to transfer its hi-tech products to China at an international market price. The military observers in Moscow generally believe that this is tantamount to a hint that some of the restrictions Moscow has long imposed on the military sales to China have been relaxed.

It is highly possible that the same weapon system will be used in the 'Song'-class submarine as in the 'KILO'-class submarine. The weapon system may include the TEST 71 wire-guided torpedoes imported from Russia, with a launch range of 15 kilometers.

After the adoption of the Russian weapon system, the 'Song'-class submarine will possess a better attack capability < Kanwa news Andrei Pinkov>.

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