[KixdricyArrip]

After offering outdated hardware to Pakistan, african and other countries, China is keen to expand its fast-growing indigenous helicopter industry by reaching out to the Indian market. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) official Colonel Yu Guo Yi said on Tuesday “We are happy to sell these helicopters to India and other countries.”

A Z-9 helicopter at the PLA's Fourth Helicopter Regiment in Beijing. Photo: Ananth Krishnan

The PLA for the first time showcased its Z-9 armed reconnaissance helicopters as it opened its fourth regiment — its first armed helicopter unit — to foreign journalists.

PLA colonels and pilots spoke of both the advantages and difficulties China has faced in developing and relying on home-grown helicopters. China has, so far, struggled to sell its Z-9 and the more advanced Z-11 helicopters, relying on Pakistan and a few African countries as export destinations. But officials said they said they claimed that their technology was “fast improving”.

PLA’s fourth regiment base in Tongzhou — an eastern Beijing suburb — officers spoke of sweeping changes the army had seen in the past two decades. Once relying on old French and Russian aircraft, the PLA is now looking to induct widely its more advanced Z-11 home-grown helicopters that are a source of pride to the military.

“The biggest change since I joined the army in 1989 is that now, we can totally depend on ourselves to make our helicopters,” said Group Captain Liu Hao (48), who has clocked 2,400 hours of flying time.

“We don’t need to import materials and depend on foreign countries making these planes any more,” he claimed. “Now, we depend only on ourselves.”

[BinasiDombrs]

Chinese steal technology and still make obselete products

China's Defense Ministry is denying it used stolen U.S. technology in developing a modern military attack helicopter. AP reported.

A statement posted on the ministry's website Thursday called such allegations "severe deviations" from facts. A division of United Technologies Corp. pleaded guilty in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in June to crimes related to the illegal export of software that U.S. officials said was used by China to develop the helicopter.
The United States has barred the export of defense articles to China since 1989.

The ministry said it relied solely on homegrown know-how in developing and manufacturing the helicopter, including its engine.