Aircraft
China Carefully Controls the Zhuhai Show Displays
The J-20 stealth fighter made only a fleeting appearance, while a new airlifter, attack helicopter and AWACS were fully shown.
The Chengdu J-10B fighter was one of handful of aircraft making a return to the airshow, this time with upgrades and enhancements, including a redesigned air intake similar to that of the U.S. F-16. Also on display was its array of substantially upgraded armaments. (Photo: Reuben F. Johnson)
The Chengdu J-10B fighter was one of handful of aircraft making a return to the airshow, this time with upgrades and enhancements, including a redesigned air intake similar to that of the U.S. F-16. Also on display was its array of substantially upgraded armaments. (Photo: Reuben F. Johnson)

The recent Air Show China at Zhuhai again demonstrated the Chinese style of news management for defense technology. Two J-20 stealth fighters made the type’s public debut as expected, but only in a single flypast on opening day. Two more platforms that had made fleeting appearances at previous shows were fully on display this time: the Y-20 airlifter and the WZ-10K attack helicopter. Established platforms made return appearances, but in upgraded form, and this time shown with a raft of new air-launched weapons that had never before been displayed. In this category were the J-10B fighter and the H-6K bomber.