Drones arms race underway

State-owned Aviation Industry Corp. of China (AVIC) is exporting combat drones to conflict zones around the world, drawing accusations that it is fuelling an arms race


Wing Loong: “Pterodactyl” is medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Length:		11 metres
Max speed: 	370km/h
Max altitude: 	9,000m
Endurance:	20 hours

Satellite antenna in dome

Electro-optical payload pod: Daylight, infrared cameras, sensors

Weapons: Laser-guided bombs or missiles with total weight of 480kg

Turbocharged engine drives three-bladed prop


China drone sales (2010-2020) 
Saudi Arabia		55
United Arab Emirates	40
Pakistan 		25 
Iraq 			12
Myanmar 		12 
Algeria 		10
Egypt 			10
Sudan 			10
Nigeria 		9
Serbia 			9
Indonesia  		8
Jordan  		6
Uzbekistan  		5
Turkmenistan  		4
Kazakhstan  		3
Laos			2

Aug 2019-Feb 2021: UAE loses 10 Wing Loongs, shot down over Libya while supporting warlord Khalifa Haftar

Sep 2016-Mar 2021: Saudi-led coalition loses 22 drones, shot down by Houthi forces over Yemen


Sources: Bloomberg, Drone Wars UK, The Aviationist
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