Western defense officials and experts were surprised to see more than 25 different Chinese models of the unmanned aircraft, known as UAVs, on display at this week's Zhuhai air show in this southern Chinese city. It was a record number for a country that unveiled its first concept UAVs at the same air show only four years ago, and put a handful on display at the last one in 2008.
The apparent progress in UAVs is a stark sign of China's ambition to upgrade its massive military as its global political and economic clout grows.
The U.S. and Israel are currently the world leaders in developing such pilotless drones, which have played a major role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and which analysts say could one day replace the fighter jet.
This year's models in Zhuhai included several designed to fire missiles, and one powered by a jet engine, meaning it could—in theory—fly faster than the propeller-powered Predator and Reaper drones that the U.S. has used in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Exhibitors didn't give precise details of which Chinese drones were fully operational, although one confirmed that the People's Liberation Army, or PLA, had deployed at least two propeller-powered reconnaissance UAVs, which featured in last year's 60th National Day parade.
But the large number of UAVs on display illustrates clearly that China is investing considerable time and money to develop drone technology, and is actively promoting its products on the international market.
That has implications for China's external and domestic security, as well as for many other countries, including Iran, that have sought in vain to acquire drones either for military purposes or for police surveillance and antiterrorist operations.
It is of particular concern to the U.S. and Israel, whose drones are unrivalled in the world today, and could worry China's neighbors, many of which have territorial disputes with China in the East and South China seas.
China's apparent progress is likely to spur others, especially India and Japan, to accelerate their own UAV development or acquisition programs.
U.S. anxiety about China's UAVs were highlighted in a report released Wednesday by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, which was formed by Congress in 2000 to assess the national security implications of trade and economic relations with China.
"The PLA Air Force has deployed several types of unmanned aerial vehicles for both reconnaissance and combat purposes," the report said. "In addition, China is developing a variety of medium- and high-altitude long-endurance unmanned vehicles, which when deployed, will expand the PLA Air Force's 'options for long-range reconnaissance and strike,' " it said, citing an earlier Pentagon report. More
5 comments:
"Western defense officials and experts were SURPRISED to see.."
Right. They had no idea.
That's a result of decimating our intelligence community during the Clinton regime and beyond, from which we've never recovered.
I'm afraid we're in for lots more unpleasant 'surprises.'
Hopefully, they won't include impressive mushroom clouds.
10:28
dont believe everything you read
remember president bush told us the CIA would intentionally lie to us because otherwise the "terrorists" would know everything important.
Our government lies to us daily just like George Carlin told us a decade ago
Within 3-5 yrs, with their ever-expanding space/satellite capabilities and their ever growing "blue water" navy capabilities (with ability to "project power" around the globe) and their alarming abilities to infiltrate and shut down major computers systems, including OUR OWN defense systems and power supply, China WILL begin DICTATING terms and "resolutions" to world issues....and we will have no choice but to comply. Or risk nuclear war with a nation that doesn't blink at the loss of 800 MILLION dead. THAT'S almost twice the population the our entire country. And they are willing to absorb it.
1139-- I'm a former military intelligence dude.
It's true- they lie, but this probably did catch them by surprise, just like so many new ChiCom things have.
They're handicapped; we're screwed.
China has the money to surge over the last 2 decades because while the idealogue voters haggle over whose animal dung to shovel, the politicians from both parties have survived on China financed spending, companies have done whats best for profit margins for a few (forget the American masses), and we've squandered men and material in the wrong theaters of war.
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