This rare public window was another glimpse of Chinese military power and there was a fighter jet that reaffirmed to the world that there is close military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow
China showcased the rapid advancement of the country’s military technology by unveiling a range of cutting-edge equipment at the country’s biggest air show last week.
The biennial event in the southern city of Zhuhai is a rare public window into the military and industrial might of the rising communist superpower, while also providing international experts an opportunity to assess China’s capabilities.
Many of China’s new weapons are seen by experts as having been developed to match the United States, at a time when Beijing is reaching out to the military and asserting a growing presence.
This year’s event showcased a number of new weapons systems, including fighter jets and missiles. For the first time, an area dedicated exclusively to drones was also introduced, in a sign of their increasingly critical role on battlefields, including the Ukraine war – and any potential future conflict over the autonomous island of Taiwan.
The six-day exhibition attracted around 600,000 visitors and more than 280 billion yuan (about 37 billion euros) in global orders – as well as the presence of Russia’s former defense chief, according to state media.
These are some of the most notable new weapons systems publicly displayed at the expo.
J35-A stealth fighter
More than a decade in the making, China’s long-awaited new stealth fighter, the J-35A, is widely seen as part of Beijing’s attempt to match the United States’ stealth fighter capabilities.
The J-35A is China’s second stealth fighter, after the J-20 appeared in 2017. The entry into service of this aircraft makes China the second country, after the USA, to have two types of stealth fighters.
Some observers have noted a similarity in appearance between the J-35A and the US F-35. Although, unlike the F-35, which has a single turbofan engine, the J-35A is equipped with two engines.
Its maximum take-off weight is expected to be close to 30 tonnes, Song Xinzhi, a Chinese military expert and former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force researcher, told state broadcaster CCTV, hailing it as a “breakthrough”. for China’s new generation of medium-sized stealth fighters.
Xinzhi adds that the J-35A is a fighter variant for the air force. “It also has a dual naval variant, which is expected to be presented to the public soon,” Song said.
Wei Dongxu, a military commentator, stated that one of the J-35A’s main features is its apparent versatility.
“It can not only carry out air combat missions, but also (…) execute precision strikes on land and sea targets,” he told CCTV, noting that the jet can carry a wide range of precision-guided munitions in its storage compartment. domestic weapons, including small air-launched cruise missiles.
The HQ-19 surface-to-air missile system is among the most anticipated new weapons showcased at the air show in Zhuhai, China. (Costfoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
HQ-19 anti-ballistic missile system
Experts did not hesitate to compare the HQ-19, China’s new-generation surface-to-air missile system, with the US Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system.
Mounted on an 8×8 high mobility vehicle, the HQ-19 carries six interceptor missiles and uses a “cold launch” mechanism that reduces pressure on the launcher and allows it to quickly reposition the interceptors, according to state media.
China has not revealed the technical details of the system, and it is not yet clear whether it can match THAAD’s operational range or impact speed. The US Department of Defense’s report on China’s military in 2020 states that the HQ-19 interceptor underwent tests to verify its ability against ballistic missiles with a range of 3,000 kilometers.
Chinese military experts say its mission is to intercept ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere, significantly extending the interception range of previous models such as the HQ-9.
Chinese experts and state media have also claimed that the HQ-19 is capable of intercepting hypersonic glide vehicles in the atmosphere.
Such weapons are “a challenge due to their unpredictable trajectory,” said Colonel Du Wenlong of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.
“Our radar system, however, can follow these complex trajectories and guide missiles for a final strike. Many countries deal with hypersonic warheads by using multiple fast warheads, guaranteeing at least one strike. But with the combination of the HQ-19 missile and our radar system, we have solved this problem with a single radar and a single missile,” he told CCTV.
The Chinese military’s new unmanned aerial vehicle “Jetank” is unveiled at the Zhuhai air exhibition on November 12, 2024. (Kyodo News/Getty Images)
‘Jetank’ mothership drone
The Jetank is a huge mothership that can carry a payload of up to six tons, with a wingspan of 25 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 16 tons, according to state media, making it one of the largest weapons in the world. China’s arsenal.
The jet-powered strike and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has eight external fulcrums to carry missiles and bombs, as well as a quickly replaceable mission module that can carry different types of smaller drones.
“It takes the aircraft carrier concept from the sea to the air, enabling the deployment of numerous drones on the battlefield by launching them into the air,” said Chinese military expert Du Wenlong, hailing it as a ‘significant innovation’.
A view of the “Orca”, China’s latest stealth unmanned surface combat ship, at the air exhibition in Zhuhai. (Long Wei/Feature China/Future Publishing/Getty Images)
Stealth drone ship ‘Orca’
Known as “Orca”, the JARI-USV-A is an unmanned, stealthy, high-speed surface combat ship.
The 500-ton vessel is designed to be highly resistant to radar and has a unique trimaran structure that gives it stability in rough seas, according to state media.
Measuring 58 meters (190 feet) long, 23 meters (75 feet) wide and 4 meters (13 feet) deep, the “Orca” can operate at speeds of up to 40 knots with a range of 4,000 nautical miles, enabling missions prolonged periods without refueling, according to China Military Online, the official English-language news website of the Chinese military.
“As an autonomous combat ship, it is like a mobile fortress at sea, capable of carrying out tasks such as out-of-visual-range fire attack, air and missile defense, and anti-submarine search and attack,” China Military Online said in an article on Tuesday -fair.
“These platforms can regularly carry out non-military and military operations of low to medium intensity, such as patrolling and monitoring strategic points, base ports, islands and reefs, and important waterways,” he added.
Equipped with four phased array radars and a vertical launch system, the ship will be able to carry rockets, anti-ship missiles, air defense missiles and remote-controlled weapons stations. It also has a take-off and landing platform for unmanned helicopters at the rear and a small dock at the stern, which can be used to launch small underwater devices or sensors for detecting submarines, says the .
Scale models of the J-15T fighter and PL-15 missile displayed in the exhibition hall of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China at the Zhuhai air exhibition. (Zou Wei/VCG/Getty Images)
PL-15E air-to-air missile
China also unveiled a new version of its PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile. The PL-15E has a design that allows for more compact storage to adapt to the country’s stealth fighters.
At the air show, the PL-15E was displayed alongside a model of the J35-A stealth fighter.
The PL-15 is one of China’s most powerful air-to-air missiles, with a range of about 200 kilometers and a top speed exceeding five times the speed of sound, according to .
It is often compared to the US AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile.
A Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter aircraft flies during the airshow in Zhuhai, China on November 14, 2024. (Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images)
Su-57 stealth fighter
The Su-57, Russia’s most advanced combat aircraft, was also on display at the air show, making its first appearance away from home.
The overseas debut of the Su-57 in Zhuhai sent an unmistakable message about the close military cooperation between China and Russia.
Sergei Shoigu, the former Russian defense minister who was in China for annual strategic security consultations, stopped by the air show to see the Su-57 on display, according to the state-run Global Times newspaper.
During the air fair, the first contracts were signed for Russia to export its Su-57 to foreign customers, Russian news agency Tass reported, although it did not reveal the identity of the buyers.
