EXPORT SALES AND DELIVERIES OF CHINESE AIRCRAFT TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES, 1965-1984

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00840R000100210001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 1, 1985
• Content Type: REPORT

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imagery analysis report
Export Sales and Deliveries of
Chinese Aircraft to Third World
Countries, 1965-1984 (S)
Secret
Z-14098/84
IAR-0040/84
JANUARY 1985
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SECRET
EXPORT SALES AND DELIVERIES OF CHINESE AIRCRAFT
TO THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES, 1965-1984 (S)
1. This report provides information on the sale and delivery of indigenously produced Chinese
aircraft to Third World countries from 1965 to 1984. Since 1965, China has exported over 1,500
indigenously produced aircraft to 11 Third World countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and to two
East European countries' (Figure 1).
2. Early in the development of the Chinese aircraft industry, export deliveries were related to
political considerations. Recent exports, however, appear to be geared more towards the generation of
international currency for China's emerging aircraft industry. Currently, the major importers of Chinese
fighter aircraft are Pakistan, Egypt, Iraq, and North Korea.'
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3. Export deliveries have been made to the following Third World and East European countries:'
Pakistan
North Korea
North Vietnam
Egypt
Iraq
Albania
Romania
Zambia
Tanzania
Somalia
Sudan
Bangladesh
Kampuchea
FARMER, FRESCO, FANTAN A, BEAGLE, MIDGET
FARMER, FISHBED, HOUND, MAX, COLT
FARMER, FRESCO
FARMER, FISHBED
FISHBED
FISHBED, FARMER, FRESCO, HOUND
BEAGLE
MAX, FARMER, FRESCO
FARMER, FRESCO
FARMER
FARMER, FRESCO
FARMER, FRESCO, MAX
FARMER, FRESCO, BEAGLE, COLT, MAX
This paragraph and table are classified SECRET1{
4. This report includes six tables listing type, number of aircraft, and year of export deliveries to each
country; a discussion of methods of delivery; two annotated maps; and selected imagery of shipping
containers enroute in maritime export shipments. The type and number of aircraft listed in the tables were
derived from available imagery and reports' and may not include all export shipments.
BASIC DESCRIPTION
Export Delivery Procedures
5. Export deliveries from China's aircraft production plants are made using rail, sea, and air routes.
Aircraft deliveries to countries adjacent to China are usually made by ferry flights while overseas deliveries
are transported by rail to the port, where they are transferred to merchant ships. (S/WN)
6. Aircraft for overseas delivery by merchant ship are processed at the production plant. The first
indication of an impending overseas shipment is the appearance of large, wooden aircraft shipping
containers in the plant area. Shipments are usually in batches of four, eight, or 12 aircraft containers. The
aircraft to be exported are partially dismantled for easier packaging, placed in the container at the final as-
sembly building, and taken to the plant rail transshipment area, where they may remain for several days
prior to rail shipment to their port of debarkation. This apparent delay at the plant transshipment area may
be necessary to coordinate the arrival of the containerized aircraft at the port with the departure of the
merchant ship. The limited time that the aircraft containers are at the port has lessened the probability of
obtaining imagery of the containers aboard ship. Upon arrival at their destination, the containers are
unloaded and usually remain at the docks for a minimum amount of time before being transported to the
nearest suitable airfield for assembly. Figures 2 through 6 illustrate the export delivery sequence. (S/WN)
7. China exports aircraft by flight deliveries to Pakistan and North Korea. After initial flight testing at
the production plant, the new aircraft are ferried by Chinese pilots along the most direct route to the
transfer airfield near the receiving country's border. The aircraft are usually accompanied by transport
aircraft. Refueling and crew rest stops are made enroute as required. At the transfer airfield, the aircraft
are transferred to foreign control and flown to their final destination. The Chinese pilots are then flown
back to the plant or to their home base by the transport aircraft. Figure 7 illustrates routes and provides
other pertinent information regarding both flight and overseas delivery procedures. (S/WN)
(Continued p. 6)
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A Major Aircraft Export Plant
Route
Probable Route AIR
Refuel Stop DELIVERIES
Transfer Airfield
.......... Rail Route 1 OVERSEAS
Departure Port DELIVERIES
Weeks
Karachi, Pakistan ....................................2 1/2
Alexandra, Egypt ....................................3 1/2-4
Qadimar Port Facility,
Saudi Arabia .......................................... 3 1/2
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Foreign Exports
SECRET
8. In 1965, Pakistan was the first country to receive indigenously produced Chinese aircraft. The
delivery of 85 FARMERs to Pakistan in 1967 was the largest number of FARMER aircraft exported to a
country in a single year.' This sale was made during a period in which both Pakistan and China were en-
gaged in a border dispute with India.
9. Pakistan continues to be a major importer of Chinese aircraft and is the only country to import
the FANTAN A. Approximately 450 Chinese indigenously produced aircraft have been delivered to
Pakistan since 1965;1 however, an undetermined number of FARMERs have been returned to China for
major overhaul in the intervening years. Table 1 lists all known deliveries of aircraft from China to Pakistan
by year, aircraft type, and number.
10. Exports to Pakistan have been made using both air and sea routes. Chinese aircraft delivered by
merchant ship are transported by rail in shipping containers from aircraft production plants to Chikan
(Jiaoshuncun) Port Facility
E in South China. From there, they are transported by merchant
25X1
ship to Karachi Port Facilit
in Pakistan. The aircraft containers are then shipped by rail to
25X1
Sharea Faisal Airfield
After the aircraft have been assembled and tested, they are flown
25X1
to operational airfields throughout the country. (S/WN)
Table 1.
Known Chinese Aircraft Deliveries to Pakistan*
1965
-
- - -
1966
-
-
1967
85
- -
1968
-
8 - 4
1969
- - -
1970
-
- - -
1971
42
- - -
1972
30
- - -
1973
-
- - -
1974
-
3 - -
1975
67
12 - -
1976
-
5 - -
1977
-
1978
16
1979
31
1980
31
1981
15
1982
10
1983
-
- - -
-
41
1984
-
-
-
13
*This table was derived from reference document 1.
**Pakistan has an inventory of 12 FRESCOs, probably all received from China.
***Includes FARMERs returning from China after overhaul.
This table is classified SECREJ
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11. China has exported aircraft to Pakistan using air routes since the mid-1960s; however, it was not
until early 1983 that the first export delivery of FANTAN A aircraft was tracked on imagery from the
production plant at Nanchang Airframe Plant 3201 -1 to Hotan Airfield in
western China, where the transfer of the aircraft to Pakistani
control was made. (S/WN)
North Korea
12. Since 1972, Chinese export shipments of aircraft to North Korea have increased. Prior to that
time, the Soviet Union had been North Korea's main source of fighter aircraft, with China supplying only
light transports. Since 1972, China has exported at least 390 aircraft, including 174 FARMERs and 40
FISHBEDs. The 40 FISHBEDs were delivered in 1982 during a period when Middle Eastern countries were
in the market for FISHBED aircraft.' These deliveries indicate that China places a higher importance on
North Korea than on the Middle East. China continues to support North Korea by supplying materials and
technical assistance to its fledgling aircraft industry.
13. The aircraft exported to North Korea are flown along the most convenient route from the
respective production plant to either Dandong Airfield or Anshan Airfield
which serve as staging bases for the transfer of the aircraft to North Korean control. Table 2 shows
known aircraft deliveries to North Korea. (S/WN)
Table 2.
Known Chinese Aircraft Deliveries to North Korea*
Year
FARMER
MAX
COLT FISHBED
HOUND
1965
-
-
10
1966
-
-
10
1967
-
-
33
1968
-
-
2
1972
45
-
-
1973
54
-
1974
-
-
12
1975
20
-
22
1976
-
-
-
1977
24
35
-
1978
31
21
-
1979
-
11
24
1980
-
-
20
1981
-
-
15
1982
-
-
-
1983
-
-
-
1984
-
-
-
This table is classified SECRET,
14. China exported aircraft to North Vietnam by ferry flights from 1965 until 1975 when sales were
terminated, probably for political reasons. These deliveries included FARMERs, FRESCOs, and at least four
Soviet-built CABs. Table 3 shows these known Chinese-built aircraft exports. (S/WN)
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Table 3.
Known Chinese Aircraft Deliveries to North Vietnam*
Year FAR
MER FRESCO
1965 -
17
1966 -
42
1967 -
61
1968 -
-
1969 -
-
1970 -
-
1971 -
-
1972 1
7
1973 3
2
-
1974 -
22
1975 -
29
Totals 4
9
171
*This table was derived from reference document 1
This table is classified SECRE
Egypt
15. Since 1975, China has capitalized on the cooling in Egyptian-Soviet political relations and has
been a major supplier of replacement engines for Egypt's Soviet-built FISHBED and FARMER aircraft. To
offset the loss of Soviet-supplied equipment, China had agreed to sell Egypt military hardware, which
included FARMER and FISHBED aircraft. Major overhaul maintenance of Egyptian BADGERs is also
performed at Xian Airframe Plant Yanliang 172 F _J in China. (S/WN)
16. Egypt has imported over 90 FARMERs and at least 31 FISHBEDs since 1980.1 The FARMER and
FISHBED aircraft are transported from the production plants at Shenyang Airframe Plant 112
and Chengdu Airframe Plant 132
ship to Al Iskandaryah (Alexandria) Port
containers are transported to the Jiyan
Iraq
Facility L_
to Chikan and are then delivered by merchant
in E ypt. From Alexandria, the aircraft
for assembly.
17. Iraq is the latest recipient of Chinese-built aircraft. To circumvent the Chinese-professed
neutrality in the Iraq-Iran conflict, aircraft are delivered to Iraq via Saudi Arabia or Egypt. When delivered
?) Y'I
25X1
25X1
25X1
through Saudi Arabia, the aircraft arrive in shipping containers at adimah Port Facility 25X1
and are transported by truck to King Faisal Airfield in Jordan for assembly. After flight 25X1
testing, the aircraft are flown into Iraq. The first delivery of five FISHBEDs was observed at Qadimah Port
Facility in November 1982. Aircraft destined for Iraq via Egypt are delivered to the Port of Alexandria,
Egypt; assembled at Jiyanklis Airfield; and flown to Iraq via Jordan. At least 23 Chinese-produced
FISHBEDs have been delivered to Iraq since late 1982.1 25X1
18. Albania was the first Communist country to enter negotiations to obtain military aircraft from
China. In the mid-1960s, after Chinese and Albanian relations with the Soviet Union had been strained,
China delivered at least 34 FARMERs, 28 HOUNDs, and 12 FISHBEDs to Albania by merchant ship.' This
transaction was probably considered a means of cultivating Albania into the Chinese sphere of influence.
The FARMER and HOUND aircraft were probably refurbished and of Soviet origin. The FISHBEDs were
probably built from Soviet-supplied kits purchased by China prior to the Sino-Soviet rift. Table 4 shows
the export shipments from China to Albania through 1974, the latest known shipment.
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Table 4.
Known Chinese Aircraft Deliveries to Albania*
1964-65 34
1972 -
1974 8
12 28
11
Total 42 6 12
*This table was derived from reference document 1.
This table is classified SECREJJII
19. In 1975, Romania received 12 BEAGLEs from China.' No further deliveries have been made since
that date.
20. Export deliveries of aircraft by merchant ship have been made to Zambia and Tanzania in south-
central Africa and to Somalia and Sudan in the northeastern African section of the Middle East. Table 5
shows the latest known number of Chinese aircraft exported to Africa. (S/WN)
Table 5.
Known Chinese Aircraft Deliveries to African Countries*
Somalia
1980 20
Sudan
1978 2
1981 5
1982 5
Tanzania
1973 17
1979 4
1980 6
Zambia
1978 12
1981 5
21. Export shipments by merchant ship also have been made to two South Asian countries. Table 6
illustrates known shipments to Bangladesh and Kampuchea. (S/WN)
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Table 6.
Known Chinese Aircraft Deliveries to South Asian Countries*
Bangladesh
1977 8
4 2
1981 -
2 3
Kampuchea
1966 -
1978 7
Total 15
6
*This table was derived from reference document 1.
This table is classified SECRET
Imagery Analyst's Comments
22. Since 1976, China's position as a major supplier of fighter aircraft to Third World countries has
been greatly enhanced by the political conditions and turmoil existing in the Middle East; i.e., the
Egyptian-Soviet break, Pakistan's defensive needs, and the Iraq-Iran conflict. During this period, China's
immediate domestic requirements for fighter aircraft have been leveling off, enabling the Chinese aircraft
industry to negotiate export contracts to provide low cost, easy-to-maintain fighter aircraft within a short
period of time. On 20 October 1984, the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee made a decision
to give factory managers more authority in production management and promotion of competition within
the industry.2 This recent decision should create a more active promotion of export sales of both fighter
and transport aircraft. China will probably continue to exploit world situations to expand aircraft sales and
use the capital gained for further modernization of its own aircraft industry. (S/WN)
All applicable satellite imagery acquired between January 1965 and December 1984 was used in the preparation
of this report. (S/WN)
1. S24037. Foreign Military Assistance (FOMA), Equipment Delivered, 28 Jul 83 (SECRET
NPIC. Z-14055/84, IAR-0025/84. Arms Transshipments to Iraq, 1 January-31 May 1984 (S), Jul 84 (SECRET/
Foreign Aircraft Production Communist World (U), Feb 83 (TOP SECRET
Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
The tables in this report were compiled with the assistance of
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