No known ballistic missile tests (which would be easily identified), so this must be local production of Chinese missiles (DF-21?) or preliminary tests of solid motor engines at a early stage.
Persian Gulf & Middle East Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter delft
- Start date
Conventional warheads only if true, a la SR/MRBM sales to Turkey and UAE in the past.
Still begs the question why China would annoy Iran like this if the sale is true. KSA like it or not is the main regional economic power and as important for energy security as Iran and Russia are.
Still begs the question why China would annoy Iran like this if the sale is true. KSA like it or not is the main regional economic power and as important for energy security as Iran and Russia are.
In case you did not realize this already China sells weapons to whoever wants to buy them.
Saudi Arabia already owned older Chinese liquid fuel rockets (DF-3) which they supposedly got with help from the CIA as intermediaries.
This much is well known and public. They even showed the DF-3 on a parade in Saudi Arabia.
Allegedly the Saudis have nuclear warheads for them. But the warheads are supposedly stored in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia allegedly funded the Pakistanian nuclear program, so a Muslim nation would have nuclear weapons, and this is a kickback they got as a result.
More recently the Saudis supposedly acquired the DF-21 from China.
The Saudis probably realized they needed to upgrade their deterrent given the War on Yemen and recent Iranian military developments.
Hence the solid rocket development.
The Saudis have also vastly increased their military expenditure to the point they outspend countries like Russia thanks to the War on Yemen. They have increasingly as a result sought to manufacture weapons in Saudi Arabia proper, to reduce imports, and this includes deals with Russia to manufacture small arms in Saudi Arabia and probably this deal with China.
Saudi Arabia already owned older Chinese liquid fuel rockets (DF-3) which they supposedly got with help from the CIA as intermediaries.
This much is well known and public. They even showed the DF-3 on a parade in Saudi Arabia.
Allegedly the Saudis have nuclear warheads for them. But the warheads are supposedly stored in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia allegedly funded the Pakistanian nuclear program, so a Muslim nation would have nuclear weapons, and this is a kickback they got as a result.
More recently the Saudis supposedly acquired the DF-21 from China.
The Saudis probably realized they needed to upgrade their deterrent given the War on Yemen and recent Iranian military developments.
Hence the solid rocket development.
The Saudis have also vastly increased their military expenditure to the point they outspend countries like Russia thanks to the War on Yemen. They have increasingly as a result sought to manufacture weapons in Saudi Arabia proper, to reduce imports, and this includes deals with Russia to manufacture small arms in Saudi Arabia and probably this deal with China.
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I thought it was UAE that purchased some ballistic missiles from China in the past like Turkey. Anyway yes, China sells weapons to whoever most of the time. It wouldn't sell sensitive weapons like J-20 or DF-31 even. The ballistic missiles it sold in the past were only to be operated with conventional warheads (despite many nations wishing to buy nuclear warheads just to go with those missiles and to be stored in Chinese controlled facilities and only used when both agree on their use).
China also wouldn't sell anything remotely sensitive or high tech to India even if India were happy to buy with good money.
The most advanced weapons available for sale and sold (not counting these special cases of ballistic missiles) are VT-4 and HQ-22. These also are pretty much the most advanced available on offer. Type 99A isn't for sale, HQ-9B also isn't and the Turks were only offered original and relatively outdated HQ-9 back in early 2010s.
No offer of any advanced drone/UAV/UCAV. No offer of anything beyond J-10CE.
The VT-4 is pretty advanced. I think it has little technological disadvantage versus the Type 99A. It has FY-4 ERA and an 1200 hp engine.
I would not put it beyond China to export the J-20 eventually if someone did have the resources to pay for it. They just don't export Flankers, I think, not to upset Russia. Given the J-20 is now totally manufactured in China proper including engines I wouldn't preclude foreign sales of it.
Sure they reserve sales of weapons systems like the DF-31. Not least because China signed the NPT. But nothing precludes the sale of the shorter range ballistic missiles with conventional warheads.
I would not put it beyond China to export the J-20 eventually if someone did have the resources to pay for it. They just don't export Flankers, I think, not to upset Russia. Given the J-20 is now totally manufactured in China proper including engines I wouldn't preclude foreign sales of it.
Sure they reserve sales of weapons systems like the DF-31. Not least because China signed the NPT. But nothing precludes the sale of the shorter range ballistic missiles with conventional warheads.
@gelgoog Bro China non intervention policy include weapon sales whoever want to buy except for China strategic peer competitor like India where Pakistan is part of her core interest. No ideology Purely Business. We have a tense diplomat situation regarding SCS BUT that didn't stop China to supply us with arms, heck! they will even supply arms to Vietnam IF the Vietnamese wanted to.
plawolf
Lieutenant General
China will absolutely not export the J20.
Back during the late 80s, when China was still poor and the J8 wasn’t really that great. But it was the best that China had at the time and so the PLA vetoed the deal. It was only in 1996 that an F8 export version was offered with Russian radar and weapons, but by then the Iranians had gone cold on the design.
If China wasn’t willing to sell its best fighter in the 80s when it was desperate for cash, it sure as hell isn’t going to offer it now when it isn’t exactly short of money.
Depending on the terrain, if the war in northern China, the probability of Type-99A win is higher. Type-99A has a very thick front armor and super strong APS equipped, it can defeat VT-4 in face-to-face confrontations. . If in the southern China terrain, the terrain is not flat and in urban areas, VT-4 has a higher victory.
Electronic system: VT-4 is better than Type-99a. If China upgrades Type-99A, the e-system will be equal, but the type of Type-99A system is enough to use, they do not need to upgrade
Ergonomics: VT-4 has better ergonomics, because it was born later.
Speed: Type-99A can reach a maximum speed of 76km / h, VT-4 is 70km / h.
APS: Type-99A better
ADS: VT-4 is equipped (if customer pays extra), Type-99A is not equipped (involving the doctrine using tank, but China can integrate if necessary)
Automatic Machine Gun: VT-4 equipped, Type-99A is not equipped (doctrine and use of tank use, but China can integrate it if necessary)
Armor: VT-4 has better comprehensive protection than Type-99A, but the front armor of Type-99A is thicker than VT-4
Summary: In my opinion, VT-4 is better than Type-99A in technology. But Type-99a is better than VT-4 in defensive capabilities and attacks in the northern terrain. For southern and west terrain of China, Type-96 is the perfect choice for light and cheap price. In hilly terrain, Type-15 is the perfect choice.
Therefore, China does not need to use VT-4, export is the only option
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