These countries have bought Chinese drones
Other buyers of Chinese combat drones include Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan and Serbia. Their purchased drones can also fire air-to-surface missiles along with gathering intelligence. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which monitors global arms purchases, shows that China has sold around 282 combat drones to 17 countries in the past decade. In such a situation, China has become the world’s leading exporter of combat drones.
China sold more drones than America
By comparison, the US has the most advanced UAVs in the world, according to SIPRI data. Despite this, it has sold only 12 combat drones in the last decade. Britain and France are also the buyers of these 12 drones. However, the US still leads in exports of unarmed surveillance drones. America has a wide range of drones. American drones are also the most advanced and expensive in terms of technology. America’s arms sales policy is also quite complicated. In such a situation, small countries around the world are buying cheap Chinese drones as another option.
How China captured the drone market
China’s dominance of the global market for combat drones over the past decade has been due to government financing and diplomatic efforts. China is trying to mold its army according to world-class standards. Chinese President Xi Jinping has described drones as capable of changing the atmosphere of war. This is why during the Communist Party Congress last year, the Jinping administration has promised to increase the capabilities of unmanned, artificial intelligence. John Shaws, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said that drones are an important part of China’s informational warfare concept. Such advanced capabilities give China the ability to conduct missions beyond its borders with little infrastructure or political risk, he said.
China can attack drone on Taiwan
Chinese military aviation expert Fu Qianshao told the Communist Party-owned Global Times in September that China could use drones to dominate the Taiwan Strait in the event of a conflict. His statement confirmed the apprehensions of Western military experts, who were already claiming that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could use large numbers of drones at the start of any war to eliminate the area’s air defenses. Can go
Chinese drones are copies of American drones
Aviation expert Akhil Kadidal of Jane’s Media outlet, which monitors global defense, said that Chinese drones are ahead in gathering information, attacking and electronic warfare. He said China’s best-selling drone, the Caihong-4, is a copy of the US-made MQ-9 Reaper, while the hugely popular Wing Loong-2 is similar to the US-made MQ-1 Predator. Kadidal said that many UAV programs in China also provide buyers with many other facilities than those in Western countries. The Wing Loong-2 and The Wing Loong-3 are examples of this. Both these UAVs are not only faster than the US drones but can also fly with more weapons.
Chinese drones are cheaper than US
According to US-based think tank CSIS, Chinese combat drones are much cheaper despite being similar in design and capabilities to US-made drones. This is the reason why global buyers are quickly attracted to Chinese drones. For example, the CH-4 and Wing Loong 2 are estimated to cost between $1 million and $2 million, while America’s MQ-9 Reaper cost $16 million and the Predator $4 million. The cheap price means even interested governments can buy Chinese drones in large quantities.
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