Russia and China have signed a framework agreement to delivery 24 multi-purpose Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and four Project 1640 Amur submarines (export version of Project 677 Lada), RIA Novosti newswire reports citing China Central Television (CCTV). If the sale goes through, it will be the largest Russian arms sale to China over the past ten years.
The agreement to sell the Russian weapons to PRC was reached during new Chairman Xi Jinping’s state visit to Moscow. Details of the deal are not disclosed.
CCTV Channel’s website reports that the submarines will be delivered under a two + two arrangement, which implies transfer of two already operational non-nuclear (diesel-powered) submarines and construction of two more submarines under license with transfer of manufacturing technologies.
It is quite possible that Russian-Chinese cooperation in the armaments sector will be expanded: China is also planning to buy Russian S-400 air defense systems, 117S heavy engines, as well as Ilyushin Il-76 airlifter and Il-78 refueling tanker aircraft.
Rosoboronexport and the Chinese Defense Ministry signed the preliminary agreement to sell 24 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter planes to China in late December 2012. The agreement provided for start of aircraft deliveries after 2015.
The contract value was estimated at US$ 1.5 billion. Rosoboronexport and China’s Defense Ministry also signed an agreement on joint design and construction of four Project 1650 Amur diesel-electric submarines (the export version of Russian Lada submarines) at the end of last year. The contract value was estimated at US$ 2 billion at the time. The original plan was to build two submarines in Russia and two more in China.
Sukhoi Su-35 is a Russian supersonic supermaneuverable multi-role generation 4++ fighter airplane designed by Sukhoi Design Bureau.
