China continues to advance in the field of drones and has shown muscle with an unmanned helicopter, aboard an assault ship 075, as seen on China Central Television (CCTV).
As pointed out by media such as South China Morning Postthis seems to be a strategy to enhance forces operating in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
Thus, it is the first time that a drone of this type has been seen aboard a type 075 ship, although this type of ship has been widely used in that region by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China.
Among the characteristics of this Chinese warship, it must be highlighted that it is capable of transporting between 35,000 and 40,000 tons, being able to load helicopters of this type, troops on foot, boats or armored vehicles.
In total, according to the available figures, it seems that this capacity translates into be able to carry up to 30 helicopters on boarda military power that is difficult to see in the current scenario.
Regarding the unmanned helicopter, several analysts have explained that it is an AR-2000, developed by the Chinese Aviation Corporation, weighing approximately 2 tons and already seen 2 years ago without the ship.
The main advantage of this helicopter, as Song Zhongping, a military analyst and former PLA instructor, explained to the same medium, is that this type of unmanned vehicle can operate in practically all weather conditions.
«Manned helicopters have more limitations. They cannot take off or land if there are some bad conditions at sea and with weather complications. This unmanned helicopter should also serve as a reference for damage assessment of manned helicopters, and extend their reconnaissance and casualty range,» he added.
Additionally, the most expected thing is that this helicopter can reach greater distances without having to refuel, since not carrying a crew or cargo allows the weight of the cabin to be reduced.
As different experts have pointed out, this helicopter could be ideal for the South China Sea region, where different maritime conflicts with the Philippines are located, mostly due to military maneuvers in this area.
For now, this means an increase in military technology for China, which seeks to improve existing models and coordinate them effectively for deterrence on its borders.