The Pentagon thinks China will prioritise development of stealthy unmanned aircraft for air-to-ground combat along with its pursuit of fifth-generation fighter aircraft like the J-20 and J-31 to rival the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
According to a report by the US Defense Department on military developments in China, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force views stealth technology as “integral to unmanned aircraft”, particularly for striking well-defended ground targets.
“Some estimates indicate China plans to produce upwards of 41,800 land- and sea-based unmanned systems, worth about $10.5 billion, between 2014 and 2023,” the report says. “In 2013, China unveiled details of four UAVs under development—the Xianglong, Yilong, Sky Saber, and Lijian—the last three of which are designed to carry precision-strike capable weapons.”
China’s first stealthy UAV, the Lijian, conducted its maiden test flight November 2013.
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