Photos have emerged on the China Defense Mashup web site of a possible Chinese high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAV at the Chengdu airfield.
The aircraft resembles the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, with a rear-mounted intake above the tail and long thin wings that would be suitable for sustained high altitude flight. Unlike Global Hawk's 'V' tail the Chinese aircraft has a more traditional tail plane. China Mashup speculates that it is the Xianglong UAV, which first appeared in model form at the China Air Show in Zhuhai in 2006.
If the J-20 exposure pattern (grainy photos followed by amateur video) is anything to go by, with luck we'll see this UAV in flight in the next few weeks.
This is the second sighting of a Chinese UAV in as many weeks. Last week Japan Security Watch posted photos of a UAV apparently operating from a Chinese warship.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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