Anyone has any more on this JDW’s article from Dec of 2004?

US blocks Chinese weapons purchase by Sri Lankan Navy

I believe weapons are for the SL Navy’s P-621 which is a former US Coast Guard cutter.

No fixed wings for Slovenia! I didn’t know that.

Great work, Scramble dudes!

Thanks for the pict, Rick! Good for the collection 🙂

Test a/c for the airlaunched C801 (YJ-81) according to other posts.

Great picture indeed! And very important picture if real!

It would be the first time we see a full load in flight.

I don’t think Fiji has a fixed wing air force.

But they do operate a Chinese air force model as part of their national airline 😀

The Air Fiji Y-12

Nope, that’s an F-105. This is a cropped section from the full-size image.

The reverse-angled intakes are a dead giveaway in the blowup. Wiseguy, you the heck would go over the pict with a magnifying glass.

The Thud was a cool plane though.

The latest on the China/Israel/USA Harpies saga.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1105418783723

Jan. 11, 2005 16:54 | Updated Jan. 11, 2005 18:43

Israel says deal with China still on
By JPOST.COM AND AP

Sources in the defense establishment wholly denied on Tuesday night a report claiming that Israel has suspended an upgrade for drone aircraft it sold to China in the 1990s, returning parts to the Chinese military without refitting them as contracted, Israel Radio reported.

Citing a senior Israeli defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Associated Press reported that Israel has changed its mind about upgrading the drone parts and already returned the parts to China.

The parts in question were were meant to be fitted with sophisticated equipment that would enhance the Harpies’ performance. They had been detached from Harpies sold to China in the 1990s and sent to Israel for an upgrade last year.

The drones are designed to locate and destroy radar installations and anti-aircraft batteries.

According to the AP report, the decision not to go through with the upgrade was made as a result of intense US pressure, as Washington had expressed concern the Harpy attack drones could threaten Taiwan.

The defense official who spoke to AP declined to say why the parts were returned or whether Israel would furnish the entire system to China at a later date.

The United States fears the Harpy military technology could be used to threaten Taiwan and endanger US forces in case of war with China. The US position has put Israel in the difficult position of having either to defy its main ally, or violate a trust with China, a market with considerable growth potential for Israeli high-tech and military exports.

In 2000 Washington pressured Israel to scrap a different Israeli arms deal with China worth $2 billion. China blamed the United States for interfering in the sale of PHALCON reconnaissance planes. Israel said the botched deal caused lingering ill will with China that was resolved only after Israel paid China reparations.

Hmmm, the latest issue of Kanwa (February) does look interesting.

1. The MKK2 accident,
2. WZ-10 disclosure,
3. L-15,
4. update on the FC-1’s 4th prototype,
5. the K-8E project in Egypt with an interview from a source within the Egyptian aviation industry.