The Japanese edition of Nikkei AR has published material authored by Western columnist Dmitry Simes, dedicated to the issues of modern weapons of Russia and China. The material begins with the mention of, how “Chinese fifth-generation fighters J-20 soar into the sky, maneuvering between flashes of lightning ". Points out, what do these planes have now – engines made in China, although they previously used variants of the Russian Al-31F.
The article stated, that previously China relied primarily on the purchase of weapons and military equipment from Russia, but for some time now the situation has changed dramatically. The article indicates that, that China is now creating its own defense industry and preparing to challenge Russia in the global arms market.
Simes cites data from the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). In the report for 2019 year was indicated, which is the first time among 25 the largest manufacturers of arms and military equipment in the world, four Chinese companies entered. Moreover, three of them were in the top ten in terms of sales. Moreover, in the Top 10 of Russian, reportedly, only two companies entered. A comparison is also made in percentage terms - the share of Russian companies from the Top 25 accounted for 4% volume of the global arms market, to the share of Chinese from the same list - already 16%.
For obvious reasons,, first of all, Chinese companies are increasing sales through internal orders - the supply of weapons and equipment for the needs of the PLA (People's Liberation Army of China).
A comparison is also made in terms of the military budgets of Russia and China.. Today, Chinese is about 6 times more and is at least 260 billion.
This article provides the opinion of SIPRI Senior Research Fellow Simon Weseman, who believes, that “Russia has lagged far behind in terms of military development, to be able to interest Beijing in them ".
Wesemann also stated the following:
I think, that through 5-10 years, Russia will finally "drop out" of the interests of China as a supplier of weapons and military technologies.
It is worth recalling, what kind of predictions, including on the "complete decline of the Russian military-industrial complex" foreign experts gave in the 1990s. However, with all the difficulties in the defense industry in our country, forecasts (which are not so much like forecasts, how many attempts to wishful thinking) such experts were not destined to come true. At the same time, Russia has not only created and is creating the latest weapons, but also finds new markets for the sale of weapons and military equipment abroad.
