[updated:LAST EDITED ON 30-07-02 AT 05:17 PM (GMT)]Looks like another repeat order? Article from Reuters, posted by Mopy in the CMF. Numbers don’t seem right.
[LatelineNews: 2002-7-30] MOSCOW – Russia plans to sell China 40 of its top of the range Su-30MK warplanes in a $1.8 billion deal, the largest such sale this year, media reports said on Tuesday.
Although the monopoly arms exporter Rosoboronexport declined to comment, the respected Vedomosti daily quoted industry sources as saying Beijing was seeking to buy the naval version of the twin-seater fighter.
If the $1.8 billion figure was confirmed, “it would be the biggest airplane deal struck by Rosoboronexport this year,” the paper added.
Russia sold 30 Su-30s fighters to China in 1999 for some $2 billion. A further contract was sealed two years later, although the exact number of warplanes involved in the latter deal was not announced. Russian officials say the Chinese air force also has around 80 Russian-built Su-27s, the type of aircraft which crashed at a Ukraine air show at the weekend, killing 83 spectators.
It also has a licence to build 140 others from scratch or from kits.
News of Beijing’s latest arms purchase comes against the backdrop of an arms race between China and Taiwan, which the Communist state regards as a renegade province which must be reunited with the mainland — by force if necessary.
China has been boosting its capacity to launch an invasion of the island while Taipei has bought advanced Western weaponry, mainly from the United States, to defend its self-rule.
The new Su-30 sale adds further spice to reports that China has tested Russian AA-12 air-to-air missiles, which will boost the dog-fighting capabilities of the Chinese air force.
In response, Washington could sell Taiwan an advanced U.S. missile system for its 400-plus fighter fleet, which includes U.S. F-16s and French Mirage 2000s. (Reuters)
========================================================
It is possible that the PRC may not have been successful in obtaining SU-30MKK production license, and has to be content in having these planes continued to be made in Russia.
My count of possible SU numbers in the PLAAF, not counting crash deductions.
Around 50 ordered combined in 1992 and 1995, 12 of which are SU-27UBK, the rest SU-27SK. Assembled by kNAAPO.
Around 28 SU-27UBK assembled in Irkutsk. (in the process of delivery)
Around 200-250 J-11 licensed by Shenyang, from supplied kits and local content. Possibly about 50 has been made. Rumor says that the PLAAF wants the remaining balance to be converted to SU-30MKK
by obtaining the SU-30MKK license, or upgraded to a single seater multirole fighter.
38-41 SU-30MKK in the first order, assembled by kNAAPO. Delivered. 38 commissioned to regular air regiments; three possibly reserved in a flight test center, possibly the original 501, 502 and 503 prototypes.
40-48 SU-30MKK in the second order, in the process of assembly by Irkutsk. Contract signed July 2001–exactly just last year.
This would make it a third order, and it is rumored that total PLAAF requirements might be around 200 SU-30MKK or more.
10-15 of fighters may have crashed or damaged for various reasons, including acts of nature, at least two of which may be SU-27UBK. That’s not a very good attrition rate, compared to the flawless record (so far) of Taiwan’s IDF.
Sign In
July 30, 2002 at 5:16 pm