Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 03 Sept 2013

Is this a photo of China's new Z-20 medium utility helicopter being transported by road? It is expected to make it's first flight soon, and will be in the same class as the Sikorsky Blackhawk helicopter.

Hopefully, this will end the silly brouhaha. The bombs jettisoned into the Coral Sea by Marine Harriers during Talisman Saber in late July have been disposed of.

An look into the possible reasons for Indonesia's choice of the AH-64E Apache helicopter gunship.

Chinese chopper buzzes Japanese warship; Japan lodges official protest

Japan has lodged a diplomatic protest after a Chinese helicopter buzzed a Japanese destroyer near disputed East China Sea gas fields. The helicopter reportedly bearing the markings of China's State Oceanic Administration, flew close to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyer Samidare and is the latest in a series of confrontations between the two sides.

American engineer jailed 32 years for selling missile tech to China

An Indian-born American citizen has been sentenced to 32 years in jail for selling technology to China which may assist in making cruise missiles less visible to infra-red detection. The 66-year old former Northrop-Grumman engineer previously worked on the propulsion systems of the B-2 bomber.

F-117 mockup in China

IMINT & Analysis has posted a satellite image from Google Maps/Earth of a F-117 mockup sitting on the ground at Luoyang China. Luoyang is home to the Luoyang Electro-Optical Technology Development Center, who is responsible for developing the current air-to-air missiles fielded by the Chinese military.

China's anti-ship missile is nearly operational

The Commander of the US Pacific Command says that China's DF-21D ASBM is almost operational.

Pentagon's report on China, and China's response

This year's annual Pentagon report on China says that China's military capabilities have exceeded Taiwan's, but that the PLA is not a threat to US dominance of the Pacific...yet.

China has said that the report "ignores the objective truth"

The full report can be found here (pdf)

China to test-fire missile, possibly DF-21D

China is reportedly set to test fire a missile, and it has been speculated that the missile to be tested will be the reported "carrier killer" DF-21D ballistic missile.

Retired USN admiral urges more military assistance to the Philippines

(Ret.)Adm. James Lyons suggests in an op-ed in the Washington Times that the US should consider leasing F-16s, T-38s and Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates to the Philippines to assist in enforcing their territorial claims against China in the Spratly Islands.

China tests satellite killer; modifying old jets into drones

2 pieces of news about China today:

First off the People's Daily reports that China might have successfully tested their satellite destroying capabilities again and eTaiwanNews reports that China is modifying older fighter jets into drones and has up to 2000 missiles pointed at Taiwan.

Russian Combat Aircraft Makers Fear Chinese Competition

Both MiG and Sukhoi have spoken out against Rosoboronexport's plan to sell RD-93 engines to China citing "unfair competition", according to Eurasia Review