Top major Russia-China arms deals
Sukhoi Su-27 fighters
Purchased in 1992
Prior to the deal, China's air force was ill-equipped and lagging in technology. The purchase of Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 fighters marked the modernization of China's air force.
Sukhoi Su-30 fighters
Purchased in 1996
Designed to meet the urgent need of China, the Sukhoi Su-30 fighter was capable to carry out multiple tasks, such as establishing and maintaining air superiority and launching long-range precision strikes.
Sukhoi Su-30MKK fighters
Purchased in 2000
Russia delivered 20 Su-30MKK fighters to China between 2000 and 2001.
Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighters
Purchased in 2004
The Sukhoi Su-30MK2 fighter was the updated version of the Su-30MKK fighter. As of 2004, China had equipped its air force with a total of 100 Su-30 fighters.
S-300 anti-aircraft missiles
Purchased in 2007
Soon after the Gulf War and facing a plummeting currency, Russia sold S-300PMU1 anti-aircraft missiles to arms markets outside the Warsaw Treaty Organization before equipping them in its own air force.
S-300(C-300PMU1)
Purchased in 1993
China placed three multi-million dollar orders for S-300(C-300PMU) from Russia between 1991 and 2001.
S-300 (C-300PMU2).
Purchased in 2008
Equipped with 48N6E2 missiles, the PMU2 missile system has a 200-kilometer range capable of locating targets 300 kilometers away and simultaneously tracking up to 12 targets.
Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile system
Purchased in the 1990s
With a vertical launching system, Tor-M1 was an automatic motor-type ground-to-air missile system that can operate in all weather conditions.
Sovremenny-class destroyers
Purchased in 1997
The Russian government decided to sell the two destroyers to China in November 1997. It was the Chinese navy's first modern air defense system.
Improved sovremenny-class destroyers
Purchased in 2006
The four Russian sovremenny-class destroyers are still in service in the Chinese navy.
Ka-28 (export version of the Ka-27) anti-submarine helicopters
Purchased in 1990s
The Ka-28 was China's first purchase of large anti-submarine helicopters. China announced the sale in 2002 for security purposes.
Ka-31 radio reconnaissance helicopters
Purchased in 2010
Il-76MD cargo planes
Purchased during 1990s-2012
China currently operates over a dozen Russia Il-76 transport planes. By comparison, the US has over 120 C-17 transporters.
Kilo-class submarines, including the 877 type and 636 type
Purchased during 1993-1994
The Kilo-class submarines are regarded as the stealthiest subs in the world.
Mi-17 series helicopters
Purchased in 1990s
China turned to the cheaper Russian-made Mi-17 only after the US refused to continue selling its S70 "Black Eagle" helicopters to China in 1989. The first batch of Mi-17 arrived in China in 1991, and now China has no plans to localize this helicopter.