Dr. Syed Mehboob
Senior Business and Political Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
China and the Chinese are peace-loving nation. They believe in trade, investment, cooperation, resource sharing, and development and avoid, conflicts, and violence. World history is full of wars and conflicts. So, it is necessary to acquire the required deterrence and strength in defense. China besides economic development, is getting achievements in defense technology. AIR SHOW 2024 was a series of such moves in this direction.
Air Show China 2024 took place for six days, from Tuesday, 12th November to 17th November 2024 at Zhuhai. Since 1996, it is the largest airshow in China and one of the largest in the world. The biennial event gathered aviation enthusiasts from around the globe. According to sources, nearly 600,000 people visited the airshow, and the total contracts signed were over 280 billion Yuan. Following are the salient features of the 15th edition of the 2024 China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition.
- Debut of J-35 A Stealth fighter J 15 T carrier base fighter and J-15 D carrier-based electric warfare aircraft
- Z 20 F ASW helicopter
- Z 20 J utility/ transport variance
- SU 57 stealth fighter Ct 504 and T- 50 7 prototype
- Russian Knights
- August 1st aerobatic team
- J 20 S, twin seater variance of the J 20
The event took place at the purpose-built China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition Center, which accommodates both static and dynamic displays of aviation technologies. As the only exhibition of its kind in China, Airshow China combines air shows with professional trade exhibitions, establishing itself as one of the most significant events in the global aerospace industry.The show attracted both civilian and military participants, with a special focus on the presentation of fighter jets, military helicopters, and drone technologies. Civilian aircraft and general aviation systems also play a major role. Additionally, China showcased its latest advancements in space technology, including satellite systems, launch vehicles, and manned space exploration.
One of the highlights of the event was the flight demonstrations, featuring both military and civilian aircraft, which never fail to captivate the audience. The exhibition facilitates technology exchange between international and Chinese companies, promoting B2B communication and hosting specialized conferences tailored to the needs of the aerospace industry. These interactions foster collaborations and partnerships, making Airshow China an essential event for industry professionals.With its wide range of products and services, combined with a strong commitment to innovation and technology transfer, Airshow China offers a valuable opportunity to discover cutting-edge technologies, explore business opportunities, and gain deep insights into China’s rapidly growing aviation industry.About 800 exhibitors from 50 countries participated in it.
Zhuhai Jinwan Airport is the airport serving the city of Zhuhai in South Central China‘s Guangdong province. Zhuhai is a prefecture-level city located on the west bank of the Pearl Estuary on the central coast ofsouthern Guangdong province, People’s Republic of China, on the southeastern edge of the Pearl River Delta. Its name means “Pearl Sea”. Guangdong’s economy is the largest of any provincial-level division in China with a GDP of US$ 1,1900 billion in 2023.
The J-35 A, Su-57, and many Flanker variants were all on the menu for this year’s China’s International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. Spectators were presented with a four-hour-long flight performance featuring the Russian Air Force (VKS), the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy (PLAN) and Air Force (PLAAF), and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China ( COMAC), as well as extensive ground display featuring the PLA’s equipment. This year, the PLA revealed many new aircraft and defense systems to the public for the first time. These included the PLAAF’s brand-new J-35A medium-sized stealth fighter, the PLAN’s new Catapult Assisted Take-OffBut Arrested Landing (CATOBAR) compatible J-15T, and the PLA’s Anti-Ballistic Missile Interceptor. The initiative highlight of this year’s show was the unveiling of the J-35 A. Marketed as a medium-sized multirole stealth fighter by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the fighter’s short flight over the show center consisted of a single flyby with afterburner, followed by an unrestricted climb to exit. The induction of the J-35A into the PLAAF inventory makes China the second nation, after the US, to field two operational stealth fighters. At least three different airframes have flown over Zhuhai.
The revealing of the J-35A in the PLAAF inventory signifies that the PLA is now confident enough in their technology to run two 5th-generation fighters at the same time, especially as the PLA was not initially interested in SAC’s prototype, instead focusing on the J-20.
The J-35A wasn’t the only 5th generation fighter present at the show. The 4th prototype of Russia’s Su-57, the T 50-4, flew 8-minute demos every day as well. It was fittingly flown by Sergey Bogdan, Hero of Russia, also touted as Russia’s best test pilot, who also flew the Su-35 at the same airshow in 2018. The demo consisted of many challenging maneuvers, including Pugachev’s Cobra and the falling leaf maneuver, leaving the crowd in awe of the Sukhoi’s physics-defying agility. The display was intense, and Bogdan was treated with audible applause as he touched down on the runway.
The participation of the J-35A, Su-57, and J-20 made this edition of the China Airshow the first in the world to have three different stealth fighter designs. As China’s first stealth fighter, the J-20 was extremely popular among the audience and is affectionately referred to as the 8-winged hero by the Chinese.
Electronic Warfare (EW) was also a prominent theme, as the specialized EW variants of the abovementioned aircraft, PLAAF’s J-16D and the PLAM’s J-15D, made appearances. The D series of these aircraft are fitted with advanced jamming pods and EW systems and are designed for the SEAD/DEAD mission set, neutralizing enemy radar and communication systems. The EW-focused variants of these modern fighters highlight China’s growing emphasis on EW as a force multiplier and the criticality of these missions in a contested environment. J-16D was only seen on the ground, allowing visitors an up-close look, while the J-15D was only seen in the flight performance.
The flight display also featured the PLAAF’s August 1st (Ba Yi) and Red Eagles demonstration teams. Ba Yi fly specialized aerobatic variants of the J-10 fighter, the single-seat J-10CY, and the twin-seat J-10SY, while the Red Eagles fly the JL-8 trainers. The JL 10m, YU-20,PLA/PLAN helicopters and COMAC C909 and C919 also performed flying demonstrations across the week.
The PLAN’s Z-20F, armed with what looks like AKD-10 missiles approaches the show center. This was the first edition to feature this particular variant of the Z-20. The static display’s lineup was also very extensive, with many of the PLA’s frontline aircraft on display, such as the J-10C, J-15T, H-6K, and KQ-20, drones like the Wing Loong series of UAVs, and ground systems like the HQ-19.
China unveiled a new model of its mysterious long-range stealth drone the Caihong-7 or CH-7, designed for intelligence, surveillance, and strike missions.Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, a full-scale mockup of the combat un-crewed aerial vehicle (UCAV) first appeared at the China Airshow in 2018.The Chinese drone drew comparisons to the short- X-47B UCAV, which was developed by American aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman to prove that computer-controlled drones could land on an aircraft carrier.
The PLAN showcased its naval variant of the medium-lift utility helicopter, the Z-20F, which is the first armed assault version of the aircraft. The Pentagon noted the development of the naval version of the Z-20 in a report released last October, likening the attack helicopter to the US Navy’s SH-60 Seahawk, manufactured by Lockheed-owned Sikorsky Aircraft.
AIR SHOW 2024 reflects that China is not only on the economic front but also advancing in defence technology and equipment. China is a very important player in the global power scenario and no country can afford to ignore or neglect it.
