One of the highlights of the Fifth China International Aviation
and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong
Province, will be a showcase of advanced military hardware,
including the first showing of a new short-range ultra-low-altitude
portable air defense missile.
The missile, developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry
Corp, is primarily for conducting air defense field operations and
can be used against low-flying military helicopters, ground-attack
aircraft, unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles.
The Chinese aerospace company will also display a range of
short-range air defense missiles and surface-to-air missiles, plus
various small civilian communications satellites.
Among other first showings at the exhibition of some 100 weapons
and aerospace products will be a short-range surface-to-surface
missile with a range of 150 kilometers.
The air show will feature stunt teams from China, Britain,
France and Russia, and will run from November 1 through 7.
According to a press release from the Commission of Science,
Technology and Industry for National Defense, there will be
exhibitions, trade negotiations, academic exchanges and stunt
flights.
It will use a combined floor space of 16,700 sq.m in the indoor
exhibition -- about 15 percent more than the last event.
Overseas aviation giants, such as Boeing and Airbus, are
scheduled to attend and organizers say firms from the United
States, France, Germany, Russia and Italy will be increasing their
presence.
An aerospace summit forum will also be held on October 31 and
November 1 in cooperation with the country's civil aviation
authorities and the French Embassy in China.
The China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition is a
biennial event. The first was also held in Zhuhai, one of China's
five special economic zones, in 1996.
(CRI.com, China Daily November 1, 2004)