China's military attack helicopter independently developed

BEIJING - A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Thursday refuted reports that China's military attack helicopter Z-10 pirated US technologies, saying the helicopter's manufacturer had used independent intellectual property rights.

Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun made the remarks at a monthly press conference when asked to comment on United Technologies Corp (UTC) of the United States admitting last month to selling China software that helped Beijing develop its first modern military attack helicopter, and agreeing to pay more than $75 million to the US government for the export violation.

"China's attack helicopters and their engines are all self-developed, and have proprietary intellectual property rights," said Yang, adding that the so-called piracy "is far from truth".

Yang said the development of China's military equipment has always followed the principle of independent innovation, and relied on its own capability in research and production.

Two UTC subsidiaries Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp and Hartford-based UTC pleaded guilty on June 28 to crimes related to the illegal export of software, according to media reports.

They agreed to pay more than $75 million in fines in connection with the export violations and for providing misleading information to the US government.