China steps up drone race with stealth aircraft

China is unleashing stealth drones and pilotless aircraft fitted with AK-47 rifles onto world markets, racing to catch up to US technology.

Combat drones were shown off this week at Airshow China, the country’s biggest aerospace industry exhibition. China’s growing production of sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) seeks to compete with the US military’s massive fleet.

Its drones are now flying in the Middle East, as Beijing has fewer qualms about selling its military UAVs to other nations. (AFP)