From arms buyer to hi-tech partner – China’s changing military weapons ties with Russia
Beijing used to be Moscow’s biggest defence customer but the two countries are shifting towards more joint development projects
China has become less of an arms client and more of a cutting-edge defence technology partner with Russia since it started developing more of its own weapons, military observers have said.
For many years, China was Russia’s biggest military client, relying on Moscow for advanced weapons and adapting some of the technology for its own systems.
But India overtook China as the biggest buyer of Russian weapons in 2005 and today the Chinese military is third on the list, also behind Egypt.
However, Russian engines still power Chinese military aircraft such as Y-20 transport planes and H-6K bombers. And in November 2015, China became the first overseas client to buy Russia’s most advanced fighter jet when it signed a US$2.5 billion contract for 24 Su-35s.
The deal was first proposed by Moscow in 2010 but took years to iron out because Beijing wanted extra engines to use for parts in its J-20 stealth fighter jet.