Andrei Chang also known as Pinkov, the chief editor of Kanwa Defense Review based in Canada, has stated that fighters and unmanned aerial vehicles from the United States and China will dominate the global aircraft market in the near future after he observed the Dubai Airshow between Nov. 17 and Nov. 21, reports China's Global Times.
The Dubai Airshow is held every two years as a channel for defense contractors around the world to introduce their aircraft to the Middle East. Contracts worth a total of US$55 billion were signed during the three days of the airshow, the state-run China News Service reported. Chang told the Global Times that together with the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II from the United States as well as the Sukhoi T-50 from Russia, Chinese stealth fighters such as the Chengdu J-20 and the Shenyang J-31 will dominate the international market for military aircraft.
Chang said China's research and development into drones has improved rapidly in recent years. After successfully introducing the Chengdu Pterodactyl UAV, also referred to as the WingLoong, to the United Arab Emirates in 2010, China can expect an expansion in its drone market in the Middle East. In addition, Chinese helicopter drones with the capability to take-off from and land aboard surface combat vessels will see orders from various navies around the globe as well.
Chang said helicopter drones are likely to replace regular helicopters in conducting reconnaissance missions and the move towards unmanned aircraft is indicative of a trend in future aviation development.
Chang also found out that Russian defense industries are slowing pulling out from the Middle East. As countries in the region including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are all importing fighters from the United States or European nations, Chang stated that Russia had realized that it was unable to compete.
However, Chinese fighters and drones at cheaper prices can still compete with the United States in the region. For this reason, Chang concluded that the world's airspace will in time come to be dominated by the US and China.
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20131122000040
