Chinese Arms Sales Monthly Snapshot

AOI, Chinese Company Ink Memo on Joint Industrialization

December 02, 2021 | Egypt Today

During EDEX 2021, China's NORINCO (North Industries Group Corporation) signed an MoU with the Arab Organization for Industrialization for "transferring and localizing technology as well as boosting joint manufacturing in the defense industries and training human cadres."

US Hands China a Victory in Ethiopia

December 06, 2021 | Asia Times

This article highlights Chinese military support given to Ethiopia's government. It notes that Ethiopia operates Chengdu-produced Wing Loong drones. It also states that the "UAE had previously supplied drones and some Israeli weapons to Ethiopia, including Chinese-made Wing Loong's [sic]."

China's FD-2000B Long-Range Air Defense Missile System Settled in Africa

December 23, 2021 | 6park

The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces received China's FD-2000B air defense missile system. This system is the export model of China's Hongqi-9 (HQ-9) long-range air defense missile system. The system has been exported to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Morocco.

China's Surprise Submarine Move Shows Its Growing Power

December 29, 2021 | Naval News

China is using submarine sales to expand its geopolitical influence. China has already exported submarines to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand. This article states that China "is known to be courting other countries with submarines, notably Nigeria."

Satellite Images Show Morocco Has Built an Air Defense Base Near Its Capital

January 04, 2022 | Defense News

Morocco has constructed a new air defense base near Rabat. The base includes the Chinese-made Sky Dragon 50 missiles it acquired from NORINCO. Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies noted that "the construction of the base, which also began in 2017, would suggest it was created with this large purchase in mind," referring to the Sky Dragon 50 acquisition. There were also some reports that Morocco may have purchased China's FD-2000 SAM system but there's been no public contract released on this agreement.

Key Expert Reveals Why Western Reports on Arms Exports from Russia, China Distorted

December 07, 2021 | TASS

Ruslan Pukhov, Director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), spoke with TASS about SIPRI's recent report. He noted Russia's transition to classifying data on transactions after the imposition of US sanctions. He questioned SIPRI's accounting of China's arms sales, saying "the Chinese are also a very classified domain and a great lot of their machine-building enterprises are engaged in the defense sector solely to lobby their interests in the [...] Chinese Communist Party Central Committee."

Iran 'Fuelling Wave of Terror Strikes on Western Targets After Buying Drone Parts From China & Sending Them to Militia'

December 17, 2021 | The Sun

The Sun wrote about a report from the "National Council of Resistance of Iran" which claims that Iran is relying on China for drone parts which Iran provides to its own militias. It states that a senior Iranian military official "reportedly travels to China to 'procure more advanced equipment.'"

Uganda Buys Chinese Arms for War on ADF

December 19, 2021 | The Independent

Uganda's The Independent published a cover story in its magazine on Chinese companies working with Uganda's army, noting NORINCO as one of the organizations. The report highlights Ugandan acquisitions of the CS/VP3 from China's Poly Technologies Inc. and the VN-2C from NORINCO. It states that "the U.S., a longstanding ally of Uganda, may not take too well to the arrangement between UPDF and the arms manufacturer."

CNN Exclusive: US Intel and Satellite Images Show Saudi Arabia Is Now Building Its Own Ballistic Missiles With Help of China

December 23, 2021 | CNN

U.S. officials were reportedly briefed on "multiple large-scale transfers of sensitive ballistic missile technology between China and Saudi Arabia." A researcher noted that "considering the facility in question was built with Chinese assistance and new intelligence assessments showing Saudi Arabia has recently purchased sensitive ballistic missile technology from China, it is possible that the missiles being produced there are of Chinese design."

Who Will Be the First Buyer of the Su-57? As for the Chinese Air Force, It Is Purely a Russian Dream

December 16, 2021 | NetEase

This article posits that China's Air Force will likely favor the newly operational J-20 over the Russian made Su-57. Chinese engineers have, however, shown interest in limited technologies such as the Su-57's engine and flight control system.

Pakistan Junks Deal for Turkish Helicopters, 'Hopeful' of Getting Chinese Gunships

January 06, 2022 | The Week

Pakistan will not acquire Turkish T-129 ATAK helicopters. The Trump Administration reportedly refused to allow export of the Honeywell and Rolls Royce-produced engines for the ATAK helicopters. Pakistan is now in negotiations to acquire the Z-10ME helicopter from China. Earlier reports on Pakistan's trials comparing the T-129 and Z-10 "suggested the Chinese helicopter had under-performing engines, which minimized its effectiveness in carrying a maximum load of weapons in operations in high-altitude areas."

China Will Speed Up the Formulation of a Unified Export Control List

December 29, 2021 | Lianhe Zaobao

China's State Council Information Office released a white paper containing plans for expanding and modernizing its export control system, emphasizing its continued prohibition of weapons of mass destruction as well as its commitment to international arms trade regulation.

Not as Good as Rafale': Pakistani Senator Opposes Buying New Chinese Fighters

December 19, 2021 | The Week

A Pakistani politician, Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, "tweeted he did not 'understand the logic behind buying J-10C,'" saying it "was not 'as good as the Rafale.'" He suggested Pakistan should invest "in the JF-17 fighter programme and Project Azm, Pakistan's initiative to develop a fifth-generation stealth fighter."