無人偵察機や電子戦機を誇示　中国最大の航空ショー開幕

【珠海ＡＦＰ＝時事】中国南部の珠海市で２８日、国内最大の航空ショー「中国国際航空宇宙博覧会（珠海航空ショー）」が開幕し、無人偵察機や電子戦機などが披露された。米国や台湾、南シナ海を念頭に、高性能化する航空戦力を誇示した形だ。（写真は成都飛機工業公司の無人機「翼龍１」。第１３回中国国際航空宇宙博覧会の会場で）
　中国は軍事技術とその投資の面で米国に後れを取っているが、専門家によると、差は縮まっている。
　２８日には、新型無人偵察機「彩虹６」の試作機も公開された。防衛コンサルティング会社ジェーンズによると、翼幅２０．５メートル、全長１５．８メートル。偵察だけでなく、ミサイルを搭載して攻撃することもできる。
　この他、国境地帯の偵察や領海の監視に当たる無人機「無偵７」や、電子戦機「殲１６Ｄ」も公開された。国営メディアによると、両機は既に空軍で就役している。
　軍事評論家の宋忠平氏はＡＦＰに対し、今回公開された機体について「台湾海峡と南シナ海の両地域で大きな役割を果たすだろう」と述べた。
　通常隔年で開催される同航空ショーは昨年開催されるはずだったが、新型コロナウイルス流行のため延期されていた。感染防止策の隔離措置や入国制限などの影響で、国内からの来場者が大半を占めている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/09/29-10:04）

China on Tuesday showed off its increasingly sophisticated air power including surveillance drones, with an eye on disputed territories from Taiwan to the South China Sea and its rivalry with the United States.
The country's biggest airshow, in the southern coastal city of Zhuhai, comes as Beijing pushes to meet a 2035 deadline to retool its military for modern warfare.
China still lags the United States in terms of tech and investment in its war machine, but experts say it is narrowing the gap.
A US intelligence report this year flagged China's growing influence as one of America's biggest threats.
On Tuesday, the air force aerobatic team left colourful vapour trails as it manoeuvred in formation, while visitors inspected new jets, drones and attack helicopters on the tarmac.
The CH-6, a prototype drone with a wingspan of 20.5 metres (67 feet), was among the domestic tech unveiled.
It is designed for surveillance and can also carry weapons for strike missions, according to open-source intelligence agency Janes.
The drone has a cruising altitude of 10,000 metres, but it can go as high as 15,000 metres, Qin Yongming, general manager of drone maker Aerospace CH UAV Co, told AFP.
It can fly for longer periods (than previous models)... it can carry out longer missions, with higher efficiency without any time limits.
Other debutants included the WZ-7 high-altitude drone for border reconnaissance and maritime patrol, as well as the J-16D fighter that has the ability to jam electronic equipment.
Both have already entered service with the Chinese air force, state media reported.
They will play a major role in both the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, military commentator Song Zhongping told AFP.
Beijing claims virtually all of the South China Sea -- disputed with several other nations -- and says the self-ruled island of Taiwan is an inviolable part of its territory.
Under president Donald Trump, the United States authorised arms sales to Taiwan worth around $18 billion worth, including advanced missile platforms -- sales that have angered Beijing.
- Alternative drone supplier -
China is also clearly positioning itself to be an alternative supplier of advanced drones, with relative affordability, said Janes analyst Kelvin Wong.
The United States and European countries have been hesitant to supply such equipment outside a select group of partners, he added.
Chinese drones have already combat action in the Middle East, and have been sold to customers in other regions too.
The J-16D, meanwhile, improves the combat capabilities of the People's Liberation Army, said James Char, a Chinese military expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.
The jet has wingtip pods to disrupt enemy electronic equipment, and has drawn comparisons with the US-made EA-18G Growler.
It gives the Chinese military an advantage in terms of conducting aerial electronic warfare over targets that possess significant air defence capabilities, Char said.
The Zhuhai airshow, usually held every two years, was postponed from last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and is being staged before a largely domestic audience due to quarantine and travel restrictions.