April 25,2008: Russia has threatened China with litigation if Chinese copies of Russian Su-27 fighters are exported. China calls this Su-27 clone the J-11. Originally, China had a license to build the Su-27. Only a hundred aircraft were build under this license, when the deal was dropped four years ago. But China continued Su-27 production, calling it the J11. Actually, this aircraft is a Chinese upgrade of the original Su-27. Russia also has its own Su-27 upgrades, but the J11 uses almost all Chinese parts. Many of these Chinese components are illegal copies of Russian technology. Russia isn't happy about either, and is mustering its lawyers for a showdown.