China conducts first test-flight of stealth plane

[Alf W]

Can't help thinking they need to work on the "Stealth" element a bit more.

As reported by the BBC.

[Jog On]

Is this why the yanks have turned to the frogs for their 'special relationship'?

[thunderlizard]

China has conducted the first test-flight of its J-20 stealth fighter, Chinese President Hu Jintao has confirmed to US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

That's what he says*. Maybe it's really the 15th test-flight.




*who? Hu! yes, who? etc.

[RichardCranium]

That's what he says*. Maybe it's really the 15th test-flight.

Or maybe they don't have one at all.

"You see that plane up there?"
"No."
"That our new stealth plane. We have hundreds of them. All in sky at once."

[Mich the Tester]

Can't help thinking they need to work on the "Stealth" element a bit more.

Yep, when I want to make something invisible I always paint a bloody great bright red and yellow star on it too.

[thunderlizard]

They only stick the star on if the pilot's made a really good effort, so that he can take the plane home and show his mum and dad.

hth
tl

[ThomasSoerensen]

Or maybe they don't have one at all.

"You see that plane up there?"
"No."
"That our new stealth plane. We have hundreds of them. All in sky at once."

[CheeseSlice]

I'm quite concerned at how much money China are piling into their military budget and the rate at which they're ramping up.

Am I alone in thinking they're actually up to something here?

[scooterscot]

Am I alone in thinking they're actually up to something here?

Yes.

China defence budget $7.7 billion

US defence budget $475 billion

[CheeseSlice]

Yes.

China defence budget $7.7 billion

US defence budget $475 billion

Where did you get those numbers? Are they out of date figures from wikipedia or something?

Try this

China $78 bn

US $729 bn

Also some suggestions are that China is keeping a lot of it off the books and they're spending more like $150 bn

I also think that $78 bn will buy more in China than it would in USA due to living costs, local economy, etc.
e.g.

China 2.26m troops
USA 1.58m troops

Also, the telegraph claims that "almost 80 per cent of [chinese] officers are now graduates"