FEATURE | China's military firms struggle as corruption purge bites

The timeline of advanced systems for the People's Liberation Army's Rocket Force, which handles its growing arsenal of ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles, could be exposed, along with aerospace and cyber programmes, said SIPRI researcher Xiao Liang.

This adds to uncertainties over the PLA's target of getting key capabilities and war-fighting readiness in place for its 100th anniversary, Liang said. The PLA's forerunner, Mao Zedong's Red Army, was founded in 1927.

"However, in the medium and longer term, sustained investment in defence budgets and political commitment behind modernisation will continue, albeit with some programme delays, higher costs and tighter control of procurement," Liang said.

(Reporting by Greg Torode in Hong Kong; Additional reporting by the Shanghai newsroom; Editing by William Mallard)