The drones on display at Tuesday’s National Day parade in Beijing show China’s determination to become a leader in unmanned warfare, according to a military expert. Three formations of drones, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), were taken on trailers through Tiananmen Square behind truckloads of command and control equipment for their first appearance in a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) parade. “This suggests the PLA is prioritising the development of the most cutting-edge technologies that will change the game of war,” Shanghai military commentator Ni Lexiong said. One of the drones, a DR-8, was described by the PLA as a “high-altitude, high-speed reconnaissance UAV”, which analysts said suggested it could fly at supersonic speed. Its stealth capability would enable it to penetrate enemy airspace in the Western Pacific region and take high-definition photographs of targets such as aircraft carrier groups. Also in the parade was the GJ-11 stealth drone, with a flying wing shape that has drawn comparisons to the US’ B-2 Spirit bomber and the X47B, a US Navy carrier-based long-range combat drone. No country has an operational stealth combat UAV. The X47B made its last test flight in 2015 and the project is now suspended. Its successor – the MQ-25 Stingray – made its maiden flight in September, while the GJ-11, built for air superiority and defence suppression, was introduced to the Chinese public as a prototype. The flying wing shape – which can significantly reduce an aircraft’s radar visibility – has become typical of Chinese UAVs in recent years. The CH-7, a high-altitude, high-speed, long-endurance combat drone unveiled last year, continues that practice. China to deploy Sharp Sword stealth drone for new Type 001A aircraft carrier A more conventional addition to China’s UAV fleet is the GJ-2 reconnaissance and strike drone, which was also shown at last year’s Zhuhai Air Show. During the National Day parade, the GJ-2 was seen with a full payload of missiles and bombs for air defence, air combat and ground attack. Its export version, the Wing Loong II, has been sold to clients in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, along with other internationally popular drones such as the CH-4 and Wing Loong I. “Future warfare will involve more technology and fewer humans, and air superiority is the key to victory,” Ni said. “Therefore, UAVs will have a very important role to play.” China’s HSU-001 submersible, another feature of the National Day parade, is comparable to the US Navy’s extra-large UUV, the Orca. While it is slightly smaller and carries a lighter weapons payload, like the Orca it can sail long distances autonomously to collect environmental data and spy on enemy vessels. Li Yuhao, the PLA officer leading the UUV detachment in the parade, said: “The UUV is typical of equipment that will be used in unmanned warfare.”
