CHINA-PLA MODERNISATION: NEW ARMED DRONE FOR BORDER RECCEE

Li Wei, a professor at the National Defense University, in a report published in the China Youth Daily revealed on November 29, 2018 the first details of China's new armed reconnaissance drone, the GJ-2, following its debut at the Airshow China 2018 earlier this month. Made by the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, the GJ-2 is a medium-to-high altitude armed unmanned reconnaissance aerial vehicle intended to to enhance China's border patrol and counter-terrorism efforts. Installed with a turboprop engine, the aircraft can reach a top speed of 370 kilometers an hour at an altitude of 9,000 meters, and can stay in the air for 20 hours. The GJ-2 has six weapon bays under its wings capable of carrying as many as 12 small missiles, making its strike capability better than its predecessor, the GJ-1. It is also equipped with a reconnaissance system, including a synthetic aperture radar and an electro-optical pod, which can provide more detailed information on the target. Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times that the GJ-2 is an enhanced version of a "bomb truck in the sky" that can also provide real-time information to field commanders. Some experts say the GJ-2 is the PLA version of the Wing Loong II. The PLA version will be better in terms of anti-jamming, battlefield communication and customization potential. The China Youth Daily report said China has a long border in high altitude areas like Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, where patrols are risky and inefficient. The GJ-2 would solve the problem if deployed. 





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