China unveils stealth combat drone in development

Zbeen boosted by the fact that China is not a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime that restricts exports of missiles and other unmanned weapons systems.

The numbers of drone programs unveiled in China in recent years has been “dizzying,” said Sam Roggeveen, director of the international security program at Australia’s Lowy Institute.

While the CH-7's ultimate effectiveness remains to be determined, if exported, it would “mark another step-change for China, which has traditionally not offered its cutting-edge technology to foreign customers,” Roggeveen said.

Across the Middle East, countries locked out of purchasing U.S.-made drones due to rules over excessive civilian casualties are being wooed by Chinese arms dealers, now the world’s main distributor of armed drones.

The sales are helping expand Chinese influence across a region crucial to American security interests and bolstering Beijing’s ambitions to lead in hightech arms sales.

While the U.S. still holds a technology advantage, China wins on price. The fact it is willing to sell the CH-7 abroad could indicate the technology is less than cutting edge, given China’s desire to guard its technological edge in such areas, said Ron Huisken, a regional security expert at Australian National University.

China’s exports also underscore the growing pervasiveness of drones in modern warfare, even without strong international agreements on where and how they can be used.

“One wonders what nasty surprises are in store as countries more casual about how they use drones and less strict about training standards get their hands on them,” said Huisken.

Also appearing again at this year’s Zhuhai show was China’s homebuilt J20 stealth fighter, which outwardly resembles the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in service with the U.S. military.

It was joined by the Chinese J-10B fighter with vectoring thrust, featuring an engine equipped with a hinged nozzle. Vectoring thrust technology allows planes to direct their propulsion, giving it more flexibility in maneuvering, and the substation of Chinesemade WS-10 engines for those imported from Russia appears to mark a new milestone for the domestic defense industry.

The jet fighters on display thrilled spectators. For many, the performances demonstrated China’s burgeoning aerospace industry and growing confidence in its technology.

“I think it is pretty awesome,” said Xie Dongni, a marketer for an information technology company.

“I might not a plane specialist, but I can feel the way China is changing. It is getting stronger slowly, its international status is growing higher and higher.”

HUHAI, China (AP) — A Chinese state-owned company says it is developing a stealth combat drone in the latest sign of the country’s growing aerospace prowess.