Category: military

(Global Times)14:43, June 11, 2019

Chinas maritime early warning radar system is immune to radar killer missiles and is capable of detecting stealth aircraft, according to its developer in a recent interview with media.

The maritime radar system, developed by a team led by Chinese academician Liu Yongtan, can detect naval and aerial hostiles hundreds of kilometers away under any weather condition.

It features high frequency electromagnetic waves that have long wavelengths and wide beams, Liu said in an interview with the Naval and Merchant Ships magazine published this month.

While electromagnetic waves emitted by a normal radar travel in straight lines and, since the Earth is round, cannot help see what is beyond the horizon, the high frequency ones used by Lius radar travel along the sea surface, and he said this makes it possible to detect and monitor vessels and aircraft beyond visual range.

The long wavelengths used by the system mean it could also detect stealth aircraft, Liu said. This is because current stealth aircraft are mainly designed to hide from microwaves and not waves of longer wavelengths, experts said.

The radar can also avoid attacks from anti-radiation missiles, thanks to the waves wide beams, because such missiles cannot carry antenna large enough (to track them), Liu said.

Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military analyst, told the Global Times on Monday that stealth aircraft and anti-radiation missiles are two killers of radars.

Normal radars cannot detect stealth aircraft, and they would have to destroy radars first to let non-stealth aircraft in safely. An anti-radiation missile tracks an electromagnetic wave source, so it is the natural enemy of radars, Wei explained.

Lius radar has a much higher chance of survival in a potential attack and can provide an umbrella for a sneak attack from stealth aircraft, Wei said.

A land-based version of the system can detect naval and aerial hostiles hundreds of kilometers away, which helps expand Chinas maritime early warning and defense depth, Liu said. Variants of the system can also be equipped on ships, providing them with early warning capabilities in the high seas with a much farther detection range, he said.

In January, Liu received the 2018 State Preeminent Science and Technology Award 鈥?the nations highest scientific award with 8 million yuan ($1.17 million) prize 鈥?for his contributions to the development of the radar system.

Military experts said that Liu was awarded because he substantially enhanced the Chinas capability to resist external threats, as the radar system is dubbed a countrys first line of defense.

(Global Times)14:32, June 13, 2019

A Chinese FC-31 stealth fighter jet has its test flight ahead of the 10th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, South Chinas Guangdong Province, November 10, 2014. Photo: Xinhua

Chinas made-for-export FC-31 warplane is making a big impression, as reports say international buyers are thinking of buying the stealth fighter jet, with Chinese military experts recommending on Tuesday that China try to seize these opportunities.

The FC-31 boasts very similar capabilities to the US F-35 fighter jets, making it a viable option for weapons buyers, experts said.

Turkey is considering purchasing Chinas FC-31 and Russias Su-57 to replace the US F-35 stealth fighter jet, as Turkey seems determined to procure the Russian-made S-400 air defense system, Weihutang, a military column affiliated with China Central Television, reported on Monday, citing Turkish media.

The report came after the US threatened Turkey, saying it will not deliver the 100 F-35As to Turkey as planned if Turkey accepts delivery of the Russian air defense system, US media outlet Defense News reported on Friday.

Potential international buyers attention on the FC-31 is a good thing, and China should push for such opportunities to export the warplane, Xu Guangyu, a senior consultant at the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Potential buyers like Turkey may need a huge number of stealth fighter jets, and they could purchase both FC-31 and Su-57 if they do not get the F-35s, Xu said, noting that neither China nor Russia is likely capable of manufacturing as many as a hundred stealth fighter jets for export in a short time.

Chinas FC-31, Russias Su-57 and the US F-35 are the only three stealth fighter jets available on the international arms market.

Developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the FC-31 is a fifth generation medium-sized twin-engine multirole stealth fighter jet intended for export.

It made its public debut flight at Airshow China 2014 in Zhuhai, South Chinas Guangdong Province, but relatively little was heard of it after that. Analysts said it is being upgraded and could serve as Chinas next generation aircraft carrier-based fighter jet in the future.

The Chinese stealth fighter jet has not yet entered mass production or military service. This means it is still being improved. In a year or two, it will likely be built with many more new and advanced technologies, Xu said.

The FC-31 is very similar to the F-35 in terms of its comprehensive tactical capabilities, and thanks to late-mover advantages, it might become even better, Xu said.

(Xinhua)15:08, June 26, 2019

ISLAMABAD, June 25 (Xinhua) — Two policemen were killed and four others injured when some unknown insurgents fired at a police vehicle in Pakistans northwest Nowshera district, local media reported Tuesday evening.

The policemen were on their routine patrol in the city when their vehicle was attacked by the assailants in the countrys Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the reports said.

The injured policemen were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital in the provincial capital of Peshawar, where hospital officials said that the death toll might rise as two of the wounded are in critical condition.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the attack site for investigations.

(Peoples Daily Online)16:19, June 27, 2019

A model of FC-1B fighter trainer (front) at the53rd International Paris Air Show (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

A two-seat fighter trainer FC-1B developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd. (AVIC) was displayed for the first time at the 53rd International Paris Air Show, which ran from June 17 to 23, 2019, drawing the attention of many industry insiders.

The two-seat fighter trainer is developed based on the same model as fighter FC-1 (also known as JF-17 Thunder in Pakistan), a single-seat third-generation multipurpose fighter jointly developed by China and Pakistan.

The fighter trainer FC-1B has all-weather combat capability, equivalent to that of the JF-17 Thunder. It can use air-to-air missiles in beyond visual range conditions and short-range air-to-air missiles in air combat. It can also carry air-to-ground missiles, air-to-ship missiles, precision-guided bombs, and conventional bombs to conduct airstrikes to the ground and sea.

Moreover, the FC-1B trainer can also be used for basic pilot training as well as tactical flight training.

“Pilots need an advanced trainer for some of the training tasks seen by real fighters. The FC fighter is a sophisticated type that has won universal praise in the international arena. Equipped with multi-functions, this type of fighter trainer is scarce in the international market and has bright market prospects,” said military expert Li Li, during an interview with China’s state broadcaster CCTV.

(Xinhua)08:42, June 28, 2019

BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) — A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday said the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) will send a team to attend the Independence Day parade in Belarus on July 3.

The 96-strong team from the PLA Guard of Honor is currently training in Minsk, said Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.

(Xinhua)14:49, June 29, 2019

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) — The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy will take part in three contests of the International Army Games 2019 in August, according to Chinese naval sources.

The navy will participate in contests for marines, aviation units, and divers.

All the 33 participating officers and soldiers this year will make their first appearance at the Games, with their average age lower than teams of previous years.

Currently all participant groups from the Chinese navy are undergoing intense training.

The Chinese navy has been a contestant of the Games for four consecutive years, and ranked first in the Seaborne Assault contest of the International Army Games 2018.

(Xinhua)08:50, July 01, 2019

BEIJING, June 30 (Xinhua) — Chinas preparations for hosting four competitions of the International Army Games 2019 starting Aug. 3 have been carried out according to a plan, according to military sources.

Teams from seven of the participating countries have completed their survey of facilities at the arenas and surrounding traffic in Korla, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, said a statement from the training management department of the Central Military Commission.

So far, 12 countries including Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have confirmed their participation in the competitions to be hosted by China, ranging from infantry combat vehicle contest, anti-aircraft missiles contest, weapon repairing contest to nuclear and bio-chemical reconnaissance contest, it said.

China has been invited to take part in the Games initiated by the Russian Ministry of Defense for six years in a row, and started to host part of the competitions in 2017.

(Xinhua)11:03, July 02, 2019

WUHAN, July 1 (Xinhua) — An open day activity was held in Wuhuan Sports Center, the largest newly-built venue for the 7th Military World Games here on Monday, with nearly a thousand people participating.

Many table tennis fans came to compete within the venue. At its soccer practice grounds, an exhibition game draws hundreds of spectators. Some swimmers also jumped into the water to experience the world-class swimming pool.

Also in the activity, more than 2,400 venue builders and volunteers pledged their full participation for the military games in a tense countdown of around 100 days.

According to Peng Tao, deputy director of Wuhan Airport Economic Development Zone, with a construction area of about 16,000 square meters, Wuhuan Sports Center is the largest venue among 13 newly-built venues of the 7th Military World Games.

Three events of the 7th Military World Games, namely, track and field, table tennis and water lifesaving event, will be held at the Wuhuan Sports Center.

According to local officials in charge of sports and culture activities, Wuhuan Sports Center will be open to the public for fitness, entertainments and other events.