Although not technically military such as China’s shipbuilding industry, the civil aviation industry is considered strategic.

Two very good pieces from David Fullbrook ar the Asia Times on China’s regional jet and the Chinese parts for airliners, very balanced – actually pretty critical – but at the same time gives one of the scope and ambitions of the civil industry.

China’s new regional aircraft a hard sell
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/FI01Ad02.html

Outsourcing aircraft parts to China, not airliners
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/FI03Ad05.html

A few points on the ARJ21, perhaps the most important aviation project in China today, even greater than the J-10 or FC-1 because it is a fight for China’s own aviation market slated to be the world’s second largest after the US:

1. there are currently 41 orders for the 78-seat ARJ21-700, with at least another six order, including those of the 105-seat ARJ21-900, to be announced at the Zhuhai airshow,

2. in spite of the early orders, with “experienced foreign rivals now manufacturing 50-seat regional jets in China, partly to circumvent heavy import duties, ACAC [AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Co] home turf is not quite its own,”

3. the ARJ21 still has to overcome a pro-Western bias in its home carriers: “Chinese airline executives have a marked preference for Western aircraft, a legacy of being stuck with inferior Soviet airliners for so long, making a new Chinese aircraft a hard sell, “

4. “On paper at least, the ARJ21 handsomely outperforms its competitors by using shorter runways at higher altitudes, flying further while offering a roomier cabin and more space between seats,”

5. “1,000 engineers at First Aircraft Design Institute are working toward assembly of the first aircraft at ACAC’s northern Shanghai factory beginning late 2005 or early 2006. “According to the master schedule by the end of the year 90% of the manufacturing drawings and 50% of the systems drawings will be released,” said Chen.

6. China’s warplane manufacturers are heavily involved:
“AVIC I subsidiaries are handling much of the manufacturing. Xi’an Aircraft is building the wings and central fuselage, Chengdu Aircraft the nose and Shenyang Aircraft the tail. Shanghai Aircraft handles final assembly, attaching the GE CF34-10A engines and installing the Rockwell Collins avionics. “

Here’s the 092 in 24K gold 😀

!!!!!

A 1:1 scale model of the JH-7A in wood 😀

Almost certainly not. The J10 is still unofficial.

An official piece of news on the FC-1 04 prototype – the avionics and weapons integration machine.

It seems like there would be little changes beyond those in the 03 ptype. A pretty good sign for flying characteristics, weight specs and flight control.

http://english1.peopledaily.com.cn/200408/30/eng20040830_155337.html

China’s Xiaolong fighter 04 scheduled to take off next April

Following the success in the first flight of Xiaolong 03 this past April, news came from Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Group that Xiaolong 04 has passed the first round of examination and appraisal by the judging panel consisting of 32 experts from China Aviation Industry Corporation I. It is estimated that the plane will be put into production in October and have its first flight next April.

According to Tianfu Morning Post, Xiaolong 04¡¯s structure is basically the same as that of 03. Xiaolong 03 made partial improvements in internal testing device and air inlet system. The Xiaolong 04 also adopts two-side inlets and the nose of the plane can accommodate large radar antennas. Also it has seven external hard-points capable of carrying multiple air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons and have the capability of launching medium-range missiles and attacking multiple beyond-visible-range targets. Its maximum flying range is 3,500 kilometers with an operational radius of over 1,200 kilometers. It has matched the third generation fighters in terms of overall combat efficacy and possesses the capability to contend with advanced contemporary fighters and certain stealthy capability. It can finish both the interception task and mount air-to-ground attack.

People inside the China Aviation Industry Corporation I said that according to the design need of Xiaolong fighters, four planes are set to test. The 01 is tested for the plane¡¯s performance and engine matching test. The 02 is for static test. The two have been finished successively. The 03 is put to maneuvering stability test and assessment of strength test flight. The test flight of Xiaolong 04 scheduled for next year will be focused on the test of the aviation electronics and weapons.

By People’s Daily Online

Egypt already “offically” express interest in FC-1

There was a post earlier in this thread that reported an Egyptian offical expressing interest in the FC-1 but I haven’t found any report from the Chinese press so I just didn’t think any more of it.

Is there an article somewhere, Xinhui?