China currently has the third largest fleet of military aircraft in the world: with more than 3300 planes and helicopters, the country is behind Russia (4255 aircraft) and the United States (more than 13200 aircraft). The vast majority of aircraft are manufactured locally, however, a good portion are “copies” of models from other countries.
Through the authorized reproduction (or not) of foreign aircraft, China has managed to develop its aeronautical industry and today it already produces its own engines, avionics and is able to integrate embedded systems. Still, some of Beijing's most modern aircraft have their origins in other nations.
As an old Brazilian acquaintance once said, nothing is created, everything is copied. Let's get to know some helicopter aircraft that China has produced with “inspiration” from other models, with the exception of aircraft produced under license from their manufacturers, such as the Shenyang J-11, based on the Russian Sukhoi Su-27.
Harbin Z-20 x Sikorsky S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk
In 1984, at a time when Washington and Beijing were closer, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) acquired a batch of 24 Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk helicopters (a civilian version of the UH-60) for use in regions of mountain.
Satisfied with the North American model, China still tried to buy more units of the Black Hawk, but negotiations fell apart due to the embargoes imposed by the United States and Europe after the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989.
So the Chinese used reverse engineering and developed their own Black Hawk. The project resulted in the Harbin Z-20 helicopter, which first flew in 2013. The aircraft is operated by the PLA, Air Force (PLAAF) and National Police, while the Navy (PLAN) has tested a naval version, similar to the SH- 60 Seahawk.
Compared to the original model, the Chinese Black Hawk It has a rotor with five blades instead of four, a remodeled fuselage and a larger cabin.
Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark vs Sukhoi Su-33
At the end of the 1990s, China acquired the aircraft carrier Varyag, which belonged to the late Soviet Union, from Ukraine. Purchased by a Macau company to be used as a tourist attraction, the ship ended up with the PLAN, which transformed it into the Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier.
At the same time, the country tried to use its partnership with Russia to purchase units of the Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D, a naval version of the Su-27 heavy fighter, without success. In the mid-2000s, Beijing turned to Ukraine again and reportedly acquired one of the Su-33 prototypes (called the T-10K) that remained in the country after the dissolution of the USSR.
From this aircraft, the Chinese developed the J-15 Fēishā (Flying Shark), which from the outside is the same as the Russian jet but incorporates a series of Chinese components, from engines to avionics and armaments. Around 60 J-15s were produced for PLAN Aviation, which deploys the jet from its aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong.
Changhe Z-11 x Eurocopter A350
Developed in in the 1970s by Aérospatiale (today Airbus Helicopters), the AS350 Squirrel has become one of the most popular helicopters in the world, used in a range of civil, military and public safety activities. China already had a partnership with and produced the Super Frelon and Dauphin helicopters under license, but did not obtain a license for the Écureuil.
According to Vertipedia, the Chinese Helicopter Research & Development Institute began developing the Z-11 in 1989 based on AS350 helicopters purchased in the United States, called A Star. Today the model is produced by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC), a company that also manufactured the Z-8 (Chinese version of the Aérospatiale Super Frelon).
Just like its original version, the Z-11 is used in a variety of services and even has armed versions for military use.
Xi'an KJ-600 x Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
One of China's latest Ctrl + C Ctrl + V involves, again, the development of its onboard aviation. Launched in June 2022, China's newest aircraft carrier, the CV-18 Fujian is the first in the PLAN to be equipped with catapults for launching aircraft.
And one of the aircraft that will be used aboard the new ship will be the Xi'an KJ-600, a radar plane that will provide early warning and control for the 'floating air base'. The KJ-600 first flew in 2020 and has been tested ever since.
The model, however, is very similar to the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye, which performs exactly the same role in the US aircraft carrier and ; the Hawkeye is also used by Japan, Mexico, Egypt and Taiwan.
Like several other Chinese defense projects, little is known about the KJ-600 other than its mission and the design heavily inspired by the United States' E-2. Experts believe that China is working with two prototypes of the new naval radar plane, which are seen and recorded sporadically.
CASC FH-97 x MQ-28 Ghost Bat and XQ-58
In addition to 'traditional' aviation, China has invested heavily in the development of unmanned aircraft for its air force, and tradition would not be broken in this sector, which also has examples inspired by models from other manufacturers.
In 2021, during the China Airshow in Zhuhai, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) presented a drone designated FH-97, which was practically the same as a US drone, the Kratos XQ-58A.
The following year, CASC presented another aircraft with the same name but with a completely different design. This time, the unmanned jet was designed based on Boeing Australia's MQ-28 Ghost Bat.
In both cases, the copies are of combat drones developed as Loyal Wingman. These unmanned planes are designed to work in partnership with manned fighters, flying as if they were real wingmen.
