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…
Beijing showcased its latest unmanned drone, the WZ-7, in joint air and naval exercises near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Sunday. The People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command announced the deployment during drills in the disputed waters and airspace. The drone, also known as the Xianglong or "Soaring Dragon," is capable of high-altitude, long-endurance flights and can operate in international waters while providing imagery intelligence for reconnaissance.
The WZ-7 measures 14 meters in length, 3.9 meters in height, and has a wingspan of 22.8 meters. It can fly at altitudes above 18,000 meters, cover a range of over 4,500 kilometers, and remain on station for more than 6.5 hours. The footage showed the WZ-7 taking off from a military base in southern China and heading towards the South China Sea, highlighting Beijing's continued exploration of the region's complex mission conditions.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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