Russia infuriated with Chinese export copies of Su-27 jet fighters

[tigershark]

Russia infuriated with Chinese export copies of Su-27 jet fighters
22.04.2008     Source: Pravda.Ru     URL: http://english.pravda.ru/russia/economics/104975-russia_china-0

Russia has officially notified China of the fact that the production of J11 jet fighters, which copy Russia’s Su-27SK aircraft, violates international agreements. Moscow promised to launch legal proceedings to protect its intellectual property.

Russia’s attempts to settle down on China’s arms market have been made to no avail, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta reports. Chinese pirates have entered a new level of activity. They mastered the production technology and developed the Chinese production of Su-27 analogues with a view to subsequently export the planes to third world countries.

The military cooperation between Russia and China has not been very successful during the recent couple of years. Russia’s arms exports to China dropped by 62 percent. In addition, Russia does not sign any new defense cooperation contracts with China. For the time being, the two countries simply execute the previously signed contracts, the sum of which total about $1.8 billion.

It is worthy of note that China used to be a major buyer of Russian-made military hardware. At present moment, China gradually becomes a large exporter of arms.

The Shenyang J-11 is an advanced fighter in the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It is a Chinese-redesigned, Chinese upgrade of the Russian Sukhoi Su-27SK.

The new J-11 is a Chinese redesigned version of the Sukhoi Su-27SK air superiority fighter. Sukhoi originally provided kits to Shenyang Aircraft Corporation upon an agreement in 1995, but over time there were to be increasing Chinese content in the aircraft, with up to 70% of all Su-27 ordered by the PLAAF to be Chinese-made. It has been reported that Sukhoi agreed to an upgrade program, allegedly in 2001, with improved radar and attack avionics.

However, in 2004, Russian media reported that Shenyang co-production of the basic J-11 was stopped after around 100 examples were built, citing a source within the PLAAF suggesting that the basic Su-27/J-11 was no longer meeting PLAAF requirements. The PLAAF later revealed a mock-up of an upgrade J-11C in late 2002. It was equipped with Chinese anti-ship and PL-12 air-to-air missiles presumably for the role for a maritime strike aircraft.

The Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name 'Flanker') is a jet fighter plane originally manufactured by the Soviet Union, and designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was intended as a direct competitor for the new generation of American fighters (which emerged as the F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F/A-18 Hornet), with long range, heavy armament, and very high agility. The Su-27 most often flies air superiority missions, but is able to perform almost all combat operations. Its closest American counterpart is the F-15 Eagle.

Prepared by Dmitry Sudakov
Pravda.ru

Source
http://english.pravda.ru/russia/economics/22-04-2008/104975-russia_china-0

[Globetrotter]

They did something similar with the MiG-21, and later on saled them to Pakistan.... but that's just now, after 50 years from the developement of the Fishbed

[tigershark]

China been producing J-7 (Mig-21 copies but has a wider wing) for many years and have sold them to six other countries besides Pakistan.  China also produces a JH-7 attack jet using English supplied former F-4 engines which can carry a 7 ton payload.  If China had more engines they would produce more because this JH-7 carries more Chinese made weapons then the Russian Flankers do, anti-ship, anti-radar, and I think air launch cruise missiles to.  I think around 100+ JH-7As were produced.   China also has a J-8II (300 or so in different models types) which is a long heavy fighter used for launching slashing attacks and basically stand-off type weapons because it's a poor turner and dog fighter and would need fighter protection.   J-10 info really unknown but around 100+ built already so it looks like China future F-16 but nobody really knows.  And the Flanker copy the J-11A, and B, never heard of the C until this article mentioned it.   The JF-17 is the FC-1 and can't see China investing in this type unless there engine is in it.  Russia jerk them around with the IL-76/78 transport/tanker deal big time so I don't think China going to produce the 150 said amount until there engine is ready.  That's why Pakistan play it safe and went with the Viper purchase even know it was three times the money they wanted to spend.  And that's my little Chinese updates.

[Webmaster]

I don't think the J-7 can be compared with the J-11A/B (I think J-11C is just derived from J-11China to distinguish it from the licensed J-11 aircraft, it's not a third version). Although J-7 was derived from the MiG-21, they are not really illegal copies. The MiG-21 blueprints and technological know-how were provided to China by the Soviets. Although it took some additional effort to work it all out without support, it's not an illegal copy. Not that the Soviets would have cared about copying, as long as it supported the Communist ideology, it was all fine, plus anything was property of the state anyway.

The difference now is that capitalist Russia supplied China with Su-27 and a license to produce J-11 from kits. For Russia these were commercial sales of a Russian product, not based on some strategic partnership or shared ideology and without authorized tech transfer as far as I know. Now China is not just using the knowledge, they've completely copied it, which probably isn't that much of a concern to the Russians either if it were for domestic use, but China says it will offer it on the export market where it will be competing against Russian products. Plus China will supply it to anyone it wants it, whatever the relation with Moscow or Russian strategic partners. Now I'd be pissed too.

But well, it's the risk of doing business with China, you get one, maybe two, big orders and you think you've tapped into a huge market and more will follow, next thing you've been copied and are now competing against your own product on the international market. They don't give a sh** about international laws, and most of them still haven't heard of intellectual property rights. That's no news.

Meanwhile Mi-171 assembly kits are still arriving in China for local assembly. I'd bet it won't take long for them to have copied that one as well.

[Globetrotter]

Yes, webmaster, you've got a point there. But somehow, it doesn't surprise me to find they've copied the flanker this time, with no license