Kina kjøper flere *Su-35

More Sukhoi Fighters for China, Indonesia

AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE 

by  VLADIMIR KARNOZOV

China will receive an unspecified number of Sukhoi Su-35 fighters from the Russian production line. (Photo: Vladimir Karnozov)

February 22, 2013, 12:20 PM

Top Russian officials have confirmed sales deals with China for the Sukhoi Su-35 and with Indonesia on an additional quantity of Su-30MK2 multirole fighters.

Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, deputy director at Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told journalists attending the IDEX 2013 exhibition in Abu Dhabi that Russian defense minister Sergei Choigu signed an intergovernmental agreement on the Su-35 with China in January. Dzirkaln, who headed the Russian delegation to the arms show, added that the work on firm contract is ongoing “in a planned manner” as the sides are “detailing” delivery terms. “There will be direct shipments only, not license production,” he clarified.

Furthermore, a member in the Russian delegation told journalists that the delay with the Su-35 deal was due in part to the reshuffle at the top of the Chinese military command following the 18th Communist Party Council in November. He suggested that the promotion of ex-PLAAF commander (2007-2012) Xu Quiliang to the Central Military Commission (CMC) was a decisive move in support of the air force’s wish-list and subsequent allocation of hard currency for it. China last purchased fighters from Russia in 2004, adding 24 Su-30MK2s to bring the grand total of Flanker-series aircraft to 283.