The Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC), a state-owned conglomerate, builds more than war machines. It runs a civilian business that makes airliners, private jets and parts — some in tandem with American companies, which have received funding to the tune of millions from the US government and treasury. Those are relatively small sums for a behemoth like AVIC. More importantly, its acquisitions of small and midsize enterprises provide access to manufacturing expertise and other skills with civilian and military applications, said Assistant Professor Michael Raska at RSIS. “You have innovation aspects that can be transferred into military development,” Raska said. “It’s not only about the technology — it’s about ensuring the quality, reliability and performance of the production.”