9 DECEMBER 2015

Ø  Russia’s decision to export is highly capable Su-35 planes is expected to bolter China’s military presence in the South China Sea. It is also set to escalate military technology exchanges that would help Beijing and Moscow develop cutting edge weapons. After protracted negotiations that lasted several years, Russia, finally relented to sell China, 24 Su-35 planes. In doing so Moscow overrode apprehensions that its panache for “reverse engineering” Russian weapons, could hasten Beijing’s rise as a formidable competitor to Russia, in the global arms market. The 2 billion dollar deal means that transfer of technology, which Beijing badly requires to develop the next generation of weapons, is part of the contract. Analysts say that geopolitics has played a major part in cementing the deal. Both Russia and China are now strategically well aligned. Russia saw the toppling of an elected government Ukraine, as an attempt by the Atlantic Alliance to dislodge it from Sevastopol, the headquarters of its Black Sea fleet in Crimea. The Chinese are also wary of Washington’s growing presence in the western Pacific, following the “Asia Pivot” doctrine of the Obama administration. Washington’s doctrinal shift would bolster the Pacific command, which would accumulate nearly 60 per cent of all US forces under the wings. Russian media reports have concluded that growing tensions between China and the US over the South China Sea clinched the S-35 deal, whose negotiations had commenced in 2008. The Chinese felt the urgency of these planes as battle readiness of its homegrown J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters — the eventual replacements for the Su-35 — was still a few years away. China will benefit from the purchase of the Russian jets in three ways. First, the acquisition of 24 Su-35 planes would greatly extend China’s reach over the South China Sea. Su-35 planes, capable of taking off from short runways, will cover a large footprint if deployed from China’s newly developed artificial islands in the South China Sea. Second, the Russian jets can effectively counter the U.S. F-35 stealth fighters. The Irbis-6 radars on the Su-35 can track the state-of-the art American jets nearly 90 kilometres away. Finally, China can acquire valuable radar and engine technology by inducting the Russian jets. This would plug a major gap in China’s drive for developing homegrown planes. Mil.huanqiu.com, China’s official military forum acknowledges Beijing's interest in the engine and radar of the SU-35. Despite China’s best efforts, China’s self-developed WS-15 engines, meant to power the J-20 stealth fighters have so far fallen short of expectations. Besides, absorption of Russian engine technology could also help improve the power units of the J-series aircraft, including the J-11D and the J-16. Both these planes, following extensive reverse engineering and development, have been derived from the basic Su-27 fighter jets that China had bought from Russia in 1996. The Su-35 deal has also benefited Russia significantly. Cash strapped Russia has acquired badly needed funds, which could help alleviate mounting expenses both at home and abroad. Moscow has already profited from the financial transfers resulting from its previous decision to export its advanced S-400 air defence missile systems to China. Chinese media reports suggest that Beijing is now keen on acquiring technology used in Russia’s Lada class submarines. Observers say that with tensions with Washington escalating, the Russians have narrowed down their interest on acquiring know-how used in hypersonic glide vehicles that are being developed by China. Last year, the Chinese Defence Ministry confirmed that Wu-14, hypersonic glide vehicle had been tested. The Russian news agency RIA-Novosti had revealed that the WU-14, launched by an intercontinental ballistic missile, separated from the missile in the upper atmosphere. It then glided and dived towards the earth at a speed that may be 10 times that of the velocity of sound, reaching around 12,800 km an hour — good enough to breach existing anti-missile defences.