Looking to the future, China has at least two new fighter programmes under way that emphasise low-observability and super-cruise capabilities, active phased-array radar technology, and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T). Already an experience operator of UAVs, the PLAAF appears to have shown interest in stealthy high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) air vehicles, with several major defence companies including AVIC, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation - vying for potential contracts with their own designs. Other novel designs, such as the supersonic 'Wuzhen-8' (WZ-8) reconnaissance UAV have also emerged in recent years.
展开▼
