Sugarcane
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Chinese drones could be used by the People's Liberation Army against US carrier strike groups if war broke out in the Asia-Pacific, reports Duowei News, an outlet operated by overseas Chinese.
Models of combat drones such as the Wing Loong and CH-4 were on display at the Zhuhai Airshow in Gunagdong last month and raised the eyebrows of a number of Western analysts at the prospect of an arms race between China and the United States for unmanned combat air vehicles. The US has controversially used drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to target terrorists and insurgents, attracting criticism for the numbers of civilian casulaties in drone strikes.
The X-47B combat drone designed by Northrop Grumman was recently deployed aboard a US carrier. With the ability to carry 2,000 kilograms of ordnance, the X-47B is able to conduct reconnaissance and even attack mission Chinese targets within a range of 3,890 kilometers. To counter a potential attack launched from a US carrier task force in the Western Pacific, drones like China Aerospace International's CH-4 have been designed to carry missiles and precision-guided munitions. The CH-4 has a range of 3,500 kilometers, sufficient for the PLA Air Force or Navy to cover the East and South China seas.
A new type of combat drone called Dark Sword may pose a greater threat to US military bases in the Asia-Pacific than the Wing Loong and CH-4. A report published by the Defense Science Board of the US Department of Defense says the Dark Sword may have the power to conduct aerial warfare against American drones and perhaps even piloted aircraft. Designed for high maneuverability at supersonic speeds, Dark Sword could connceivably be used by the PLA to attack US aircraft carriers in the region as a substitute for ballistic missiles.
Drone wars: Dark Sword could threaten US planes, carriers
