China and Ukraine agree to restart An-225 production

China and Ukraine have signed an agreement to recommence production of the Antonov An-225 'Cossack' strategic airlifter, media from both countries have reported.
The agreement signed between the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and Antonov on 30 August gives China access to the aircraft's designs and technologies for the purposes of domestic production, according to China's STCN news organisation and the Ukrainian Business Channel (UBR).
Powered by six Progress D-18T engines and having demonstrated a world-record payload of 253.82 tonnes, the An-225 (named Mriya in Ukraine) is the largest transport aircraft ever to have flown.
janes

J-10B Will Be Soon Inducted to China's Air Force

China's air force will soon commission the J-10B fighter jet, the most advanced military aircraft the country has ever developed on its own.
Several pictures showing 14 of the planes lined up outside an unidentified aircraft factory have been circulating on military websites. Experts said their gray paint scheme indicates that they will soon be delivered to the People's Liberation Army air force.
It is also possible and feasible that the J-10B's upgraded version will be chosen by the navy to serve on an aircraft carrier.
The J-10B is an improved variant of the J-10A, which is manufactured by the Chengdu, a subsidiary of the State-owned giant Aviation Industry Corp of China.
Western military sources said the jet had its first flight in December 2008, and mass production started in 2013.
The new fighter has an increase of at least 30 percent in overall capability compared with its predecessor.
The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 19 metric tons and can carry a payload of up to 8 tons. Its combat radius can reach to about 1,000 kilometers.
ecns.cn

China Stealth Jet Maker Walks Back Boast It Could ‘Take Out’ F-35

In early November, as President Xi Jinping hosted U.S. President Barack Obama in Beijing, China's military officials in the south of the country took the occasion to unveil China’s new stealth fighter jet, the J-31. The message, analysts say, was unmistakable: watch this, Yanks.
In an interview, manufacturer, AVIC CEO, told state media that “the J-31 can definitely take out the F-35 when it takes to the skies.”
Analysts have said the J-31 is similar to the F-35. There are allegations that the Chinese product was developed using information stolen from Lockheed and six sub-contractors.
It isn’t the first time a Chinese stealth jet program has met been accused of copying specs from a U.S. competitor. Analysts have said the J-20 looks an awful lot like the U.S. F-22 Raptor jet and suggested China likely learned some of its stealth technology from pieces its agents obtained of the wreckage of a U.S. F-117 shot down by a Serbian antiaircraft missile during the 1999 Kosovo war. Chinese officials have denied these claims.
blogs.wsj.com

New Chinese Airlifter Y-30 Could Enter Service In 2020s

A Chinese airlifter revealed by Avic this week, the Y-30, will go into service in the 2020s if the factory behind the project, Shaanxi Aircraft, is given a go-ahead.
The program is at the stage of concept design. It should be launched into full-scale development in about two years. If it is, and if development is smooth, a first flight could take place in 2020.
The Y-30 would have almost the same gross weight as the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, but payload is intended to be 30 tons, compared with 19.6 tons of the U.S. aircraft.
The aircraft has four turboprop engines, but many conceptual designs are under consideration, some with turbofan propulsion.
The maximum speed of the Y-30 will be 600-700 kph (370-440 mph.) and the range with payload will be 6,000-7,000 km.
Shaanxi Aircraft is the medium-airlifter specialist of Avic Aircraft, an Avic subsidiary that focuses on building large airplanes and their parts. It currently builds the Y-9, which is in the same class as the new aircraft and is derived from the Y-8, a Chinese version of the Antonov An-12.
Bradley Perrett-aviationweek

China Plans To Export J-31 Stealth Fighter

China plans to export its stealthy twin-engine J-31 fighter, which would become the first aircraft of its kind available to global customers who cannot afford the Lockheed Martin F-35. The fighter is similar in configuration to the single-engine F-35 stealth fighter.
The J-31 export revelation occurred in the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Exhibition Hall.
Chinese fighters are designated with a “J” for fighter and “FC” for export,” and this is the first time the J-31 has been referred to as the FC-31.
Though overcast, a J-31 performed a demonstration flight during the preshow tour, as did the Russian Su-35 multirole fighter. China and Russia are expected to sign a deal for export of the Su-35 sometime later this month.
defensenews

New pictures of J-10B revealed

A new batch of mass-produced Chengdu J-10B fighters are undergoing flight and taxi tests, Chinese media has reported saying that the aircraft will enter service "soon".
The J-10B is an improved variant of the Chengdu J-10 manufactured the Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, a subsidiary of AVIC.
The J-10B's key differences from the J-10A include a redesigned chin intake, a longer nose radome that is believed to house an NRIET active electronically scanned array radar; and an electro-optic targeting sensor.
janes

China confirms CH-4 UCAV in PLA service at 'Peace Mission 2014' drill

The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) showcased a CH-4 unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) during the multilateral 'Peace Mission 2014' exercise featuring Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members in Inner Mongolia in late August.
In a rare move, and indicating strong confidence in the platform, state media showed footage of a missile hitting a simulated enemy vehicle.
Feng Aiwang, commander of the exercise's PLAAF battlegroup, said the CH-4 hit every target in several missile firings. The CH-4 (Cai Hong 4 or Rainbow 4), which has been characterised as China's answer to the United States' General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, operated alongside Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters, which also made their 'Peace Mission' debuts.
In a TV interview, Li Pingkun, head of the CH-4 project, said the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) could hit targets with a margin of error of less than 1.5 m. Without giving details, he revealed the CH-4 "used several methods to guide missiles or smart bombs onto targets".
The CH-4 has four hard points capable of carrying two AR-1 laser-guided missiles and two FT-5 small guided bombs.
The CH-4, developed by the CAAA and manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), has an 18 m wingspan. The 1,260kg CH-4A, designed primarily for reconnaissance, has a 30-hour endurance and 3,500 km range. The CH-4B has a shorter 14-hour endurance and 1,600 km range but can carry a much larger 345 kg weapon payload. It is unclear which version the PLA operated during 'Peace Mission 2014'.
The CH-4 is believed to be the first CASC-manufacturer UAV to enter PLA service. The rival Yi Long (Wing Loong or Pterodactyl) UCAV produced by AVIC has achieved sales to at least three countries, apparently including Saudi Arabia. Algeria reportedly tested the CH-4 earlier in 2014.
janes

China details performance of 'carrier killer' CM-400KG missile for JF-17

Chinese AVIC has advertised critical details about the accuracy and performance of a secretive project to develop a supersonic cruise missile dubbed an “aircraft carrier killer” by the launch customer.
A full list of specifications for the CM-400AKG missile was played on AVIC exhibit stand at the Dubai air show.
Reports have indicated the CM-400 has entered service with the Pakistan air force.
The weapon can be carried by JF-17. It is usually compared with the Indian/Russian Brahmos high-speed cruise missile.
AVIC claims for the accuracy and range of the CM-400 having a range of between 54-130nm (100-240km), while carrying either a 150kg blast warhead or 200kg penetration warhead.
A fighter such as the Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 would launch the missile at speeds between Mach 0.7 and M0.9 at an elevation between 26,200ft and 39,400ft, according to the AVIC specifications.
The weapon was publicly unveiled by China at the Zhuhai air show in 2012.
flightglobal

Hongdu L-15 UCAV flying test bed

alert5

J-21/J-31/F60 max speed Mach 1.8, combat radius 1,250 km

The Shenyang stealth fighter has a combat radius of 1,250 km on internal fuel. Maximum speed is Mach 1.8.

alert5

aviationweek

Avic Promotes J-31 As An Export Fighter

As much as the resources wielded by the Chinese state aerospace industry impress outsiders these days, few could have expected that one of the companies in the sector would want to produce a stealth fighter on its own account.

aviationweek

China proposes stealth fighter for export

Aviation Industry Corporation of China has displayed a model labelled "Advanced Fighter Concept" that the company says will be targeted at export customers.

flightglobal