China’s UAV Programme
Gp Capt AK Agarwal*
The Chinese Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) programme dates back to 1950, when it procured La-17 drones from Russia and were able to reverse engineer it to produce the Shenyang BA-5 UAV (exported version Chang Kong-1 or CK-1). This drone which first flew in 1966 is a radio-controlled target drone developed by the Nanjing Institute of Aeronautics. During the Vietnam War, the Chinese managed to recover a US AQM-34N Firebee drone and were once again successful in reverse engineing it. The Chinese version of the Firebee was called Wu Zhen 5 (WZ-5) or Chang Hong 1and it entered service in 1981.
Since then, China has moved ahead and now has an active UAV programme. It is investing heavily in R&D so as to develop its unmanned systems capabilities to world class standards. The PLA has a comprehensive UAV infrastructure, backed by organisational capacity.
Organisation and Infrastructure. For developing UAV related mission requirements and policies, the Central Military Commission has nominated the General Staff Department (GSD) and the General Armament Department (GAD)as national-level authorities.[1] The GSD reportedly is responsible for Joint Mission Command and developing Joint Operational Requirements for UAVs. This department advises the Central Military Commission through the GAD Science and Technology Committee regarding UAV R&D resource allocation, technology and industrial policy. The GAD is responsible for broad technology acquisition and development for the PLA. Strategic national level and ground force mission requirements and policies concerning UAVs are developed by the GSD and GAD, while service specific requirements are formulated by:
(a) Second Artillery Headquarters Department (Intelligence Department) and Equipment Department.
(b) Air Force Headquarters Department and Equipment Department.
(c) Navy Headquarters Department and Equipment Department
In all probabilities, the GSD Military Training Department is responsible for formulating UAV mission requirements for the PLA ground forces through experience it gains from the conduct of exercises. The 60th Research Institute which is directly under the Military Training Department has a 120 Sq Km large training area housing a UAV laboratory, laboratories for communications, control, sensor, engine, laser development and testing; live fire ranges and field exercise sites.[2]
Research and Development. China aims to reduce its technology gap with other world players to become a significant global competitor in UAV systems and has invested heavily in R&D. From the 1950s to 1990, a large amount of UAV R&D work was undertaken by the North-Western Polytechnic University (NWPU), Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Beihang University. These R&D organisations work in close liaison with State run aero-space industries under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC).[3]These organisations produce various UAV systems and sub-systems. In addition, a number of domestic manufacturers for the Chinese military have R&D units focussing on unmanned systems[4]. This highly competitive domestic industry has produced around 50 designs.[5]
To develop its aviation industry and overcome technological hurdles, China resorts to reverse engineering, buying, building or stealing equipment and designs. China is likely to rely on espionage to obtain those vital military aviation technologies it cannot legally acquire from foreign suppliers or develop on its own.[6]In the past, it has clandestinely resorted to procuring sensitive UAV technology, when in 2009, there were at least three cases reported in the USA.[7]China has been able to design UAVs like the ‘Yilong’ or Wing Loong and ‘Xiangiong’ or Soaring Dragon drones which are similar to the American Predator and Global Hawk UAVs.[8]
Employment and Implications. China has a number of UAVs in service with the Second Artillery, PLA, PLAAF and PLN. As per the National Defence Report, 100th Anniversary of Republic of China, it has over 280 UAVs.[9] The Second Artillery may employ UAVs to assist in targeting during conventional ballistic, land attack cruise missile and anti-shipping operations. UAVs will be employed by the Army, Navy and Air Force for the under mentioned missions:[10]
(a) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).
(b) Precision Strikes.
(c) Electronic Warfare.
(d) Data Relay.
(e) Battle Damage Assessment.
(f) Anti-shipping.
(g) Targeted Killings.
(h) Surveying, Mapping and Geographical data collection.
(j) Border Patrol.
China has closely followed the US intervention in Afghanistan and studied how airpower was exploited by the Americans. Three key lessons learnt by China from this conflict were:[11]
(a) Air power is a potent medium for projecting power.
(b) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) can be used for ISR and precision attacks.
(c) The availability of accurate intelligence coupled with the ability to conduct precision strikes enables a small force to achieve disproportionate effects on an adversary.
The acquisition and development of longer-range UAVs such as the BZK-005 and UCAV like the ‘Yilong’ and ‘Xiangiong’, will enhance China’s ability to conduct long-range reconnaissance and strike operations. It already has produced the CH-3 armed UAV which is capable of carrying two laser guided missiles or bombs. This UAV has been offered to Pakistan along with more advanced CH-4 UCAV.[12] This will help Pakistan in overcoming technological hurdles that it is presently facing in its UAV programme.
The Chinese have yet to prove the capabilities of their armed UAVs. The CH-3 drone has not yet been bought by Pakistan for this reason. China is in the process of developing a stealth drone (code name Sharp Sword) which looks very similar to the American X-47B UAV. The Wing Loong UCAV has only recently been displayed in the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2012. China has modified 200 obsolete J-6/Mig-19 fighters into UAVs known as B-6. These B-6 UAVs most probably will be used to target ground Air Defence assets of the adversary. The only tested and proven armed UAV that it has on its inventory is the Israeli Harpy designed to detect, attack and destroy radar emitters. Therefore, it will take some time before China’s UCAV fleet becomes operational.
The majority of China’s UAVs are capable of carrying out surveillance and reconnaissance. It has existing border and maritime disputes with its neighbours. Employing UAVs for maritime patrol and surveillance of border areas offers three advantages. UAVs have very high endurance; they can change altitude and thus ensure clear imagery through high resolution cameras and they can carry out reconnaissance by both day and night. UAVs enhance the capability to gather information in a battlefield environment and improve quick-response capacity. A Chinese military expert, Chen Hu, has assessed that China has successfully mastered the capability of high-speed data link between various systems. Coupled with the development of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, UAVs will be employed for long maritime and border patrols.[13]China plans to establish at least eleven UAV bases along its coastline by 2015.[14]Coupled with the ability to launch UAVs from ships,[15]UAVs will be used extensively by China to monitor activities over its disputed island territories and expand its situational awareness in the western Pacific, the South China Sea, and the Indian Ocean.[16]
In the recent past, China has used miniature UAVs to assist in its disaster relief operations. UAVs have the advantage of requiring minimal infrastructure and thus can be rapidly deployed. They were employed for surveying large areas to assist in Disaster Relief Operations during the earthquake which struck the Sichuan province on 20 April 2013.[17] To be able to exploit the full potential of its UAV systems, China has to ensure that it has sufficient trained manpower to fly the UAVs, analyse data/imagery obtained from these advanced systems and maintain them. It has already started conducting training camps to train UAV system operators. [18]
China has invested heavily in its UAV programme and is already a leading world player with an impressive fleet of UAVs. With the State backing this programme, it has been able to invest heavily in R&D. All four of its fighting arms are equipped with UAVs. The Chinese will use these unmanned systems to project its National Power on both land and sea.
Endnotes
[1]Ian M. Easton and L.C. Russell Hsiao. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Project: Organizational Capacities and Operational Capabilities. p-3.https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Research%20Drones%20China/Research%20Drones%20China/PLA%20UAV%20Capability.pdf?w=AADyjDfcS8cr9cJEFJpelM5B0q1FtVEqhbOqhPkbB7LSyQ. Assessed on 04 June 2013
. p-3.
[2]Ibid. p-4.
[3]Ibid. p-6.
[4]Task Force Report: The Role of Autonomy in DoD Systems. July 2012. US Defense Science Board.P-69.http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dod/dsb/autonomy.pdf. Assessed on 04 June 2013.
[5]Ian M. Easton and L.C. Russell Hsiao.Op.citp-4
[6]Phillip C. Saunders and Joshua K. Wiseman.Buy, Build, or Steal: China’s Quest for Advanced
Military Aviation Technologies.Institute for National Strategic Studies China Strategic Perspectives, No. 4.p-3. http://www.ndu.edu/inss/docuploaded/China%20Strategic%20Perspectives%204.pdf. Assessed on 10 June 2013.
[7] Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2010. P-6.http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/2010_cmpr_final.pdf. Assessed on 07 June 2013.
[8] The Role of Autonomy in DoD Systems. Op.Cit. p-70.
[9]National Defence Report, 100th Anniversary of Republic of China. p-82. http://2011mndreport.mnd.gov.tw/en/pdf/100report_english.pdf. Assessed on 07 June 2013.
[10]Ibid. p-5.
[11]Andrew Martin. The Influence of US Counterinsurgency Operations in Afghanistan on The people’s
Liberation Army, in Chinese Lessons from Other Peoples’ Wars., edited by Andrew Scobell, David Lai and Roy Kamphausen.p-240. www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB1090.pdf. Assessed on 11 June 2013.
[12] Pakistan Racing to Develop Armed Drones. http://dawn.com/2012/11/18/pakistan-racing-to-develop-armed-drones-experts/. Assessed on 11 June 2013.
[13]China's UAV into a period of fast progress.Peoples Daily On-line. 07 February 2013. http://english.people.com.cn/90786/8124958.html. Assessed on 11 June 2013.
[14]Drones to Conduct Nation's Sea Surveys.http://english.people.com.cn/90786/7930011.html. Assessed on 11 June 2013.
[15] While observing a Chinese naval fleetpassing between Miyakojima and the main islandof Okinawa during a training mission, aJapanese Maritime Self Defence Force (MSDF)aircraft spotted a UAV flying in the vicinity of thefleet and took photographs for furtherconfirmation. The UAV is believed to have takenoff and landed on the deck of one of the vessels.The Role of Autonomy in DoD Systems. Op.cit. p-71.
[16]StokesMark A. China’s Quest for Joint Aerospace Power: Concepts and Future Aspirations.p-55. Article in: The Chinese Air Force Evolving Concepts, Roles, and Capabilities, edited by Richard P. Hallion, Roger Cliff, and Phillip C. Saunders. National Defense University Press.
[17]Latest military technologies help China's quake rescue. Ministry of Commerce People’s Republic of China. http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zt_test20130315/ziliao/201304/20130400100726.shtml. Assessed on 11 June 2013.
[18] PLA’s UAV Operators Backbone Concentration Training Held. http://english.people.com.cn/90786/8237395.html. Assessed on 11 June 2013.
*Group Captain AK Agarwal is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation, USI.
(Article uploaded on Jun 14, 2013).
Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the organisation that he belongs to or of the USI