Spying Fuels Chinese Jets’ Development

Spying Fuels Chinese Jets’ Development

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Long gone are the days when China was so far lagging behind the West in technological development that it was barely even in the running. Through concerted effort, and by partnering with Western manufacturers, China has acquired the technical know-how of producing high-quality material output. This is doubly true for China’s defence and intelligence capabilities, on which Beijing puts particular emphasis. China is set to become one of the world’s most advanced and powerful military powers, with upcoming fifth-generation fighters and upgraded ballistic missiles.

But in-house development can only go so far, and only so fast. The US Naval Institute – a private, professional military association – notes that Beijing’s propensity for copying and stealing technology is behind China’s meteoric advancement. Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and Northrop Grumman’s X-47B find themselves mirrored in newest Chinese designs. Some of the technology in the Chinese aircraft was almost certainly appropriated from American designs by less than virtuous means.

Chinese cyber-spying has for years been a point of contention in Sino-US relations, but other means of espionage have certainly been employed as well. A Chinese businessman was arrested in Canada last year after allegedly stealing a trove of technical data related to the F-22 fighter jet and to the transport carrier C-17. China’s fifth-generation fighter, currently in development, is believed to be based on stolen F-35 plans. As well as copying American designs, China’s Shenyang J-11B fighter is remarkably similar to Russia’s Su-27 fighter.

China has much to gain through this activity. Using proven and tested designs reduces development costs for the Chinese, as well as increases design process efficiency. The end result is the reduction of the US’s technological edge.

It is as yet unclear if the Chinese knockoffs will perform as well as the original designs. Due to its limited global reach and relative quiet along its borders, China has few opportunities for operational testing, unlike Russia and the US.

“I think the big issue with all Chinese weapons – including copies of Western equipment – is that they remain untested in combat,” naval analyst Eric Wetheim told USNI. He estimates that the new systems “may significantly underperform” compared to allied weaponry, leaving many countries weary of acquiring untested Chinese military products, despite their reduced costs.

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