(JDW article kindly provided by Penlung)
China is steadily upgrading the technological levels of the fighters it is acquiring. There is a highly advanced Su30MKK-3 standard that has not yet been revealed. China could eventually upgrade its entire Su30MKK fleet to the highly advanced Su30MKK-3 standard.
China is already moving to the Su30MKK-2 standard. China's current Su30MKK orders total an estimated 120. It is possible China may order another regiment in the Su30MKK-3 standard to bring the total Su30MKK orders to about 150.
China is also reported to be negotiating to build another 250 Su30MKKs in China itself, probably the Su30MKK-3 version. This means that China could eventually have as many as 400 highly advanced Su30MKK-3 fighters.
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Date Posted: 25-Mar-2004
JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - MARCH 31, 2004
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China accepts Su-30MK2 fighters
Compiled JDW Staff
London
China has started taking delivery of Su-30MK2 fighters from Russia's Sukhoi. The first batch of six platforms was obtained last month.
Beijing is due to accept 24 aircraft in 2004 at the rate of six each quarter.
All the Su-30MK2 fighters involved are the naval variant, featuring an enhanced capability to engage surface targets with the Kh-31A anti-ship missile. Also featured is an improved jam-resistant radar for tracking maritime surface targets and for suppressing the sea surface clutter.
The Su-30MK2 is intended to augment the People's Liberation Army/Navy's JH-7 fighters.
Sukhoi had by early this year delivered 154 aircraft to China, mainly comprising Su-27SK fighters. Adding these to the newly acquired Su-30MK2s and Su-27SKs built locally in Xinjiang, China, will mean that 273 advanced Sukhoi fighters will be in service by the end of the year.
However, sources suggest that Beijing now aims to switch from direct purchase deals to technology transfers, allowing local manufacture of the Su-30MK/MK2.
China bought 50 Su-27 fighters worth $1.7 billion from Sukhoi over the period 1991-97, including 38 single-seat Su-27SKs and 12 twin-seat Su-27UBKs.
In 1996, Beijing paid $2.7 billion to acquire a licence to produce 200 Su-27SK aircraft from component packages and the Xinjiang assembly facility has so far received 95 of these component kits. However, a contract covering the additional 105 kits has yet to be concluded.
In 2000-02, China received 28 Su-27UBK operational trainers in repayment of Russian debt.
Sukhoi exported 38 Su-30MKK multirole twin-seat fighters worth $1.5 billion to China in 2000-01. Last year, Sukhoi finished implementing a second contract involving 38 Su-30MKKs.
The contracts with China have helped Sukhoi become one of the world's leading manufacturers of combat aircraft with a global market share of roughly 16%.
