Chinese Daily/Reuters
Previously, 4 J-20 stealth fighter jets entered closed formation.
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) reported orders from leasing companies for three hundred C919s and 30 ARJ21 regional jets.
As with previous announcements, it did not without delay become apparent how many were company orders or expressions of interest. COMAC expects the first delivery of C919 to China Eastern in December.
Analysts say it will be some time before C919 cracks open up an Airbus-Boeing market duopoly rooted outside China, but Tuesday’s demonstration marked a turning point 10 years after the first orders were unveiled at the same event.
Instead, the sun set in China on Tuesday over one of Europe’s greatest global visual symbols, the double-decker A380.
FlightRadar24 said China Southern Airlines operated its latest A380 flight from Los Angeles on Tuesday. The airline did not respond to a request for comment.
Production of the world’s largest passenger jet ended last year after weak sales, adding to a near-failed attempt to conquer the Chinese market. An auction of A380 parts was held in France last month.
Analysts say Airbus is reaping benefits from strong demand for the best-selling A320neo, driven by tensions in the U. S. U. S. officials are having delays in deliveries of new Boeing MAXs following a protection crisis.
Airbus on Tuesday officially registered an order for 40 A320neo Family aircraft from operator Xiamen Airlines via Boeing Xiamen Airlines.
Chinese observers said the airline’s decision to reduce its reliance on Boeing was seen as symbolic after Chinese leader Xi Jinping stopped in the cockpit of a larger Xiamen 787 at Boeing’s Seattle-area factory in 2015.
Europe has taken a new step forward with the certification for the Chinese markets of its ATR 42-600 turboprop after a long wait.
The exhibition took place amid emerging tensions between China and Taiwan after U. S. House of Representatives Speaker of Representatives said she was in the U. S. Speaker. U. S. Secretary of State Nancy Pelosi will visit Taipei in August, prompting massive Chinese military training at a time when the world is also nervous about the Ukraine conflict.
The state-owned Global Times reported that a new drone defense formula built around the HQ-17AE short-range air defense missile complex will debut in Zhuhai as a countermeasure to small, slow and low drones that are difficult to identify and attack with classic anti-aircraft formulas.
China is also showcasing an FH-97A-style “Loyal Wingman” drone designed to coordinate with manned aircraft, the newspaper reported. The aircraft is another of the FH-97 concept first introduced last year.
The FH-97 is almost the Kratos Defense and Security Solutions XQ-58A evolved in the US. The U. S. Navy’s first flew in 2019, while the FH-97A looks more like the MQ-28 Ghost Bat evolved through Boeing in Australia, according to photographs. .
“Early images of the screen suggest it will once again be a major bazaar for Chinese drone technology, adding what appear to be mock-ups of unmanned fighter jets that could one day accompany Chinese J-20 fighters into combat,” Waldron said.
“Still, it can be very difficult to know whether the other drone models featured at the exhibit constitute genuine systems with investments from the Chinese military. “