The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan
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Dirty Little Secrets
Technology Theft Doesn't Always Work
by James Dunnigan
March 20, 2005
Discussion Board on this DLS topic
China’s track record of technology theft is breathtaking, but frequently these
efforts are much less successful than were hoped. One such case was the Chinese
copy of the French Super Frelon (SA-321) helicopter. China bought some SA-321s
in the early 1970s, and by 1976 were working on reverse engineering them and
producing their own, illegal, version. The first flight of the SA-321 clone
(called the Z-8) took place in 1985. But only about twenty of the Z-8 have been
built since then. Too many technical problems, plus the French were none too
happy about this bit of theft, and made their displeasure known to the Chinese.
But China has persisted, as the Z-8B is now in production. But only about half a
dozen have entered service. A more powerful engine, and hundreds of technical
improvements, have still not produced a chopper the Chinese army is willing to
pay for. The navy was happy with the original SA-321s, and the Z-8 clones, but
these operated at sea level.
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