(File photo of Y-20)

China is determined to develop new technologies that can benefit national defense in the next five years, according to the draft outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan.

China will put great emphasis on aircraft engines and gas turbines, making those two fields top items on the list of 100 significant projects to be developed during the 13th Five-Year Plan, a Chinese military expert told Global Times.

According to the expert, an advanced engine, to some extent, decides the performance of military aircraft including fighters, and aircraft engines have long been a bottleneck that constrains the development of China's domestically produced military aircraft.

Besides engines, China plans to accelerate the development of large planes. China's first domestically produced large plane, C919, will make its maiden flight in 2016, and is likely to be used for ordinary flights within the 13th Five-Year Plan. Furthermore, China's domestically developed cargo aircraft Y-20 will be put into military use in 2016.

As for aerospace, the list shows that China is set to develop space platforms like next-generation or heavy-lift launch vehicles, as well as next-generation satellites and an on-orbit service and maintenance system for space vehicles and deep space exploration. This plan covers vehicles, applications satellites, deep space exploration and the manned space program.

The expert said that China's next-generation carrier rockets, including Long March 5 and Long March 7, will be improved during this five-year period, and the country is likely to set up a project to develop the Long March 9 heavy-lift carrier rocket during the 13th Five-Year Plan.

According to the list, China is also determined to spare no efforts to develop material used to produce military products in order to narrow the gap between developed countries.

Apart from advances related to the military, China will also focus on the development of maritime technology, cyber security and artificial intelligence.