China Stealth Drone: Test Flight Of ‘Sharp Sword’
A China stealth drone test flight of the “Sharp Sword” appears to have been successful.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr, a US drone crashed into the side of one of the Navy’s ships.
China’s stealth drone, called by the Chinese “The Lijian”, made news today after pictures and videos of the test flight were posted to People’s Daily.Fears of about drone technology reaching China hit news earlier this year. While photos of the drone had previously been circulated, China has upped the ante by letting the world know the “Sharp Sword” is flight ready. The 20 minute flight was identified as occurring at a southwestern Chinese testing base.
The aircraft is purportedly similar to the US X-47B drone, also currently being tested. Some alternatively claim the drone appears to have been reverse engineered from Russia’s Mikoyan Skat unmanned aerial vehicle. Analysts propose the China stealth drone could be launched from China’s sole aircraft carrier, though it’s capabilities remain unknown at this time. Though China has had problems with engine reliability, the current drone in question appears to have Russian turbofan engines, neatly sidestepping Chinese built issues.
China has already begun grandiose threats to other nations, saying any attempt by Japan to take down any Chinese aircraft would be considered an “act of war”. This is despite the fact that China has previously sent a drone close to a group of islands in dispute between the two nations, causing alarm to the Japanese. Japan responded to that incident by saying they would shoot down any future drones in Japanese airspace. Which, apparently, China plans to, going by the statement released.
China bragged about their stealth drone today in China Daily:
“The successful flight shows the nation has again narrowed the air-power disparity between itself and Western nations.”
With the successful China stealth drone flight, the country joins a very small group of nations with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology. The test flight comes at a nerve racking time for Chinese neighbors, who’ve recently seen China spend massive amounts of money on their military.
So what do you think, are you worried about China’s stealth drone flight?
