2010-07-21 16:30

FARNBOROUGH, England - Chinese planes can make a "significant impact" on the world arms market, said an expert of a leading think tank.

Two JF-17s, co-produced by China and Pakistan, have just made their international debut at an ongoing major international air show.

Gary Li, who analyzes the People's Liberation Army for London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, also told China Daily that the Chinese air force is already "one of the strongest" in the world.

"Currently China is engaged in a very rapid series of aircraft upgrades and diversification," Li said, noting that the PLA Air Force (PLAAF) is currently strong only in terms of size.

Earlier this month, The Diplomat magazine, based in Tokyo and Sydney, as well as London's Jane's Defence Weekly, almost simultaneously published stories expressing concerns over the buildup of the PLAAF, entitled "China air force steps it up" and "Chinese military aircraft: up and coming".

The Diplomat even said China is "building a force that will be without rival in the Asia-Pacific".

Despite such a rapid upgrade, Li said China should work on "technological choke-points" .

A big problem, he said, is China's heavy reliance on Russian-made engines. Most of the country's latest aircraft, including JF-17s, still use engines bought from its northern neighbor.

"How many aircraft can China produce a year if Russia stops selling its engines to Beijing?" Li asked.

"China needs to solve this problem within 10 years if it wishes to continue the overhaul of the PLAAF and the development of the new generation of fighters".

China has been active in the international aircraft market in recent years.

The total value of China's arms exports from 2005-9, according to Sweden's Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, was $2.73 billion, only about 2.3 percent of the world's total.

But Beijing's aircraft sales - worth up to $815 million - are larger than any other of its weapon exports.

Though Chinese aircrafts are not comparable with US or Russian ones, Li said, "Chinese companies offer very attractive packages."