CHINA

To copy or to buy Su-33 carrier aircraft?

Following indications that the Chinese PLA Navy (PLAN) intends to build at least one aircraft carrier, the PLAN is plainly trying to manufacture a copy of the Russian Sukhoi Su-33 carrier aircraft, according to a source at Sukhoi.

     The Chinese first requested two aircraft “for trials,” then modified this to 14. When they were informed that anything less than 24 aircraft was uneconomic for the Russian manufacturer, the Chinese said that they were interested in buying 50.

     “They come to us with a high level of interest, asking a lot of questions, then their interest seems to fade into the background. And then sometime later, they are back with more questions again,” said the source. “It is obvious they are trying to build their own version of the Su-33 or some [similar] type of carrier aircraft… Whenever they reach some technological impasse, they come back to us to try and learn what will get them to the next step in the design process.”

      Another Russian industry official said that “Chinese industry would like to have their Government fund development of a Chinese-designed carrier-borne fighter. However, this is not the first choice of the Chinese military. They would like to buy an aircraft from Russia that is a known quantity and not gamble on the ability of their own industry to develop a new fighter that can take off and land on the carrier. This conflict is at the heart of the decision for the PLAN.”