China just released a gallery of photos showcasing their airborne military might. The images depict Beijing's domestically made jet fighters flying in impressive aerial formations. Some of the planes are fully armed.
China has been heavily investing in its military in recent years, developing high-end weapons systems and building landing strips for their aircraft in the South China Sea. Chinese president Xi Jinping has also been cracking down on alleged corruption in the military.
The photos were released not long before a September 3 military parade commemorating the end of World War II, itself part of a larger series of anniversary events that some observers have characterized as a nationalistic distortion of history.
These pictures, released by China's state news service, Xinhuanet, reveal the extent of China's domestic military aircraft development, a crucial element in its efforts to become Asia's unquestioned military and strategic power.
The Chinese Chengdu JF-17 is a multi-role fighter introduced as an upgrade to the J-7, a reworking of the 1950s Soviet Mig-29.
The J-11s also are based on Soviet models — they strongly resemble the Sukhoi-30, which debuted in 1989.
Here's what an armed J-11 looks like.
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