China will establish a special industrial base for the development and production of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in Beijing’s southern Daxing District, Chinese-language media reports.
The base will be the first of its kind in China and will cover a total area of 134 hectares (14,400 sq. ft). It will be a “large-scaled whole-chain” UAS industrial base, according to “top management” of the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the Beijing Daily said.
It will “integrate all links on the industrial chain”, including science and technology, manufacturing, test flights, marketing, after-sales services, and commercial applications.
According to media reports, the base’s estimated output is projected to be $1.6 billion by 2015, $4.8 billion by 2020, and $16.1 billion by 2025. Both the numbers and support (i.e., CAAA) suggests the base will be largely commercial.
Photo: China Academy ‘Cleve Hawk’
Source: Defense News