China deploys advanced WZ-7 drone for first time near Scarborough Shoal
Beijing deployed its advanced WZ-7 high-altitude reconnaissance drone in the South China Sea for the first time during drills near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Sunday. The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command announced on Sunday that it had conducted joint air and naval exercises in the waters and airspace around the shoal earlier in the day. In recent years, Scarborough Shoal…
China's advanced WZ-7 high-altitude reconnaissance drone made its first official deployment in the South China Sea during joint air and naval exercises near Scarborough Shoal, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The drone, also known as the Xianglong or "Soaring Dragon," operated alongside various types of fighter aircraft, marking the first time the WZ-7 was used in a real-time operation.
The WZ-7 is capable of providing imagery intelligence for strategic and tactical reconnaissance, including border reconnaissance, patrols over territorial waters, and surveillance of key areas. Its cruising altitude exceeds 18,000 meters and it can fly for over 6.5 hours, making it well-suited for monitoring international waters and busy transport routes in the South China Sea.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
