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Is Beijing planning to make more drones overseas for Middle Eastern buyers?

Norinco displaying a model assembly line at a top defence exhibition could mean the firm hopes to make more weapons overseas

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Norinco’s display of a model assembly line at the Eurosatory exhibition comes as the state-owned company is working to expand its drone exports. Photo: Reuters
Seong Hyeon Choiin Paris
One of China’s largest defence contractors displayed a model of a drone assembly line at a leading international defence exhibition, hinting that the firm is planning to make more of the weapons overseas.

The state-run North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) displayed the model during this year’s Eurosatory, one of the world’s largest exhibitions of army weaponry, which is being held in Paris this week.

The miniature depicted the manufacture of several Norinco drones, such as the BZK-005E reconnaissance aircraft – which is currently operated in Indonesia, Mauritania and reportedly Sudan.

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The assembly line showed the production of parts and components, final assembly and testing. A graphic in the Norinco booth also described how the explosives and propellants used in the drones are made.

In another corner of the booth, models of the CY-8 cargo drone, the Z-6B unmanned helicopter and various loitering munitions were on display. According to state media reporting, the CY-8 is the world’s heaviest cargo drone and is capable of carrying a 3.5-tonne payload.
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Behind the miniature assembly line hung a banner that read “Norinco defence localisation”.

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