Kremlin's Chief of Staff, Sergei Ivanov was quoted by the official 'Voice of Russia' as saying last month that the "The chances that China may be the first foreign buyer [of S-400s] are high." If approved this will be their third big arms deal since last year.

The S-400 Triumph, a new-generation system upgraded from the S-300 which the PLA is using, is capable of countering all air attack weapons, including tactical and strategic aircraft, ballistic missiles and hypersonic targets such as the US' F-35 fighter jet. With a range of 2,400km, the S-400 can engage up to 36 targets simultaneously with as many as 72 missiles at altitudes of five metres to 30km.

Wang Xudong, an Adviser on satellites to the Chinese government said "China wants to buy the S-400 missile system from Russia because both Beijing and Moscow need to get something from each other." He added that "The S-400 missile system will provide the PLA [with] an alternative weapon, if necessary, and Beijing also doesn't need to spend so much time on producing such a sophisticated armament as tension in the East and South China seas all remind us to be well prepared." He said China has other new advanced weapons and missile systems, such as the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile, known as a carrier killer, and the DF-41, which is capable of hitting anywhere in the United States.

China and Russia are expected to cooperate further on developing the IL-476 transport aircraft and IL-78 airborne refuelling tanker.