Chinese Arms Sales Monthly Snapshot

Benin Gets Chinese Drones

March 29, 2023 | Military Africa

The Chinese government donated four Type PMR-50 drone made by China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) to the Benin Republic to increase security and crime detection amid the emergence of terror activities. According to the article, the drone will become an important resource for Benin’s security forces in fights against terrorism.

Saudi Arabia Discusses the Purchase of SLC-7 Air Surveillance Radar

March 28, 2023 | 163 News

This article discusses the potential deal between Saudi Arabia and China to purchase SLC-7 air surveillance radars. The SLC-7 is an L-band active electronically scanned array radar with wheel-mobile and allegedly anti-stealth capabilities.

Pakistan Purchases 679 VT-4A Tanks

March 28, 2023 | Sohu

This article discusses the strategic implications of a mass purchase in upgrading Pakistani land capabilities and its effect on India's regional land power advantage. The article argues Pakistan sends a strong signal to future buyers with as a working example of a country's mass substitution of Russian systems for Chinese ones as Russia cedes the international arms market due to the war in Ukraine.

Nigerian Air Force Confirms Additional Air Assets Are on the Way

March 27, 2023 | Aviation Week

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that they will acquire over 50 new aircraft, including, Chinese-made Wing Loong II unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). Nigeria has been using the military equipment to fight against terrorists and insurgents.

China Sends Military Drones to DRC Amid Fears of Regional War

March 20, 2023 | The Diplomat

This article reports that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will receive nine Caihong (CH-4) attack drones from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation to help Kinshasa fight the Rwanda-backed rebels on the territory of DRC. There are fears that China’s arms transaction with the DRC could lead weapons to end up in the wrong hands and exacerbate the conflict. Analysts say that the DRC intensifying the conflict with the Rwanda-backed rebel groups could deepen DRC-China relations.

Mali Receives Norinco VP11 MRAP and Lynx CS/VP11 ATV

March 20, 2023 | Military Africa

The Malian military government recently acquired VP11 4×4 Lightweight MRAP armored vehicle and Lynx CS/VP11 ATV machine gun support vehicle made by China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) to aid in the fight against insurgency. This news comes from a video on social media showing more than 30 trucks carrying the VP11 and CS/VP11 ATV through the Malian Capital city Bamako.

China-Argentina on Verge of Region-Rattling Fighter Deal

March 17, 2023 | Asia Times

China is reportedly in talks with Argentina about an arms sale, including the JF-17 fighter jets, 8×8 armored vehicles and military personnel exchanges. This speculation comes in light of Argentina’s Ambassador to China Sabino Vaca Narvaja and Argentinian Defense Minister Jorge Taiana meeting recently to discuss defense cooperation plans with China. The Argentinian military is also considering India’s HAL Tejas, Russia’s MiG-35, and secondhand Danish F-16s.

China Arms Sales Cement Its Economic and Security Ties in Africa: Study

March 14, 2023 | South China Morning Post

This article highlights a recently published report by the Atlantic Council think tank which found that China transferred or sold more arms to countries in sub-Saharan Africa than the US over the past decade. China accounted for 22 per cent of the $9.32 billion in total arms exports to the region, only second to Russia. Experts Mohseni-Cheraghlou and Aladekoba said that the top three countries receiving the most Chinese arm exports are Tanzania, Nigeria, and Sudan. China’s mostly exports light arms to Africa, but it had started selling advanced weaponry, which is further evidence of China’s geopolitical calculations in the region.

Algerian Type 056 (F-15A) corvette El Moutassadi (940) arrives home from China

March 13, 2023 | Military Africa

According to the report, earlier this month, Algeria took the delivery of a corvette that it ordered from China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) in 2020. The corvette is reported to carry an AK-176 76 mm naval gun, two H/PJ-17 30 mm autocannons, four YJ-83 anti-ship missiles, FL-3000N surface-to-air missiles, and two triple-tube 324 mm torpedo launchers.

Pakistan Inducts JF-17 Block 3 Fighter Jets Into Its ‘Black Panthers’ Squadron After Acquiring ‘Cutting-Edge’ J-10C – Reports

March 05, 2023 | Eurasian Times

According to the report, Pakistan has acquired and commissioned the Chinese JF-17 Block III fighter jets into its air force. 12 of the jets were reportedly inducted into service.

Russia Overtakes China as Leading Arms Seller in Sub-Saharan Africa

March 28, 2023 | Le Monde

This article highlights a report published in mid-March by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) which found that Moscow exceeds Beijing as the leading arms seller in sub-Saharan Africa with a market share of 26%, compared to 21% over the previous period. On the other hand, China, has seen its market share plummet from 29% to 18% in the subregion, moving into second place, ahead of France (about 8%) and the United States (5%).

Chinese Executive Hints at Progress With J-20’s New WS-15 Engine

March 27, 2023 | Flight Global

The Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC) is reportedly starting the production of the WS-15 Emei engine, a critical component used in the Chengdu J-20 fighter jets. The article states that the WS-15 provide the J-20 with “fifth generation performance, including super cruise.”

‘Hunting Rifles’ — Really? China Ships Assault Weapons and Body Armor to Russia

March 17, 2023 | Politico

This article highlights an investigation by Politico using trade and customs data which found that Chinese companies with government affiliations, have sent “Russian entities 1,000 assault rifles and other equipment that could be used for military purposes, including drone parts and body armor” between June and December 2022. For example, the state-owned China North Industries Group Corporation Limited, sent CQ-A rifles that China uses in its paramilitary forces, tagged as “civilian hunting rifles” in the data, to a Russian company called Tekhkrim that is affiliated with the Russian state and military. According to the customs data, Russian entities also received shipments of drone parts by Chinese companies and over 12 tons of Chinese body armor, via Turkey in late 2022.

Is a fall in China’s Military Exports a Sign of Stockpiling at Home?

March 14, 2023 | South China Morning Post

The report mentions the recently published SIPRI report which showed that the Chinese share of global arms exports fell from 6.3% in 2013-2017 to 5.2% in 2018-2022. According to the report, the decline in Chinese arms sales may be a sign that China is stockpiling arms for its domestic needs.

Chinese Weapons Could Sustain Russia’s War Effort in Ukraine

March 01, 2023 | The Wall Street Journal

China is considering supplying military equipment such as artillery, drones, and ammunition to Russia, which would provide a critical lifeline to Russia's war effort. The article discusses how China could provide this from already existing supplies or that it "could be produced relatively quickly" given China's history of utilizing Soviet and Russian systems as well as producing indigenous systems in part based on Soviet and Russian designs. These systems have been utilized both the PLA as well as exported on the global market, which "helped China’s defense industrial base grow rapidly, generating large profits for companies such as China North Industries Group Corp" (Norinco).