China is negotiating with Russia for licensed production of the Tor-M1 (SA-15 Gauntlet) self-propelled air defense system. China received 15 Tor-M1s in 1997 and a second batch of 20 are being delivered now. The Chinese reportedly want to build 160 of the systems, enough for 10 air defense battalions. This would be about one such battalion per Area Army. The Tor-M1 carries eight 9M334 vertically-launched missiles which have a maximum range of 12km and a maximum altitude of 6,000m. China sent 50 military personnel to Russia for the six-month air defense officers course in 1997 and another group (of 70) graduated from the same course in May 2000.--Stephen V Cole