Russia is about to sign the final contract that will provide China with 24 Su-35 fighters. (Photo : www.miragec14.blogspot.com)
This week, a deal for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to acquire 24 Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia could be completed, according to a report by English-language Chinese newspaper Global Times.
With talks about the deal going on for some time, it is not clear if there are still parts which the two sides have not yet agreed on.
The outcome of the deal is expected to be revealed at the MAKS-2015 international aerospace show on Aug. 25-30 at Zhukovsky, 40 kilometers from Moscow.
The first deputy director general of Rosoboronexport, Ivan Goncharenko said that the contract is currently under approval. Rosoboronexport is Russia's arms exporter.
"We are holding talks with our Chinese partners on agreeing a draft contract for the supply of fighter jets," said Goncharenko on Monday.
The Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet is a twin-engine supermaneuvarable multirole fighter. It has been marketed to several countries including Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Korea, though China seems to be the first country that will end up importing the aircraft.
In Aug. 2009, the Russian air force ordered 48 production units of Su-35S fighter jets, an enhanced version of the Su-35 that China will be purchasing. Delivery of the aircraft began in 2011, with the 12 remaining fighter jets expected to be handed over by the end of the year.
The Russian defense ministry is reportedly signing a new agreement to purchase another 40 Su-35S fighter jets. The deal might also be signed at MAKS-2015 this week.
Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao was impressed by the mobility, engine and modern avionics of the Su-35 when he saw a flight demonstration at the Zhuhai Airshow in Guangdong Province, Southern China, in 2014.
