Russia hopeful of selling Su-33 carrier based jets to China

Moscow, 10 Mar: Russia and China are in talks again on the sale of Sukhoi Su-33 multirole fighters amidst indications that the Chinese navy could have revived its plans to acquire or build an aircraft carrier.

A top defence source was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying that Russia was hopeful of major order for its Su-33 fighter jets from China, but termed as rubbish that Moscow could be prepared to deliver two of the planes on trial.

"Russia is not prepared to deliver samples of military technologies abroad", the source said.

The influential 'Moskovsky Komsomolets' daily today reported that talks had been going on for several years and China had expressed its desire to buy up to 50 deck-based fighters for its aircraft carriers.

"But initially the Chinese wanted only two Su-33 fighters for trial. This became the stumbling block. Russian officials had apprehensions that the (Chinese) customers could copy the technology and begin the production of own 'clones' of the fighters," Moskovsky Komsomolets wrote.

Later Beijing expressed readiness to increase the number to fourteen Su-33 fighters for, but the sale of less than 24 aircraft is not cost effective for the manufacturer. PTI