After J20 stealth bomber, China unveils its most powerful drone bomber
It can fly for two days without refuelling within a range of 15,000 miles
China has unveiled its most powerful drone bomber which can fly for two days without refuelling within a range of 15,000 miles.
The CH-5 unmanned aerial vehicle, China’s largest combat drone, made its first flight last year and appears to be based on the US MQ-9 reaper.
But it was been made public for the first time at a military air show in the southern city of Zhuhai.
It is capable of carrying smart bombs, missiles and high-tech radar jammers, The Daily Star reports.
AsiaOne reportedly described the weapon as ‘One of the most powerful unmanned combat aircraft in the world.’
Chief designer Shi Wen added: ‘Several foreign nations have expressed intentions to purchase the CH-5 and we are in talks with them.’
The weapon was revealed during a major airshow in China which included the unveiling of the country’s J-20 stealth fighter.
It was the latest sign of the growing sophistication of the China’s military technology.
The fifth-generation warplane, which outwardly resembles the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in service with the U.S. military, performed a series of maneuvers under overcast skies at Airshow China in the southern city of Zhuhai.
The long-range J-20, armed with airto-air missiles, performed its first test flight in 2011 and has been the object of feverish attention by the nation’s aviation experts.
At least six prototypes have been produced, according to an annual report on the Chinese military issued by the Pentagon this year.
The Pentagon says a second Chinese stealth fighter under development, the FC-31, is intended for export as a competitor to the US F-35.
The FC-31 first flew in 2012 and debut- ed at Zhuhai in 2014. China is the only country apart from the US to have two concurrent stealth aircraft development programmes.
While the planes’ stealth capabilities remain a secret, the Pentagon said that China views the technology as key to its transformation from a ‘predominantly territorial air force to one capable of conducting both offensive and defensive operations.’
Air force leaders ‘believe stealth aircraft provide an offensive operational advantage that denies an adversary the time to mobilize and to conduct defensive operations,’ said the report, which estimated the two Chinese planes could enter service as early as 2018 and would ‘significantly improve China’s existing fleet of fourth-generation aircraft ... to support regional air superiority and strike operations.’
Among other recently developed Chinese aircraft appearing at the weeklong air show is the Y-20 large transport aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of around 200 tons.
The plane is being introduced into the People’s Liberation Army to carry out aerial command-and-control operations and parachute drops.