China's Aerospace Defense Industry Sacks US Military
Technology
The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is the main supplier of
military planes and helicopters to the People's Liberation Army Air Force
(PLAAF). They produce the J-20 stealth fighter, FC-1, and FC-8 fighters, the
5th-generation FC-31 stealth fighter, and aerial reconnaissance and attack
drones. In 2007, Chinese hackers stole secrets about the U.S. F-35 that were
incorporated by AVIC into the Chinese FC-31.
Given how U.S.-China relations are deteriorating in Asia, the U.S. military
in the Pacific region could someday fight these Chinese aircraft - or at least
play dangerous games of brinkmanship. In March 2016, a Chinese military
helicopter in the South China Sea lifted off from a PLA Navy frigate and charged
a U.S. Navy cruiser. It was likely a Z-9 helicopter, capable of carrying
torpedoes that could target the U.S.N. cruiser. The Z-9 is produced by
AVIC.
AVIC is seeking to build its general aviation capabilities to directly
compete with U.S. commercial and military aviation, including for U.S. and
international contracts. In 2011, for example, AVIC attempted to use a tiny and
unprofitable California company, U.S. Aerospace, to compete for the next
iteration of Marine One helicopters used by the U.S. President. AVIC also sells
components for U.S. civilian planes, and seeks to sell aviation parts to the
U.S. for use in U.S. military aviation. AVIC sees these as first steps towards
competing for U.S. military contracts such as air force trainer
jets.
In order to build its general aviation capabilities, AVIC launched a global
campaign to obtain technology through purchase of small and medium-sized
aviation companies. AVIC is close to buying AIM Altitude, based in Dorset, U.K.
AIM Altitude specializes in aerospace and military composites that will be
useful for AVIC's continued development of military aerospace technologies,
including stealth and drone technologies.
AVIC also produces civilian aircraft, but the "civilian" aviation
technology they seek will almost always be useful for their military aircraft
development. According to CEO Patrick Jenevein of Tang Energy, which has
partnered with AVIC in the past, "What China is doing with AVIC is making sure
they have access to technologies that they wouldn't have otherwise."
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar
Merk: Bare medlemmer av denne bloggen kan legge inn en kommentar.