Red star rising: China celebrates 60th anniversary of air force

November 11, 5:55 PMStaten Island Independent ExaminerJohn Signoriello

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Chinese J-10 fighters perform Wednesday over Beijing (AP Photo) 

The People's Republic of China showcased its air strength Wednesday in the sky over Beijing in a display staged to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of its air force. 

China boasts the world's third-largest air force with about 400,000 personnel and 2,000 combat aircraft, although it still lags behind the United States.

The aerobatic display today follows an extravagant military parade staged early last month to celebrate the 60th anninversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

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China's defensive arsenal includes between 100 and 400 nuclear warheads mounted on intercontinental ballistic missiles and other land-based and submarine-based missiles.

The People's Republic of China has also acquired and improved upon the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, which are considered to be among the best aircraft-intercepting systems in the world.

US strategists say China may develop an anti-ship ballistic missile capability in order to deter aircraft carriers.

Two earlier model J-7 fighters perform during show (AP Photo) 

China continues to modernize its Air Force and has purchased state-of-the-art fighter jets from Russia, such as the Sukhoi Su-30s, while it has also produced its own modern fighters, specifically the Chinese J-10s and the J-11s.

The Sukhoi SU-30 is a two-seat, dual-role, all-weather strike fighter designed for air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions; it has been compared to the U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle.

The Chengdu J-10 'Annihilator' is a multi-role fighter aircraft designed and produced by the People's Republic of China.

The J-10 is capable of all-weather day and night operation and has been compared in the Chinese press to the F-16 and Mirage 2000. The J-10 was introduced into active duty at the end of 2006.

The new J-11 is a Chinese version of the Sukhoi Su-27SK air superiority fighter. It has a maximum speed of 1,600 mph at altitude. It is armed with an internal cannon and is able to carry various combinations of missiles, in addition to free-fall cluster bombs.

Two J-7 fighters in precision flying routine over Beijing Wednesday (AP Photo) 

Although considered a major military regional power and an emerging military superpower, the People's Republic of China is widely seen as having only limited power projection capability, primarily because of the limited effectiveness of its navy.

The PLA Navy has about 290,000 personnel and about 72 combat ships but many of the ships are aged.

The navy's mandate includes protecting oil supply lanes to the Middle East and assisting in anti-piracy patrols in waters off Somalia.

China's President Hu Jintao has made the navy's modernisation his personal project and the Chinese Navy is currently upgrading its destroyers and frigates to increase their armament and range.

China bought the Varyag, a semi-finished Russian aircraft carrier, a few years ago, but it is unclear whether the Varyag will be put into service or used as a training deck and model for a Chinese-made carrier.

China in recent years has bought eight Russian-made non-nuclear submarines, adding to four bought in the 1990s. It has also built or is planning to build its own new submarines, including nuclear-powered subs, to replenish its aged fleet of nearly 60.

The commander of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier strike group, a key part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, expressed concern recently about China's military buildup and urged Beijing to be clearer about its intentions.

In an article written by AP writers Jeremiah Marquez and Christopher Bodeen late last month, Rear Admiral Donegan is quoted as saying:

"When we see a military growing at that rate, we're interested in transparency and understanding the uses of that military."

Donegan acknowledged the possibility of a Chinese aircraft carrier, but also said he was concerned with anti-access weapons. which include missiles and submarines that can threaten U.S. forces in the region.

"I am absolutely concerned," Donegan said.