China to unveil stealth jets and attack drones at Zhuhai airshow

DRONE WARFARE

While China has had to play serious catch-up with the United States when it comes to most traditional military technology, that might not be the case with drones, where Beijing dominates the commercial market.

The SS-UAV – a massive mothership that can rapidly release swarms of smaller drones for intelligence gathering, as well as strikes – will be on display in Zhuhai, according to the South China Morning Post.

Other unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) on display might be suicide drones or ones with stealth or other special abilities, said Sheu Jyh-Shyang from Taipei’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

“The United States still has the best drones regarding performance, but China is a drone great power as well,” Sheu told AFP.

The fact that American UCAVs are subject to strict export controls means a bigger market for Chinese ones, he said – including in the Middle East and North Africa, where they can learn from combat experience.

The airshow will feature a dedicated drone zone for the first time, reflecting this increased prominence in warzones, including Ukraine.

In October the United States unveiled sanctions targeting China-based companies linked to the production of drones that Russia has deployed in the conflict.

Moscow and Beijing have deepened military and defence ties since Russia’s invasion of its neighbour three years ago.

The secretary of Russia’s Security Council Sergei Shoigu will be at the airshow, and the country’s most advanced jet, the Su-57 stealth fighter, will make a display flight.

“We cannot rule out the possibility that Beijing’s leverage over Moscow has already translated into access to some of the most advanced Russian military technology,” NTU’s Char told AFP, though he cautioned they were “no allies” in the traditional sense.