It has purchased 300 to 400 Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighters and Su-30 fighter-bombers, plus Russian A-50 AWACS and anti-air and ground attack missiles.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

SU-27 fighter aircraft and has done a deal to assemble more of the planes itself.

ECONOMIST: China

SU-27 fighter bombers from Russia have already arrived in Ethiopia, along with container-loads of weapons through Djibouti.

ECONOMIST: Ethiopia and Eritrea

The J-11B looked almost identical to the Su-27, but China said it was 90% indigenous and included more advanced Chinese avionics and radars.

WSJ: China Clones, Sells Russian Fighter Jets

Japanese F-2 fighter jets were scrambled, as the Russian Su-27 planes flew south over the Sea of Japan before turning back to the north, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.

BBC: Russian fighter jets 'breach Japan airspace'

That could prove fruitful in the return leg in the Su'duva Stadium, Marijampole, on 27 July.

BBC: SPORT | Football | Europe | Rhyl 0-0 Suduva