China Is Serious About Exporting UCAVs | Aviation International News

China Is Serious About Exporting UCAVs

They have already been sold to a dozen countries, and newly-capable ones continue to emerge, including a jet.

The Wing Loong II made its first flight one year ago and its international debut at the Paris Air Show four months later. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

February 3, 2018

How times have changed—and how quickly! At the Singapore Airshow two years ago, the Chinese aerospace export promotion group CATIC (Static S09, Stand CS42) showed a small-scale model of an armed, turboprop-powered UAV. It looked similar to the American GA-ASI MQ-9 Reaper. But when AIN reported on it in real time, the model was quietly removed from display.

Since then, however, the Wing Loong II (Pterodactyl II) has made a well-publicized first flight (in February last year), followed by its international debut at the Paris Air Show in June, surrounded by an array of weaponry. Five months later, at the Dubai Airshow, the Chinese marketing for export of this and other armed UAVs went into overdrive.

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