China’s defense industry has closed much of the technological gap with the world’s leading military powers over the past two decades. Yet several Russian systems remain benchmarks that Beijing has still not managed to surpass, according to the Chinese publication Sohu.

The outlet singled out three examples: the Tu-160 «White Swan» strategic bomber, Borei-class nuclear submarines and the An-124 super-heavy transport aircraft. Sohu described them as three major Russian technological assets that continue to attract close attention from China’s defense sector.

China was heavily dependent on foreign purchases of advanced weaponry, including Russian equipment, until relatively recently. The situation has changed dramatically, with the country now ranking among the world’s major developers and manufacturers of military hardware. Even so, Sohu argues that reproducing systems comparable to these three Russian designs would remain an extremely difficult undertaking.

Although the Tu-160, Borei submarines and An-124 perform entirely different missions, they share one defining feature: exceptional technological complexity. Chinese journalists argue that simply copying their designs would not be enough. Developing comparable platforms could take years, while the final outcome would remain uncertain.

Sohu links this technological level to expertise accumulated over decades in several demanding fields, including nuclear power, high-performance aircraft engines, specialized materials and precision manufacturing. In the publication’s assessment, it is the combination of these capabilities that makes such systems particularly difficult to replicate.

The Tu-160 occupies a prominent place on the list. Despite the age of its original design, the strategic bomber continues to receive high marks for combining supersonic speed with long flight range and the ability to carry a substantial combat payload.

Borei-class nuclear submarines received similarly high praise. According to Sohu, Chinese military experts have even joked that a single submarine of this class could be worth ten modern Type 055 destroyers. The publication attributes this assessment to the Borei’s ballistic missiles, low acoustic signature, ability to remain underwater for extended periods and capacity to deliver a concealed nuclear strike.

The third system highlighted by Sohu is the An-124. Chinese journalists pointed to its position in the super-heavy transport aviation segment, emphasizing its payload capacity of up to 120 tonnes, powerful propulsion system, fuselage design and overall effectiveness in strategic airlift operations.