Posted on 07/05/2011 5:06:25 PM PDT by indthkr
At the most recent Zhuhai air show, the premier event for China’s aviation industry, crowds swarmed around a model of an armed, jet-propelled drone and marveled at the accompanying display of its purported martial prowess.
In a video and map, the thin, sleek drone locates what appears to be a U.S. aircraft carrier group near an island with a striking resemblance to Taiwan and sends targeting information back to shore, triggering a devastating barrage of cruise missiles toward the formation of ships.
Little is known about the actual abilities of the WJ-600 drone or the more than two dozen other Chinese models that were on display at Zhuhai in November. But the speed at which they have been developed highlights how U.S. military successes with drones have changed strategic thinking worldwide and spurred a global rush for unmanned aircraft.
/SNIP
China on fast track
No country has ramped up its research in recent years faster than China. It displayed a drone model for the first time at the Zhuhai air show five years ago, but now every major manufacturer for the Chinese military has a research center devoted to drones, according to Chinese analysts.
Much of this work remains secret, but the large number of drones at recent exhibitions underlines not only China’s determination to catch up in that sector — by building equivalents to the leading U.S. combat and surveillance models, the Predator and the Global Hawk — but also its desire to sell this technology abroad.
“The United States doesn’t export many attack drones, so we’re taking advantage of that hole in the market,” said Zhang Qiaoliang, a representative of the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, which manufactures many of the most advanced military aircraft for the People’s Liberation Army.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Can't be. I read right here on FR that if we traded with the Chinese they'd become our best friends...
The people that make pilot seats for military aircraft need to start looking for new work.
Russia is also starting to put out top-of-the line drones (thanks to the Israeli sale and US technology sharing). They even have a UCAV, called MiG SCAT. The MiG division is now dedicated to drone development in Russia, with Sukhoi doing the manned aircraft.
Hezbollah, a non-state actor, has sea skimming anti-ship missiles. Hezbollah has sunk or damaged several ships off Lebanon. How long before terrorist organizations have drone aircraft and can attack anyplace in the world? You could actually take down commercial jets taking off from airports by flying $100 remotely controlled model airplanes into their engines. Perhaps they’d need an ounce of explosives.
To be an effective weapon requires only commercial off-the-shelf stuff you can buy at any hobby store. There won’t be any jamming. There won’t be a “threat environment” to overcome. Just park your van, launch your plane, then drive away. Fly it into the target as the target takes off.
I hope I’m wrong, but my feeling is the Homeland Security apparatus is entirely reactive.
Flying drones? Baaah.
Stealthy swimming sea drones that are the size of
large fish/eels that can recharge on the surface?
Sea drones that can go in, map harbor installations,
beach approaches, lay limpet mines, etc.
Then return off shore to send their information up by satellite?
I imagine there are more than we can count even now.
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