China continues to express interest in the Su-30 during visit to KnAAPO

Published: 6/16/1999

Mr Viktor Ishayev, Head of the Khabarovsk Territory administration, has met a military delegation from China. The Chinese military, with government support, is preparing to sign a contract to buy Su-30 fighters manufactured at the Komomolsk-on-Amur aircraft factory (KnAAPO. This story of the Chinese acquisition of Su-30s first appeared in the Russian press in February 1999 (www.concise.org 24/2/99). There seemed to be some confusion however, whether the discussion of purchase referred to the two-seat version of the Su-27PU, which is also known as the Su-30. As opposed to the Su-30MKI of recent notoriety after its crash at the Paris Air Show, which the Russians are supplying to the Indians (the ‘I" being a reference to India in the MKI designation). As KnAAPO has already supplied Su-30/Su-27PUs to China Concise assumes that it is this aircraft rather than the Su-30MKI produced by IAPO. The factory was the first place visited by the delegation, as part of a tour of the Khabarovsk Territory. The leader of the delegation, Col-Gen Zhang Wannian refused to comment, but it seems the delegation may well have wanted first hand evidence that the factory is a viable concern. He may have been reassured to see that six aircraft were already in production in anticipation of the Chinese contract according to press reports. Following his meeting with the Chinese delegation, Mr Viktor Ishayev confirmed that it was preparing to sign a contract to buy Su-30s under which they will specify the armament and fitting of the aircraft.

Article ID: 592