China’s new stealth combat drones are likely to be paired with fighter jets, playing the role of “loyal wingman” and acting as a “force multiplier” for the country’s airborne operations, according to military analysts.
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Citing satellite imagery from Planet Labs, defence news site The War Zone reported last week that a pair of GJ-11 Sharp Sword unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) had become more active in recent months at western China’s Malan Air Base, known to be a major hub for drone testing.
The sightings come amid speculation over the future of a US initiative to develop the next generation of fighter jets and air combat systems, prompting comparisons between the military rivals’ drone programmes.
“The US military has no such drones in active development, at least that we know about, and public interest in designs of this kind has completely disappeared within America’s armed forces,” The War Zone reported.
“This is all despite extensive work the US military funded on stealthy flying wing UCAVs in the past, and their absence has become particularly pronounced when it comes to US Air Force future planning.”