Russia reports that its offer to sell at least four (and probably six) A-50E advanced early warning aircraft (radar planes less capable than the American AWACS) to China for $200 million, with deliveries starting in 2003 and completed by 2005. Russia has offered to loan China two of the A-50Es until new ones can be built. Having such aircraft in their Air Force (even with relatively limited 150km radars) would provide a powerful edge in managing aerial battles.--Stephen V Cole