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China’s military
ChinaMilitary

China unveils Wing Loong-3 intercontinental military drone with self-defence mechanism at Zhuhai air show

  • China’s latest advanced UAV is armed with air-to-air missiles that military analysts say will allow it to hit helicopters and other drones
  • It can fly 10,000km at medium altitude while carrying heavy loads, giving it a stronger strike capability, say analysts

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Footage shows the drone is equipped with the PL-10E fourth-generation air-to-air strike missile. Photo: CCTV
Amber Wangin Beijing
China has unveiled its latest military drone model – Wing Loong-3, the first model in the family to reach intercontinental range while equipped for aerial self-defence – at a major air show.
The Wing Loong-3 UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), which also features a stronger strike capability, made its debut at the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai in Guangdong province on Tuesday. The event, known as Airshow China, will run until Sunday.

The latest version in the Wing Loong drone series can fly a maximum range of 10,000km (6,200 miles) at medium altitude and has a 12.2-metre (40 feet) long main body and a 24-metre wingspan that enable it to fly long range while carrying heavy loads, according to Chinese state media.

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China unveils new combat drone described as a rival to US Army Grey Eagle

China unveils new combat drone described as a rival to US Army Grey Eagle

State media reported that Wing Loong-3 could carry as many as 16 missiles and bombs.

Footage of the Wing Loong-3 on display in Zhuhai shows it is equipped with the PL-10E fourth-generation air-to-air strike missile, which Chinese analysts deem a significant improvement on the Wing Loong-1 and 2 models.

Yue Gang, a retired PLA colonel, said carrying PL-10E missiles meant the Wing Loong-3 could hit targets such as helicopters and UAVs, which “gives it a self-defence capability and improved its survivability”.

Compared with previous Wing Loong models, Yue said its larger size enables it to achieve long-range, heavy-loading and multitask performance.

Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said its long endurance and heavy loads allowed the Wing Loong-3 to have a stronger strike capability.

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