A Yunying drone on display.
Photo: People's Daily
Asia Times has reported that though the drones offered by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) weigh three tonnes and are similar in size to a helicopter, they are the result of intensive research in stealth drone technology. AVIC has made clear that it believes it's newest offering to be well suited for both aerial reconnaissance and bombing.
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An AVIC technician has been quoted as saying that the Yunying drones can fly at altitudes greater than the range of most surface to air missiles and can attack both land and sea based targets. There are three models available.
Yunying 1 carries ultra high resolution long-range optic cameras capable of imaging 10,000 square kilometers per hour, while Yunying 2 can identify surface radar within a radius of 400 km and communication devices within a radius of 200 km. The third model, Yunying 3, is a highly maneuverable attack drone which has the capability to destroy targets up to 50 km away. It is also able to carry China's Ying Ji-9E anti ship missiles.
The Yunying drones can coordinate with each other in real time to optimise performance. They are manufactured by AVIS's Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group which specialises in developing jet-fighters.
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China has been stepping up research into military drones in the hopes to steal market share from the United States and Israel with its cheaper technology and willingness to sell to countries that Western states are reluctant to deal with.
China has previously had limited success exporting manned military aircraft but is hoping to do better with UAVs, given that they are cheaper and easier to manufacture. Foreign buyers for its drones include Nigeria, Pakistan and Egypt.
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