More than 90 percent of aeronautic equipment for Chinese army are developed independently, sources from China's two major aviation industry corporations said, according to Xinhua report.

China has joined the ranks of a few countries that has capability to independently develop and produce international-level fighter, bomber, pilotless aircraft, aerial refueling tanker, helicopter, new-type spacecraft and engine, air-to-air missile and other aeronautic equipment, Liu Gaozhuo, president of China Aviation Industry Corporation I said at a conference marking the 55th founding anniversary of China's aviation industry on Monday.

According to Liu, Chinas' military aircraft has realized the span from the 2nd generation to the 3rd generation; the aeroengine for military purpose has realized the span from the 2nd to the 3rd generation, from turbojet engine to turbofan engine, from medium thrust to large thrust. The missile has realized the span from the 3rd to 4th generation. Aeronautic weaponry with proprietary intellectual property right, which is equivalent to those in service in the developed countries have been produced and delivered to the army.

China's aviation industry has produced 16, 000 military airplanes, nearly 60,000 engines and 20,000 missile for the army.

China has obtained abundant fruits in the development of high-tech aeronautic weaponry, which enables the country to independently develop the 3rd generation fighter plane, to upgrade aeronautic weaponry, and to make breakthroughs in key technologies such as aero engine and new material, Zhang Yunchuan, Director of Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense said.

The 11th Five Year Plan of China has set forth to push ahead with the development of aviation industry, new regional jet, large plane, helicopter and advanced engine, and airborne equipment.

The aviation industry will adhere to the principle of letting military production reside in civilian production. It will form enterprise groups combining military and civil production, said Zhang Hongbiao, president of China Aviation Industry Corporation II.

By People's Daily Online