Saturday, December 21, 2013

China's Military Has Been Helped By Some Of America's Closest Allies: Germany, France And Britain

File photo of Chinese Navy submarines and warships taking part in an international fleet review to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army Navy in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Guang Niu, Reuters

Chinese Military's Secret To Success: European Engineering -- Voice of America/Reuters

HONG KONG — If the People's Liberation Army went to war tomorrow, it would field an arsenal bristling with hardware from some of America's closest allies: Germany, France and Britain.

Most of China's advanced surface warships are powered by German and French-designed diesel engines. Chinese destroyers have French sonar, anti-submarine-warfare helicopters and surface-to-air missiles.

Above the battlefield, British jet engines drive PLA fighter bombers and anti-ship strike aircraft. The latest Chinese surveillance aircraft are fitted with British airborne early warning radars. Some of China's best attack and transport helicopters rely on designs from Eurocopter, a subsidiary of pan-European aerospace and defense giant EADS.

But perhaps the most strategic item obtained by China on its European shopping spree is below the waterline: the German-engineered diesels inside its submarines.

Read more ....

My Comment: Throw in what they buy from countries like Russia, Israel, etc.... and what they steal from US defense contractors .... it should not surprise anyone that the Chinese have made great strides in the past decade on developing a formidable military force.

Update: The U.S. government lab behind Beijing’s nuclear power push -- Reuters

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