In 1956, China built its first jet fighter, the J-5;
In 1958, the mainland produced the first domestically produced tank Type 59;
"Black Hawk" and Straight 20
In 1984, the mainland introduced the American "Black Hawk" helicopter, but the domestic Z-20 was not put into service until 2016.
In 1975, the mainland obtained a complete "Chinook" helicopter, but it has not been able to copy it so far......
Liaoning and Shandong
Why can the mainland easily copy Soviet-style weapons, but it is difficult to imitate American-style weapons?
Is it really because American-made weapons and equipment are more technically difficult, as some netizens said?
If you think so, you would be underestimating mainland researchers. The reason why the mainland does not copy American-style weapons is not that it cannot but does not want to, and there are three reasons......
The industrial system is different
Many people think that imitation weapons are simple, just simple reverse mapping.
This is not the case.
No matter how simple the manufacturing of weapons and equipment is, it needs the support of the industrial system, involving mechanical processing, materials, processes, etc., and it is a complex and systematic project.
American F35 production line
For the vast majority of countries that do not have an industrial base, it is equally difficult to copy Soviet-style weapons as they are American-style.
An important reason why the mainland was able to copy Soviet-style weapons was because the mainland's industrial system was established with the help of the Soviet Union.
Anshan Iron and Steel Plant under construction
Many Soviet-style weapons copied by the mainland are actually "genuine" authorized.
For example, in the 50s of the last century, the mainland was able to copy the Soviet MiG-17 and T-54A, because at that time, the Soviet Union packaged the production lines and drawings of these weapons and equipment to us, and also assisted Soviet experts.
59 tank workshop
Because of this, the continental weapons and equipment system inherited from the Soviet Union from the beginning and has a strong Soviet-style style.
For example, the weapons manufacturing system of different countries is different schools, some are Soviet, some are American, some are French, and some are German.
AK47是苏式轻武器巅峰之作
Although they can build aircraft, tanks, guns and artillery, the design ideas and manufacturing standards are very different.
Just like the various schools in Jin Yong's novels, they all have their own cultivation systems and housekeeping skills.
Letting China, which is accustomed to Soviet-style weapons, imitate American weapons, is like letting Shaolin disciples learn the swordsmanship of the Emei School, although it can barely be learned, it is always a little inappropriate.
Russian T90 production line
Weapons and equipment are different from other products, and any flaws in the production process will be infinitely magnified, affecting the use of equipment.
On the contrary, the mainland is much more "familiar" with Soviet-style weapons, and Chinese engineers can better appreciate the "good intentions" of Soviet engineers in terms of design ideas and processing and production.
Su-30
The objective differences in the industrial systems of China and the United States determine that China will be more "handy" in imitating Soviet-style weapons.
Differences in production technology
Another important factor restricting the mainland's imitation of US-made weapons is the technological gap between the two countries.
As the world's number one technological power, the United States has spared no effort in the development of weapons and equipment, and has applied a large amount of advanced technology.
For example, the SR-71 "Blackbird" strategic reconnaissance aircraft that the United States first flew in 1966.
With a reconnaissance altitude of 24,000 meters and a maximum cruise speed of Mach 3.2, it is still one of the fastest manned aircraft in mankind to this day.
In order to pursue the ultimate performance at high altitude and high speed, the SR-71 uses a large number of titanium alloy materials, accounting for 93% of the total body weight, and the power system adopts two Pratt & Whitney J-58-1 variable cycle engines, each with a thrust of 145 kN.
Even now, the "Blackbird" is still very advanced, let alone imitation, and it is not easy for the Americans to build a brand new one.
In 1975, the mainland acquired a virtually undamaged Chinook helicopter in Vietnam, but it has not been copied to this day.
At that time, the mainland organized a large number of technical experts to disassemble the aircraft, but unfortunately, with the mainland's industrial and technological capabilities at that time, it did not have the ability to imitate Chinook.
There are two main difficulties, one is the T55 engine equipped with the CH-47 Chinook, and the other is the unique dual-rotor tandem structure of the Chinook, and the dual-rotor tandem layout of the helicopter is currently only mastered by the United States in the world.
The Americans dare to export advanced weapons and equipment to the whole world, and their arrogance lies in these exclusive technologies.
In fact, not only American-style weapons, but also Soviet-style (Russian-style) weapons are not so simple to imitate.
In 1992, the mainland introduced Su-27 fighters from Russia, and in 1995, the mainland signed a contract with Russia to introduce the Su-27 production line, and in 1998, the first batch of J-11 was assembled, but quality problems were found during the test flight and could only be shipped to Russia for reassembly.
WS-10 Taihang engine
The domestic WS-10 "Taihang" engine, copied from the Russian AL-31F, was established in 1987, designed and qualitative in 2005, and finally produced in 2017, which took a full 30 years.
The weapons and equipment worthy of our imitation often have advanced technological performance that the mainland does not have, and the reason why the mainland has not been able to master these technologies is also because of the limitations of its own industrial capacity.
American F117 "Nightingale"
Therefore, copying other countries' advanced weapons and equipment is a complex and systematic project, and it is basically impossible to accomplish it overnight.
The design ideas are different
No matter how nice imitation weapons are, in fact, they are all aimed at catching up with the advanced technology of other countries.
From the 80s of the last century to the beginning of this century, there was a big gap between the mainland and the world's advanced level in the field of military science and technology.
However, even in the past 30 years or so, the mainland has never simply "copied" the weapons of other countries.
There is no such thing as the best weaponry, only the most suitable one.
As strong as the United States and the Soviet Union, the weapons and equipment they developed were also based on their own strategic and tactical needs.
Soviet exercises
For example, the Soviet Union defined weapons and equipment as consumables, focusing on "durable leather";
The United States, on the other hand, pursues advanced technology, believing that "quality" trumps "quantity" and that weapons are relatively expensive.
At the beginning, we wanted to copy US weapons, but technology and funds did not allow it, but now the mainland has the ability to copy US weapons and equipment, but there is no "need".
At present, the United States has a great advantage in military weapons, one is aero engines, and the other is nuclear submarine technology.
F35
To put it bluntly, the United States is really leading the world in advanced weaponry and equipment, and it is only a few subsystems in it.
In this case, it is okay to borrow, but imitation is not necessary.
歼20
At present, the Continental Army's industrial system is already the third largest military industrial system outside the US and Russian systems, and it is the general trend to integrate the strengths of hundreds of schools of thought and develop Chinese-style weapons and equipment.
Today, China's military industry is developing rapidly, and many fields are at the forefront of the world.
After all, copying foreign weapons is only catching up, and independent innovation is the future development direction.
What do you think about this? Welcome to leave a message to discuss.
Reference Sources:
[1] Guangming.com, "66 years of development, J-20, Y-20 and other domestic fighters are reequipped with "Chinese heart"", 2022.03.12
[2] Guangming.com, "What does the Su-27 series fighter bring to the construction of modern air combat for the Chinese Air Force?", 2018.07.16
However, in order to improve the readability of the article, there may be polishing of the details, please read sensibly, for reference only!
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