CHINA-MILITARY: PLAAF
The US Air Force chief-of-staff General Mark Welsh told the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee on March 2, 2016, that the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) will be poised to overtake the US Air Force by 2030. He said more important than just the number of aircraft and personnel in the PLAAF, is Beijing's trend of acquiring and successfully fielding more and more advanced weapons systems. He claimed this drive by the PLAAF will shrink the commanding technological advantage that the US currently has over China. He said the J-20 is thought to be making quick development progress, while the J-31 is believed to be the equal of the F-35 due to espionage and Chinese theft of trade secrets. China is also developing a stealth drone as well as seeking to buy Russia's highly capable Su-35S fighter aircraft. |