Dec 3, 2010

The Impressive Zhuhai Air Show

Developments in the Chinese aerospace industry were flagged in the Zhuhai Air Show in China with People’s Liberation Army Air Force [PLAAF] being the main sponsor. China displayed the J-10, designed and manufactured using Chinese indigenous technologies. The J-10 will be powered by indigenously produced turbofan engine undergoing trials while China has stocks of 300 Al-31 FN engines for the Su-30 and large number of RD-93 Russian engines for the JF-17, as per Indian aviation specialist Air Commodore Ramesh Phadke. What also surprised observers were the large number of UAVs on display, some 25 different variants, and a record by any country with one powered by a jet engine and another designed to fire missiles. As per Wall Street Journal the main UAVs displayed were as follows:-

• Jet Drone. The WJ600 from China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp is reportedly armed with several missiles and a jet engine.
• Drone in Space. China Aerospace Science & Technology Corp displayed an attack drone, complete with air-to-ground missiles.
• Largest Drone. ASN Technology's ASN-229A Reconnaissance and Precise Attack UAV, carries air-to ground missiles and uses a satellite link to find targets over a radius of 2,000 kilometers.
• Avian Drone. The ASN-211 is designed for reconnaissance behind enemy lines. [http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748703374304575622350604500556-lMyQjAxMTAwMDEwOTExNDkyWj.html]