Mideast oil and Chinese arms

A Chinese aviation industry official says the country is introducing a new batch of military equipment to the international market. This includes an FBC2 fighter-bomber, an upgraded version of its JH7A fighter, intended for export.

China is now promoting its FBC2 and J10A fighters to Iran. The J10A was officially offered on the overseas market this year, but under the name FC20. The new generation YJ6-2 and C802A anti-ship missiles are also being promoted to Middle East countries including Iran. Sudan is reportedly seeking to acquire FC1 fighters from China.


As China faces an ever greater demand for energy, it is importing more crude oil from Middle Eastern countries. It is also exerting greater political and military influence upon this region through expanded sales of military weapons. The long shadow of Chinese weapons has fallen over all six Gulf countries, and continues to do so. Iran has already become an important source of oil for China, as well as a key target market for China’s arms exports.

Not only does the Iranian military have operational Chinese-made QW1 and FM80 ground-to-air missiles, it is also producing batches of the missiles within Iran. Iran seems to have upgraded the QW1, or Mithaq-1, to Mithaq-2. The exterior structure of the newer missile seems to be different from the QW2 portable missiles. The FM80’s Iranian name is Shahab Thaqueb. This is the first time for China to export such ground-to-air missiles to another country.

Energy Daily