China and Russia have a long-term marriage of convenience.
Russia will be preoccupied with Ukraine for a long time yet and is in a quasi confrontation with NATO and the EU. The core population and economic centres of Russia are in European Russia, which are not threatened by a distant Asia, but which face a significant challenge from the EU/NATO nations which are right next door and are much bigger than Russia.
From the Chinese perspective, China is happy to use Russia as a secure resource base whilst it focuses on the waters of the Western Pacific. Strengthening each other economies helps them achieve their respective strategic goals.
On engines, Rolls Royce, GE, Pratt & Whitney each spent between US$1.4 and US$2.0 billion each on R&D in 2010.
Given that the engine portion of the Su-35 deal should be less than $1billion, if it speeds up engine development in China by 1 year, it will have been well worth it.
Russia will be preoccupied with Ukraine for a long time yet and is in a quasi confrontation with NATO and the EU. The core population and economic centres of Russia are in European Russia, which are not threatened by a distant Asia, but which face a significant challenge from the EU/NATO nations which are right next door and are much bigger than Russia.
From the Chinese perspective, China is happy to use Russia as a secure resource base whilst it focuses on the waters of the Western Pacific. Strengthening each other economies helps them achieve their respective strategic goals.
On engines, Rolls Royce, GE, Pratt & Whitney each spent between US$1.4 and US$2.0 billion each on R&D in 2010.
Given that the engine portion of the Su-35 deal should be less than $1billion, if it speeds up engine development in China by 1 year, it will have been well worth it.