They just said it was open for sale.
It is a political move to show off the reltionaship. Like how America offered Israel LCS and M1A2 early, even if none of those were considered by Israel. The signal is that Russia is ready to prioritize them first, just after or at the same time as domestic production.
China is also interested in periodically injecting military funds into Russia. A cashless Russia that can’t afford it’s defenses might be attacked.
Lastly, while platforms like S-400 and potentially the Viking do not offer any new capability, they represent a sidegrade taken by another developer in another country. Through such exchange, R&D workers understand the thought process behind competitors better and may be able to devise counters.
So far, China only received domestic versions of stuff. From Su-27 to S-400. Except for export only upgrades like Su-30MKK.
I don’t see it changing in the near term. And the sales (from Russia’s perspective) is meant to show resolve and “ready” the PLA if the weapons proliferate in different regions in their downgraded forms. It makes sense to send the original ones.
Interesting, I thought China had only received export version weapon systems (SU-27, SU-30, S-300, S-400, etc) .. thats good news. China should take the Russians offer
If Buk-M3 truly doubles HQ-16's range without sacrificing much, it would be well worth the purchase. I really doubt this claim but if true, it would appear that Russian rocket technology is ahead of even the US.
You can see what it is by the designation. Su-30MKK was export tho, Russia doesn't use that particular Su-27 upgrade.
It almost certainly is not. Late HQ-16s by some reports reach out to almost as far, and the Russian system is larger, more comparable to a HQ-22 than a HQ-16.
Yeah I thought as much. No way their rocket fuel and motor manages to double the range of what is the latest technology in US and China. Having said that M3 seems to still outrange any HQ-16 type currently in service.
China should have the facilities to make some of the best solid propellant around. Probably better than the US and definitively better than Russia.
no its modern day invention post 12 centuryTrue ....... and the black powder was invented in 9th-century by the Chinese during Tang dynasty