The MTS case, of course, is not Midov's, but also diplomacy

Yesterday there was another briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. The question of the correspondent of The Moscow Post remained unanswered. Rather, it was redirected to the Ministry of Defense of Russia and organizations that are engaged in military-technical cooperation (MTC). There was also a clarification: "This area is beyond the competence of the Russian Foreign Ministry."

The question related to the talks between President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping that took place during the week was as follows: "Obviously, military-technical cooperation with China was discussed at the talks. It is also obvious that there are reasons not to publish this information. What can you say about what was already known before the negotiations, how did cooperation between Russia and China develop in this area by the beginning of this year? How do Chinese partners assess him, what do they say about the prospects for such cooperation? "- asked the journalist.

Since we were forwarded to the relevant departments, and we tried to wait a long time to wait for an answer to them ourselves to find answers from open sources.

Pleasant with wholesome

It is useful to keep the enemy in tension. It has been said more than once that Americans understand only power. This is what was discussed on March 22 at a meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defense. Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed with his subordinates the issues of the Eastern Military District (VVO).

"The military-political situation within the boundaries of his responsibility [VVO] remains difficult," he said. "To contain Russia and China, the United States is significantly increasing its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region (APR), strengthening political and military ties with its allies, continuing to create a new American security architecture in this region."

Putting Russia and China in one line, Shoigu signaled to enemies, primarily the Americans, that the military cooperation of the Russian Federation with "friendly countries" is a manifestation of power potential. Such countries in the area of ​ ​ responsibility of the Air Defense Forces, as they say, once or twice and have come to terms. China and the DPRK, as well as Mongolia. The DPRK is already nuclear and keeps the "ordinary gunpowder" also dry.

China is out of competition. For the Pentagon, this is the main source of concern. For Russia - the main partner in the Asia-Pacific region. Sergei Shoigu said in this regard that the ships of the Pacific Fleet and the Navy of the People's Liberation Army of China conducted a second patrol in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Last year alone, the minister said, three international military exercises were held - Selenga, Laros and Maritime Interaction.

More than eight thousand operational and combat training events took place, the key of which was the Vostok strategic command and staff exercise. China also participated.

Ni-hao you in space

In November 2021, Russia and China signed a military cooperation plan until 2025. The parties agreed to increase cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries through strategic military exercises and patrols, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

They say that Sergei Shoigu said then to the Minister of War of China Wei Fenghe: "Comrade Minister, ni-hao!.. China and Russia have been strategic partners for many years. Today, in the context of increasing geopolitical turbulence, the development of our interaction is especially relevant. " At the same time, the ministers approved plans for the exercises for several years to come.

The new head of the defense department of the PRC was Colonel-General Li Shangfu, who has been under US sanctions for the past five years due to interaction with Rosoboronexport. As the Russian minister congratulated his Chinese counterpart on his appointment, he said that "Bilateral relations between Russia and China have become a bearing pillar of global stability amid increasing geopolitical tensions in the world."

Much of Minister Li Shangfu's career is said to involve space. He served at the spaceport for a total of 31 years, since 2003 as spaceport chief. During his leadership in 2007, the Xichang Cosmodrome took part in tests of Chinese anti-satellite weapons. A rocket was launched from its territory from a mobile launcher, which hit a Chinese weather satellite in orbit. In 2010, the Chang'e-2 automatic lunar mission was launched from the cosmodrome.

Leaders back, diplomats warn

Why all this, the reader will ask? It's simple. Now the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and other authorized organizations in the field of military-technical cooperation may have new areas and objects of interaction. In terms of the number of satellite grouping, the PRC was ahead of the Russian Federation back in 2014. China's orbital constellation is about 350 satellites. The Russian Federation has about 160 operating devices.

But taking into account what Shoigu spoke about the situation within the boundaries of the responsibility of the Air Defense Forces, the safety of sea and airspace at the junction of the borders of the Russian Federation and the PRC with the western sector of the Pacific Ocean will remain a priority.

Various areas of military cooperation, including joint exercises and patrols, also serve the development of military-technical cooperation (MTC). Vladimir Putin noted the special role of the military-technical cooperation in relations between Russia and China when he negotiated with Xi Jinping via video on December 30.

The President of the Russian Federation then noted that a special place "in the whole complex" of Russian-Chinese relations is occupied by military and military-technical cooperation, which contributes to ensuring the security of the two countries and maintaining stability in key regions. The head of state said that Moscow and Beijing will strengthen military and military-technical cooperation in the future.

"They are aimed at strengthening interaction between the armed forces of Russia and China," Vladimir Putin stressed. The words of the head of state are quoted on the Kremlin website. Recall that in a joint statement by Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, made in June 2021, it was noted that the relations of the countries are even more than the union.

Diplomats also spoke about the status and role of the military-technical cooperation in bilateral relations. Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov said, commenting on NATO's plans to "appear in the Asia-Pacific region," that "we will respond by increasing military and military-technical cooperation with like-minded people in the region, including China. We will continue to increase our defense capability in order to quickly respond to the threats that NATO can create in this region of the world. "

"Military-technical cooperation is one of many areas of interaction between China and Russia and fully reflects the high level of strategic cooperation partnerships and the degree of mutual trust between our countries," Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui assured in an interview with TASS.

"China attaches great importance to space cooperation with Russia. The parties carry out extensive and fruitful cooperation in the field of lunar exploration and deep space, manned space flights, satellite navigation, remote sensing of the Earth, the development of space technologies and their application, "said the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in May 2022.

A bit of open source history

A large number of weapons and military equipment were delivered to China through the MTS line, including combat aircraft, helicopters and aircraft engines, air defense systems, warships, submarines, and ship complexes. In the interests of China, a large number of scientific and development work was carried out to create samples of weapons and military equipment for all types of PLA armed forces and their components. Technical assistance was provided in the creation (additional equipment) of military and industrial infrastructure facilities, Chinese specialists were trained.

Russia, some political scientists believe, has undeniable achievements in air defense systems, missile defense, hypersonic, helicopter technology, engine building, nuclear submarines and some individual naval weapons systems.

As of the beginning of 2020, the main partners in military-technical cooperation in the procurement of Russian aircraft are China (according to various sources, the amount of contracts significantly exceeds $9 billion) and India (more than $8 billion).

In 1991-1997, 50 Su-27 fighters (38 Su-27SK units and 12 Su-27UBK units) were delivered to the PRC in the amount of about 1.7 billion (by mutual agreement of the parties, the content of the transactions, including their value, was not disclosed). Under the 1999 contract, in 2000-2001, 38 Su-30MMK multipurpose fighters were transferred to China in the amount of about $1.5 billion. In 2003, the second contract for 38 units was fulfilled. In 2004, the delivery of 24 Su-30MK2 units for the PRC Navy was completed.

In total, in 1991-2012, the PRC received 178 fighters of the Su-27/Su-30 family, including 38 single-seat Su-27SK fighters, 40 two-seat Su-27UBK combat training aircraft, 76 multi-purpose Su-30MKK fighters and 24 Su-30MK2 fighters.

In 1996, China acquired a license to produce 200 Su-27SK fighters without the right to re-export to third countries. The value of this deal was about $2.5 billion. The assembly of fighters was carried out at the aircraft manufacturing plant in Shenyang (Liaoning province), built according to the Russian project, its main equipment is also Russian-made. By the end of 2007, 105 aircraft were assembled from Russian car kits (China refused the remaining 95 sets for assembling the Su-27SK, creating its own version of this aircraft - the Shenyang J-11 fighter).

China became the first foreign buyer of Su-35 multifunctional fighters. In 2015, the state corporation Rostec announced the conclusion of a contract for the supply of 24 aircraft to China. The deal was estimated at $2.5 billion. It was closed in 2018. Taking into account the 105 Su-27SK collected under license, the total number of Su fighters in China was 283 vehicles. Russia also supplied parts and weapons for aircraft to the PRC and provided assistance in the maintenance and repair of aircraft.

Aircraft engines are also exported from Russia to China. In 2005-2014, at least 243 UEC-Klimov RD-93 engines were delivered for Chinese-Pakistani FC-1/JF-17 Thunder fighters, in 2009-2015 - 239 D-30KP-2 for IL-76, H-6 bombers and Y-20 transporter.

In addition, in 2011, China acquired 273 AL-31F and AL-31FN engines for Su-27 and Chinese J-11 and J-10 fighters. In 2016, Beijing and Moscow signed a contract for the supply of AL-31F and D-30KP2 in the amount of $1.2 billion.

As of October 2019, 350 helicopters manufactured by the Russian Helicopters holding were operated in China. At the end of 2018, a contract was signed for the supply of 20 Ansat helicopters. Since October 2019, a deal has been implemented to supply Chinese customers with 12 Mi-171 helicopters (fire-fighting) with VK-2500 engines.

This list is being replenished. Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. Dmitry Shugaev assured that there are strategic partnerships between Russia and China despite the sanctions of the collective West.

Photo: Regional newspaper