China's CETC, CASIC sign co-operation agreement

The China Electronics Technology Group (CETC) and China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation Limited (CASIC) have signed an agreement to deepen co-operation on military technologies. The accord is the latest in a series of new alliances between China's state-owned defence enterprises.

Chinese enterprises CETC and CASIC have announced an agreement to deepen co-operation. In the past the two groups have collaborated on programmes including CASIC's HQ-22 surface-to-air missile (pictured). (Janes/Kelvin Wong)

CETC said in a press release on 4 September that its agreement with CASIC will support greater collaboration on digital systems and electronics. This is likely reference to the development and integration of CETC products on board CASIC systems and platforms.

“The agreement is an opportunity to pursue new opportunities in digital transformation, to work together, explore, innovate, and jointly expand future aerospace developments,” said CETC. It added that the agreement will support China's military and national efforts to develop defence industrial capability.

The press release did not elaborate on areas of strengthened collaboration. However, in the past the two enterprises have worked together on many projects, including the integration of CETC radars and other systems on CASIC platforms such as HQ-22 and FK-1000 surface-to-air missiles systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.

CETC is one of China's biggest producers of defence electronics. Its revenues in 2019 were USD33 billion.

CASIC produces air and missile defence systems, short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, aerospace electronics, microsatellites, and an array of related subsystems and components. CASIC's revenues in 2019 were USD41 billion.