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China to deploy Sharp Sword stealth drone for new Type 001A aircraft carrier
- Military sources say warship will be equipped with reconnaissance version of the UAV, and the vessel is expected to enter service later this year
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China plans to deploy an advanced stealth drone for its first home-grown aircraft carrier, which has entered final preparations before its expected commissioning later this year, according to military sources.
The Sharp Sword was one of two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) seen in photos of a weekend rehearsal in Beijing for the upcoming National Day military parade on October 1. The insider said the new aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, would be equipped with a reconnaissance version of the Sharp Sword drone when it entered service.
A second military source, from the Chinese navy, also confirmed that the stealth drone would be deployed for the aircraft carrier and said it was significant since it would help to close the technology gap with the US Navy.
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“The use of drones for aircraft carriers and warships is the trend [for navies] around the world,” the Chinese navy source said. “China is no exception.”
But the new Sharp Sword is less versatile than Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray drone, which has the capacity for in-flight refuelling.
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