Bradley Perrett covered China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. He is a Mandarin-speaking Australian.
Before joining Aviation Week in 2006 he was a macroeconomics, politics and aerospace journalist with Reuters. Perrett holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Macquarie University, Sydney. He left Aviation Week in 2020.
The proliferation of types and versions means the Chinese air force and navy remain quite dissatisfied with the modernity of their fighters, even as successive models are increasingly competitive against the combat aircraft of rival countries.
Saab alone has hopes of snagging fighter contracts of both the Indian navy and air force. Its JAS 39E/F Gripen meets the air force demand for just one engine, and a carrier-based version is in the works.
Considering South Korea’s lack of experience, there is clearly a chance that ADD and Hanwha will at some point ask Elta for assistance beyond the validation work it will be contracted for.
