- Lyon and Chelsea stay perfect in Women's Champions League
- Another clean sheet for Onana as E. Guinea, I. Coast qualify
- From 'Little Marco' to 'Mr Secretary': Rubio shows Trump China push
- Sri Lanka president eyes parliament win in snap election
- New York drought conditions fan flames, spur water saving
- Football 'world order' is changing, says Brazil coach
- Maiden century by Varma gives India unbeatable series lead
- Buy now, pay later: Latin America pressured by Chinese online shops
- Republicans complete power takeover with House majority
- Kane disappointed by England Nations League withdrawals
- Trump victory signals golden era for crypto industry
- 'First Buddy': Musk takes unusual star role with Trump
- Workers stage walkout at US maker of Fallout video game
- England will not change 'DNA' against South Africa, says Slade
- Biden, Xi to meet in Peru on Saturday: US official
- Spurs coach Popovich suffered 'mild stroke', says NBA team
- 'Very humiliating': Bangladesh's Yunus seethes over climate cash fight
- 'Welcome back': Trump, Biden shake hands in White House
- Tech's green wave hits choppy waters
- Fernandes hopes Amorim can 'change the energy' at Man Utd
- Trump, Biden shake hands in White House, vow smooth transfer
- Gatland battling 'pain' during tough Wales rebuild
- COP29 fight for climate money 'humiliating': Bangladesh's Yunus
- McIlroy aims for glory on happy hunting ground in Dubai
- Spain evacuates thousands in fresh flood alarm
- US death row inmate stages jazz protest for release in London court
- Germany's embattled Scholz trades blows with rivals as election looms
- Alcaraz beats Rublev to open ATP Finals account
- 'I had to gather my strength': Ukrainians abroad sign up to fight
- 'Legend' Healy set to equal O'Driscoll record against Pumas
- Record stand propels Sri Lanka to 324-5 against New Zealand
- US consumer inflation rises in October on higher housing costs
- S.Africa football chief arrested on fraud, theft charges
- UK's The Guardian stops posting on 'toxic media platform' X
- Berlin's creatives rally against arts funding cuts
- Barca's Fati sidelined with hamstring injury
- Heavy rains lash Spain after deadly floods
- India delivery app Swiggy shares gain on market debut
- Performance not results counts for Pumas coach Contepomi
- No end in sight to Sudan war as both sides seek 'decisive' win
- Demands for Church of England reform after abuse scandal
- Russia launches drone, missile barrage on Kyiv
- Iran hangs man 'for second time' after previous execution halted: NGO
- US vows 'firm' response to N.Korea deployment in Ukraine conflict
- Airlines ground Bali flights after volcano erupts
- Indonesians drill for disaster before tsunami anniversary
- Journalist says his detention removed Guatemala's 'mask of democracy'
- Triumphant Trump returns to White House to meet Biden
- Nearly half of tropical coral species face extinction: report
- Stark warning on emissions as leaders split on climate goals at COP29
China's largest air show takes off with fighter jets, attack drones
Stealth fighter jets and attack drones took centre stage as China's largest air show officially opened on Tuesday, an opportunity for Beijing to showcase its growing military might to potential customers and rivals alike.
China has poured resources into modernising and expanding its aviation capabilities as it faces off against the United States and others around regional flashpoints like Taiwan.
Record numbers of Chinese warplanes have been sent around the self-ruled democratic island, which Beijing claims as its territory, over the past few years.
The star of Airshow China, which showcases Beijing's civil and military aerospace sector every two years in the southern city of Zhuhai, is the new J-35A stealth fighter jet.
Its inclusion in the airshow suggests it is nearly ready to enter operation, which would make China the only country other than the United States to have two stealth fighters in action, experts said.
The J-35A is lighter than China's existing model, the J20, and looks more similar in design to a US F-35.
A group of J20s performed a display flight on Tuesday morning, flying in a diamond formation across a grey sky.
State news agency Xinhua quoted military expert Wang Mingzhi as saying the combination of the two models greatly enhances the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF)'s "ability to conduct offensive operations in high-threat and contested environments".
- Attack drones -
The airshow will feature a dedicated drone zone for the first time, reflecting their increased prominence in warzones, including Ukraine.
The SS-UAV -- a massive mothership that can rapidly release swarms of smaller drones for intelligence gathering, as well as strikes -- will be on display in Zhuhai, according to the South China Morning Post.
In October the United States unveiled sanctions targeting China-based companies linked to the production of drones that Russia has deployed in Ukraine.
Moscow and Beijing have deepened military and defence ties since Russia's invasion of its neighbour three years ago, and the secretary of its Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, is due to visit Zhuhai.
This year the show's focus is squarely on the military sector, as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of the PLAAF, but China's burgeoning space industry will also be showcasing developments.
A model of a homegrown reusable space cargo shuttle will debut at the show, Xinhua reported on Monday.
Named Haoloong, the shuttle is designed to be launched on a commercial rocket, and then dock with China's space station Tiangong.
"It can re-enter the atmosphere, fly and land horizontally at a designated airport, allowing for recovery and reuse," Xinhua said.
Beijing has poured huge resources into its space programme over the past decade in an effort to catch up to traditional space powers the United States and Russia.
P.Sousa--PC