‘Drones change everything’: China showcases UAV competitive edge in military export market
- At one of Europe’s biggest defence shows, Chinese military drones are on the radar as ‘low cost’ commercial, military alternatives
Chinese military drones could be “attractive options” for developing countries, with China’s biggest arms contractor looking to expand beyond its traditional markets.
Norinco displayed various rotary and fixed-wing UAVs at its booth, including the Z-6B, an unmanned helicopter system based on the Z-6 helicopter from the 1960s, which can do vertical take-offs and landings, making it suitable for large naval platforms, such as aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, and destroyers.
“The Z-6B features many technological innovations compared to the original Z-6,” said Timothy Heath, a senior international defence researcher at the Rand Corporation think tank.
“In addition to being unmanned, it features improvements in stealth, advanced optical sensors, electromagnetic warfare, and attack capabilities.
“It is a multi-role platform capable of surveillance, targeting support, and anti-submarine warfare, among other missions.”