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| Photo Credit: Flight Global |
China has announced that it will raise its 2012 defence budget by
11.2% year on year to CNY670 billion ($106 billion), although it
provided no details of how this will affect aircraft procurement and
research and development (R&D) activities. In a report by China's official Xinhua news agency published on the
Ministry of National Defence website, spokesman Li Zhaoxing stressed
that China's defence spending, at 1.28% of GDP, is proportionally lower
than countries such as the USA and the UK.
As is typical with China's annual defense budget announcement, there
were no details about specific programs. China is, however, engaged in
a major effort to upgrade both its air force as well as the aviation
arm of its navy. The Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) continues to replace
older types with the Chengdu J-10 and Shenyang J-11, as well as the
Sukhoi Su-30. It is also reportedly interested in obtaining the Su-35
from Russia.
China is also adding modern helicopters, improving its
airlift capabilities, and improving niche, but essential, capabilities
such as airborne early warning and control. Meanwhile, development continues on the J-20, a large
aircraft optimized for low observability that analysts feel is well
suited to the long-range strike role. Rumors abound on Chinese aviation
web sites of one or more development programs for advanced fighters
that have low observability characteristics.
The Peoples' Liberation Army Navy is also in the process of
developing its aviation arm. The aircraft-carrier capable J-15, a local
copy of the Su-33, is still undergoing testing. It will eventually be
deployed on the former Soviet carrier Varyag, which is now undergoing
sea trials after being re-fitted in Dalian. In 2011, photographs emerged of a Shaanxi Y-8 transport aircraft that
was modified for the maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare role.
Apart from developing advanced capabilities, a good deal of any
R&D funding is bound to go towards developing reliable fighter
engines, so that China can reduce its heavy dependence on Russian
engines. It will also continue to develop aircraft sensors and precision
weapons. Richard Bitzinger, senior fellow of the Military Transformations
Programme at Singapore's Rajaratnam School of International Studies,
believes that about 10% of China's overall budget for 2012 will be spent
on aircraft procurement and R&D.
He notes that in defense white papers, China has indicated that its
budget is divided roughly between three main areas: personnel,
operations, and procurement (which also includes R&D).
He dismisses the often-cited belief that China's military spending is
up to double the stated figure. "It is one thing when you have an
official budget of $10 billion and another $10 billion is off the books,
but going from $100 billion to $200 billion is much bigger." Given the ambiguities around China's defense spending and its
increasing stridency with regard to territorial claims in the South
China and East China Sea, its neighbors will likely continue acquiring
new aircraft and upgrade existing types, namely the Lockheed Martin
F-16,
At the recent Singapore Airshow, a senior executive at a major US defense contractor said that nations do not buy capabilities for the
threats they face today, but as insurance against possible threats in
10-15 years.
Flight Global
