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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

The purchase or development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is part of an active program for China’s armed forces. Several Western suppliers are actively interested in pursuing the market for UAVs in China. Indigenous Chinese UAVs also will be developed and could be improved with foreign assistance. China’s research and development centers, especially Xian’s Northwest Polytechnic University (NPU), and the Beijing and Nanjing Universities of Aeronautics and Astronautics, have active UAV developmental programs, intended to support the PLA’s tactical C4I structure.

Although China’s military probably prefers to purchase a proven system, China’s leadership may have determined that indigenous production of UAVs is in China’s best interest. While China’s military has a great interest in using UAVs in tactical C4I, it has only limited capability and experience with UAVs to date. Consequently, the practical application of UAV sensor information to battlefield operations is only in the developmental stage. The application of UAVs in tactical C4I operations is likely to increase as new UAVs become operational within the Chinese military.

China’s airborne ISR program has placed significant emphasis on UAVs. China’s armed forces have operated the Chang Hong (CH-1) long-range, air-launched autonomous reconnaissance drone since the 1980s. China developed the CH-1 by reverse-engineering the US Firebee reconnaissance drones recovered during the Vietnam War. An upgraded version of the system was displayed at the 2000 Zhuhai air show and is being offered for export. A PRC aviation periodical reported that the CH-1 can carry a TV, daylight still, or infrared camera. It most likely is not equipped with a data link, which would allow remote-controlled operation, nor is it capable of providing real-time payload feedback to the remote operator.

China’s armed forces also operate other UAVs, primarily for battlefield reconnaissance or electronic warfare. Beijing has ongoing efforts in UAV research. Interest in UAVs, mainly reconnaissance versions for use with the ground forces, underscores the PLA’s requirements to increase reconnaissance and air defense capabilities.

Among the representative models produced in the past few years are some dual-use versions, such as the W-50 UAV, which can be employed for missions such as reconnaissance, radio-relay, and electronic jamming.

Another UAV slated to enter the inventory is the ASN-206. Day and night reconnaissance, battlefield surveillance, target location, artillery fire correction, and battle damage assessment are among its primary military applications.

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