ISLAMABAD – China may already have an army of most advanced armed drones inorder to keep an eye on the global military dominance.
Drone technology has traditionally been enjoyed by the like of the UnitedStates and Russia, China may well be looking at drones to turn theproverbial tide in its favour.
A recent report in the South China Morning Post outlined just why dronesand similar unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being increasingly added toall three Chinese military forces. These are apart from cutting-edgeweapons being researched to give the edge to foot soldiers, like laser gunsand hypersonic ballistic missiles.
Some of the notable drones and UAVs that have reportedly already beenissued are:
*ASN series (Army):* Believed to be smaller than conventional UAVs andcould be used for reconnaissance. These could also pinpoint exact targetsfor precise artillery fire.
*Changying** (Navy):* Believed to have a long range, these can reportedlyfly for 40 hours without re-charge. They also have a range of 2,400 kms.Security experts believe these have been in use in East China Sea since2013.
*Silver Eagle (Navy):* South China Morning Post reports that these are usedfor long-distance communication support and electromagnetic confrontation.These could also help in precise missile targeting and have a range of 200kms. They have been in use since 2011.
*Gogji (Air Force):* These have a range of 4,000 kms and are similar to USPredator drones. It can reportedly carry 10 variants of weapons includingair-to-ground missiles. While it can target enemies from above, the Gogjican also be used in electronic warfare.
*Soaring Dragon (Air Force):* It is reported that China has deployed thesein and around the Doklam area where the Army faced off with Indian Armylast year. With high-altitude surveillance capabilities, these drones canbe gather crucial intelligence reports.
*EA-03:* Another high-altitude drone, these can be used for tracking enemymovement both on land as well as on sea. These may already be in use tokeep a watch on US aircraft carriers.