China’s high-speed, armed reconnaissance drone completes maiden flight
- WJ-700 takes to the skies at an undisclosed location two years after appearing as a prototype at Airshow China
- With a top speed of 700km/h, the unmanned aircraft is capable of carrying out a range of missions, including strikes on land and sea targets
Developer Haiying General Aviation Equipment, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, did not disclose the location of the flight but said further tests would be required before the high-speed, high-altitude aircraft was ready to go into service with the military, China Space News reported on Tuesday.
The maiden flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) came two years after it appeared as a prototype at Airshow China 2018.
With a maximum take-off weight of 3.5 tonnes and the ability to stay in the air for up to 20 hours, the WJ-700 is capable of carrying out reconnaissance, surveillance and early warning missions, as well as precision strikes on land and sea targets.
Powered by a jet engine, it has a top speed of 700km/h (435mph) and can fly at altitudes of up to 12,000 metres (39,000 feet).
