China deploys new Russian Su-35 jets against USA in SCS
8 Feb 2018 5:09 PM GMT
Beijing: China has deployed the newly- acquired Russian made Su-35 fighter jets in its combat mission over the disputed South China Sea to challenge recurring US aerial and naval patrols asserting freedom of navigation and over-flight in region.
The Chinese air force recently sent its Su-35 fighter jets to take part in a joint combat patrol over the South China Sea, the Chinese air force said in a statement. The US military is periodically sending warships and air force jets to assert freedom of flights and navigation over the South China Sea as China claims most of it. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area. This is the first time the People's Liberation Army Air Force has made public the deployment of its Su-35s, introduced to China in late 2016, state-run People's Daily reported. The air force did not reveal when the patrol took place.
The release said the multirole fighter jet's participation in combat exercises will help strengthen the air force's long- range operational capability.
The air force will continue pushing forward training to improve combat capabilities, it said.
Officials from Russia's state technology corporation Rostec said earlier that Russia and China signed a contract that was estimated to be worth USD two billion for 24 Su-35s.
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