No country has intensified its research in recent years faster than China – now every major manufacturer for the Chinese military has a research centre devoted to UAS. Much of this work remains secret, but it is clear that China is determined to catch up — by building equivalents to the leading U.S. combat and surveillance models, the Predator and the Global Hawk — and also it has a desire to sell this technology abroad.
“The United States doesn’t export many attack drones, so we’re taking advantage of that hole in the market,” said Zhang Qiaoliang, a representative of the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, which manufactures many of the most advanced military aircraft for the People’s Liberation Army. “The main reason is the amazing demand in the market for UAS after 9/11.” Although surveillance UAS have become widely used around the world, armed UAS are more difficult to acquire.
On Monday, The Washington Post dedicated a long and detailed article entitled “Global Race On to Match U.S. Drone Capabilities”. Below is an overview of three known programmes that was published in this article:
Sources: Aviation Industry Corp. of China, Shenyang Aircraft, Defense News, Defence Professionals, People’s Daily, Aviation Week. Alberto Cuadra and William Wan — The Washington Post
Source: The Washington Post
The Washington Post report is confused. Xianlong does not have a V-tail. It is a joined wing HALE airframe.
Is anyone aware if China works in the small uas space? Things like ScanEagle?