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Russia, China military progress 'disconcerting': US Gen.

Russian MIG-29 jet fighters perform aerobatics outside Moscow, on August 25, 2015. (AFP Photo)

General Lori Robinson, head of the US Air Force in the Pacific, says the rate at which China and Russia are modernizing their military technology is “disconcerting.”

“I get incredibly concerned about the capability gap decreasing [between the US and other nations]. That technology gap continues to get smaller and smaller, and for us that should be very disconcerting,” Robinson said this week, while addressing the Air Force Association conference.

Gen. Robinson added that the increased number of long-range flights by Russia is also another factor that further complicates US military strategy.

Crowds gather to watch a Chinese military Shenyang J-11B aircraft, September 12, 2015. (AFP Photo)


Expressing "concerns" about China, Robinson said that the Chinese are interested in US technology.

“Chinese service members asked in fascination about the chevrons on the sleeves of American NCOs (non-commissioned officer). The conversation led to a real human connection between the two countries’ personnel,” American website Breaking Defense quoted her as saying.

“Their [China’s] capacity has increased over time, and ours has been pretty stable,” Robinson added. “If their capability gets closer to ours,” their capacity will be much larger and that “poses a challenge.”

Gen. Robinson assumed top command of the Air Force in the Pacific last year, becoming the first woman to lead a major component command in the history of the US Air Force. 

USAF General Lori Robinson (L), commander of Pacific Air Forces, gives the guidon of the US Forces Japan (USFJ) to Lieutenant General John Dolan (R), the new commander of USFJ during a change of command ceremony at US Yokota Air Base in Tokyo on June 5, 2015. (AFP Photo)

 

US authorities have on several occasions voiced concerns over military modernization by Russia and China.

General Frank Gorenc, commander of US Air Forces in Europe, also admitted earlier that the US' air advantage is shrinking in comparison with Russia’s capabilities.

He warned of “a very large modernization effort and a capacity effort” that Russia has been carrying out, and parts of it were put on display during Center–2015 military drills.

Center–2015 is being carried out over 20 sites across Russia's central military district, which spans from the Volga River to the Ural mountains and Siberia in the east and reaches to the country’s far northern regions.

 


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