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Accession Number:
ADA463064
Title:
China's Foreign Conventional Arms Acquisitions: Background and Analysis
Descriptive Note:
Corporate Author:
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
Report Date:
2001-11-06
Pagination or Media Count:
78.0
Abstract:
This CRS Report examines the major, foreign conventional weapon systems that China has acquired or has committed to acquire since 1990, with particular attention to implications for U.S. security concerns. It is not the assumption of this report that Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army PLA, will engage in conflict with other forces in Asia. Nonetheless, since the mid-1990s, there has been increasing concern about Chinas assertiveness in Asia and military buildup against Taiwan. Since 1990, China has acquired or sought to acquire select types and modest quantities of modern foreign weapons, primarily from Russia. These include Mi-17 helicopters, Il-76 transports, Su-27 fighters, S-300 surface-to-air missile SAM systems, Kilo submarines, Tor-M1 SAM systems, Sovremenny destroyers with Sunburn anti-ship cruise missiles ASCMs, A-50 airborne warning and control systems AWACS Israeli Phalcon system canceled in 2000, and Su-30 long-range fighters. The Su-27 and Su-30 represent significant upgrades in fighter aircraft capability over Chinas indigenous aircraft. The combination of the PLAs imported AA-11 air-to-air missile and highly maneuverable aircraft could prove a vexing air-to-air challenge to modern fighter aircraft of other forces in Asia. The Russian SAMs represent marked improvements in Chinas ability to target aircraft and missiles that threaten its airspace. Nonetheless, the PLAs ability to employ its modern acquisitions is hampered by factors such as limited inventory, deficient maintenance, inadequate pilot training, outdated air doctrine, rigid command, disparate communications, and lack of supporting capabilities in the near term. Chinas navy has been primarily a coastal defense force built around ships based largely on older or obsolete Soviet technology. Chinas two Sovremenny-class ships are considerably more technologically modern, complex, and capable than most other PLA surface combatants.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
