Chinese purchase of Su-35

ladioussupp said:

For Your Reference.

Xinhua net reprints the "rumor". The source is still "Voice of Russia"

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Well... that does not make the 'rumors' anymore accurate. Xinhua.net do have their shares of inaccuracies. Just to be clear, I am not saying that such a deal would not happen... but with all the current evidences or lack of evidences (except for the said reports from Voice of Russia - which incidently did not appear in its website) that such a deal had or might take places. and up till now, there are no government acknowledgement of such a deal so... I would still say, that such a deal doesn't exist...

Is it possible that China might be purchasing the SU-35 not for the PLAAF own use but for trades with DPRK? Look at this way 24 SU-35 would not make sense for China, but it sure would boost the North Korean air force capability big time (although still get overwhelmed by the South Korean and US air forces of course).

Equation said:

Is it possible that China might be purchasing the SU-35 not for the PLAAF own use but for trades with DPRK? Look at this way 24 SU-35 would not make sense for China, but it sure would boost the North Korean air force capability big time (although still get overwhelmed by the South Korean and US air forces of course).

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That's the funniest theory so far.

I must admit. That was a really weird theory...

Equation said:

Is it possible that China might be purchasing the SU-35 not for the PLAAF own use but for trades with DPRK? Look at this way 24 SU-35 would not make sense for China, but it sure would boost the North Korean air force capability big time (although still get overwhelmed by the South Korean and US air forces of course).

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If your theory is in use. Pakistan Airforce looks a better candidate. Russia has obligation not to sold main weapon system to Pakistan due to India. But Russia can still use the third party export theory like RD-93 engine they did to Pakistan for JF-17.

In this way, their Su-35 will have export customer and they can shift all the blame to China for exporting to Pakistan without India backlash. Plus Pakistan Airforce are currently lacking a long range deep strike twin engine platform for their Air Force. Su-35 fits up what Pakistan are lacking.

Lion said:

and they can shift all the blame to China for exporting to Pakistan without India backlash

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We have a second candidate.

flateric said:

We have a second candidate.

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Ya right! How do you explain RD-93 engine re export to China? Or probably you are going to claim RD-93 engine is made in China? Hahaha..

If RD-93 engine can be done to Pakistan, what makes you thin Su-35 cannot be deal for Pakistan Air Force with loopholes?

Lion said:

Ya right! How do you explain RD-93 engine re export to China? Or probably you are going to claim RD-93 engine is made in China? Hahaha..

If RD-93 engine can be done to Pakistan, what makes you thin Su-35 cannot be deal for Pakistan Air Force with loopholes?

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Perhaps because the RD-93 was considered low risk & low impact on strategic relations by the Russians. Su-35 is whole different game. It'll surpass the Su-30MKI. You think PRC will do a double cross? RD-93 had no issues. It was going to the FC-1/JF-17 and that was clearly/officially known. You think PRC is going to lie and re-sell the Su-35 and the Russians (and Indians) are stupid not to know that?

Su-35 is not going to Pakistan or North Korea.

Hyperwarp said:

Perhaps because the RD-93 was considered low risk & low impact on strategic relations by the Russians. Su-35 is whole different game. It'll surpass the Su-30MKI. You think PRC will do a double cross? RD-93 had no issues. It was going to the FC-1/JF-17 and that was clearly/officially known. You think PRC is going to lie and re-sell the Su-35 and the Russians (and Indians) are stupid not to know that?

Su-35 is not going to Pakistan or North Korea.

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The idea of low risk or low impact is very subjective. I would view RD-93 engine has a bigger impact than 24 Su-35 if provided to PAF.

If PAF equipped with 200 JF-17 all running on Russian RD-93. It will almost fully modernised bulk of its Air Force replacing many obsolete aircraft like Mirage III, F-7PG, Q-5 Fantan. But if Russian refuse the re-export, modernise bulk of PAF will failed in next decades because PAF do not have so much hard cash to replace bulk of its ageing aircraft. JF-17 provide the most idea chance to modernise bulk of its AF without stretching its finance. The only draw back is engine as Russian engine is the only option. Europe and American engine is out of question. Chinese engine will need time and more finance from Pakistan to hasty the project.

The 24 Su-35 if provided to PAF impact will not be as great as 200 RD-93 engine provide to PAF.

Plus, Russian is desperate to get its first export for Su-35. If sukhoi needs to be successful or financial healthy. The interim solution is to get Su-35 export sales. With failed bid in South America, India. I am sure Russia will do whatever it can to facilitate an export sales.


Russian used to refuse PAF for its Sukhoi Su-27 but now is a different situation. India has shift more towards Western for arm which is irking Russia. Of course Russian know how to play its card. RD-93 engine re export is a good start and show change of attitude from Russian toward Pakistan.

Of course Russian still has many military dealing with India but Russia needs to think of its pocket for future expanding its military hardware export since China and India source are drying up soon.

China do not need to lie for Pakistan. If can easily cook up an excuse of Su-35 not suitable for its own need and decide to re export it or whatever.

If China is serious in renewing the 1961 Sino-DPRK MDT again in 2021 (until 2041), then it should seriously consider modernizing the North Korean airforce with J-10s at minimum. I would personally go even farther and suggest J-31s for North Korea because U.S. is arming South Korea with F-35s, F-15SE, or KF-X, etc... If US-ROK invades DPRK under the pretext of WMDs like it did with Iraq (and soon Iran!) , then PLA needs as much time as possible for North Korea to absorb the opening punches until PLA can establish a line from Nampo to Wonsan to protect the Pyongyang capital region. North Korea's military exists solely to slow the enemy down long enough so that the Celestial Army can be mobolized to assist, aid, and resist foreign aggression on Korea's behalf.

J-31s, J-10s for Pakistan most definitely as well.