Martian2
SENIOR MEMBER
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Air power is the most important determinant of modern warfare. Control of the skies allows the attacker to rain missiles and bombs on the hapless defenders underneath.
The major claimants to the South China Sea are: China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Malaysia. I'll include Indonesia, because the Indonesian president has been mouthing off lately.
The military pecking order of the South China Sea claimants are as follows.
China: 834 modern fourth-generation fighters with more built each month
Taiwan: 325
Vietnam: 48
Malaysia: 38
Indonesia: 28
Philippines: 0
In conclusion, we only care about China's and Taiwan's policy pronouncements about the South China Sea. The other claimants are simply too weak to mount a credible challenge for air superiority.
__________________________________________________________________________
China: 834 modern fourth-generation fighters
Keep in mind that China builds about 150-200 military aircraft per year. A significant portion of Chinese military aircraft production is modern fighters.
75 Su-27
205+ J-11
90+ Su-30MKK and Su-30MK2
24 J-16
240+ J-10
200+ JH-7A (strike fighter anti-ship platform)
---------------
834 modern fighters
Primary source of information - International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2014, p.236
__________________________________________________________________________
Taiwan: 325 modern fourth-generation fighters
144 F-16 A/B Block 20
55 Mirage 2000-5EI/DI
126 F-CK-1A/B
---------------
325 modern fighters
__________________________________________________________________________
Vietnam: 48 modern fourth-generation fighters
36 Su-30MK2
12 Su-27SK/UBK
---------------
48 modern fighters
__________________________________________________________________________
Malaysia: 38 modern fourth-generation fighters
18 Su-30MKM
8 F/A-18D
12 MiG-29
---------------
38 modern fighters
__________________________________________________________________________
Indonesia: 28 modern fourth-generation fighters
12 F-16 A/B
5 Su-27
11 Su-30
---------------
28 modern fighters
__________________________________________________________________________
Philippines: 0 modern fourth-generation fighters
The major claimants to the South China Sea are: China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Malaysia. I'll include Indonesia, because the Indonesian president has been mouthing off lately.
The military pecking order of the South China Sea claimants are as follows.
China: 834 modern fourth-generation fighters with more built each month
Taiwan: 325
Vietnam: 48
Malaysia: 38
Indonesia: 28
Philippines: 0
In conclusion, we only care about China's and Taiwan's policy pronouncements about the South China Sea. The other claimants are simply too weak to mount a credible challenge for air superiority.
__________________________________________________________________________
China: 834 modern fourth-generation fighters
Keep in mind that China builds about 150-200 military aircraft per year. A significant portion of Chinese military aircraft production is modern fighters.
75 Su-27
205+ J-11
90+ Su-30MKK and Su-30MK2
24 J-16
240+ J-10
200+ JH-7A (strike fighter anti-ship platform)
---------------
834 modern fighters
Primary source of information - International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2014, p.236
__________________________________________________________________________
Taiwan: 325 modern fourth-generation fighters
144 F-16 A/B Block 20
55 Mirage 2000-5EI/DI
126 F-CK-1A/B
---------------
325 modern fighters
__________________________________________________________________________
Vietnam: 48 modern fourth-generation fighters
36 Su-30MK2
12 Su-27SK/UBK
---------------
48 modern fighters
__________________________________________________________________________
Malaysia: 38 modern fourth-generation fighters
18 Su-30MKM
8 F/A-18D
12 MiG-29
---------------
38 modern fighters
__________________________________________________________________________
Indonesia: 28 modern fourth-generation fighters
12 F-16 A/B
5 Su-27
11 Su-30
---------------
28 modern fighters
__________________________________________________________________________
Philippines: 0 modern fourth-generation fighters
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