China’s drones sell well at Zhuhai Air Show, but stealth fighters may struggle to get big orders

Businessmen who attended the show told Lianhe Zaobao that there were many foreign military officials and Middle Eastern observers at this air show, and many Chinese exhibitors used desert camouflage coats on the military products their, highlighting the determination of Chinese military enterprises to explore the Middle East Market.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are important buyers in the international arms sales market, and most of the high-end equipment represented by fighter jets is purchased from the United States, Europe or Russia. According to data from Sweden’s Stockholm International Peace Research, in the past five years, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have all ranked among the top five arms importers. top ten in the world, and the Middle East arms sales market is fierce. However, China’s share of the international arms sales market has decreased by 5.8% year on year, and the main buyers are not financially wealthy.

This time in Zhuhai, China took advantage of its home court to display and promote a series of modern weapons and equipment, especially the J-20 and J-35A, two fifth-generation stealthy aircraft that appeared on the same platform for the In addition to “flexing their muscles” against potential opponents, they also intended to shape China’s perception of advanced fighter aircraft and reliable.

However, although the J-35A has attracted a lot of attention, Mikheyev, the general manager of the Russian Export Agency, confirmed at the air show on Thursday that the fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft, which was exhibiting abroad for the first time, won. his first overseas order, to the dismay of many Chinese military fans.

In recent days, many military fans have discovered at the air show that the details of the Su-57’s craftsmanship and stealth processing are far below those involved. the china on the internet. However, Russia’s main goal in Zhuhai is to turn against buyers, which completely shows the complexity of opening the international arms sales market.

Kashin, a senior researcher at Russia’s National Higher Research University of Economics, pointed out in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao that the Su-57 fighter jet was sent to Syria at the protocol level, and later stood in- faced real combat tests in the Russia-Ukraine war. This advantage is hard to replace.

When interviewed by the Chinese Air Force expert Fu Qianshao, he believed that Russia is a traditional military power Many countries have created a relatively comprehensive support system for the use of weapons made in Russia Maintenance and support is expert and the cost is low.

Fu Qianshao pointed out that political factors have a major impact on the arms sales market. Against the background of intense conflict between China and the United States, the Gulf countries who want to choose Chinese products for their main battle equipment have to to face a strong external obstacle. Trump administration, which has caused many countries to Although China is interested in advanced weapons, it is difficult to make up its mind.

However, he also stressed that due to the continuous progress in China’s science and technology and industrial technology, as well as the large number of political situations connected to the sale of United States arms, the advantages of Chinese equipment gradually appeared.

Fu Qianshao said: “Although this benefit may not be realized at this air show, as more and more representatives from Middle Eastern countries come to the air show, there are signs of China’s arms sales ‘ a new position opening has appeared. “