• Air Warfare

  China’s stealth carrier fighter makes maiden flight

  2nd November 2021

  China's military aviation industry continues to pump out new aircraft, including the long-expected appearance of a carrier stealth fighter.

• Air Warfare

  China’s long-awaited twin-seat J-20 emerges

  28th October 2021

  The appearance of a twin-seat J-20 indicates broader role for China's premier fighter aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  China shows smorgasbord of innovative UAVs in Zhuhai

  30th September 2021

  China's military is already using a number of capable UAV platforms, with even more advanced designs on the way.

• Air Warfare

  China reveals J-16D and other aircraft at Zhuhai

  29th September 2021

  China showed off new aircraft and missiles at the Zhuhai air show, including a twin-seat J-16D shown in public for the first time.

• Land Warfare

  China exhibits new land equipment at Zhuhai

  3rd October 2021

  China shows little sign of slowing the quantity of new equipment for the PLA and for export markets.

• Air Warfare

  Chinese UAVs fly near Japan as new models abound

  1st September 2021

  New and innovative UAV designs continue to flood out of Chinese companies and institutes, while the PLA is getting bolder about flying them farther afield too.

• Air Warfare

  J-10 fighter gets local power boost

  19th May 2021

  Locally produced jet engines are now powering single-engine fighters of the PLAAF.

• Land Warfare

  PLA adopts a new anti-tank guided missile

  31st March 2021

  A modern anti-tank guided missile is among new equipment being adopted by the PLA.

• Land Warfare

  PLA modernises its artillery inventory

  12th February 2021

  Tube artillery, rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers - all are being modernised in China's army to gain mobility, speed and precision and replace old stock.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  WJ-700 flies, as other Chinese UCAVs fight

  20th January 2021

  A new Chinese UAV/UCAV has taken to the skies for the first time. Meanwhile, other Chinese models are being used extensively in combat in the Middle East and North Africa.

• Land Warfare

  Did China use a microwave weapon against Indian soldiers?

  18th November 2020

  If the PLA did employ a microwave weapon against Indian troops, this is likely the first use of the technology in combat.

• Air Warfare

  Chinese KJ-600 AEW may have performed maiden flight

  4th September 2020

  The KJ-600, a carrier-borne airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft destined for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), may have performed its maiden flight on 29 …

• Defence Notes

  China tests reusable spacecraft in secretive ‘star wars’ programme

  10th September 2020

  On 4 September China successfully tested in space a new ‘reusable experimental spacecraft’, nomenclature unknown, after launching it from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in …

• Defence Helicopter

  PLA shows wide-body Z-8 and new helicopter missile

  25th August 2020

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has begun fielding a wide-body variant of the Z-8 helicopter built by Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC). By midyear, approximately six of …

• Land Warfare

  China deploys new vehicle types and is developing new 8x8 AFV

  17th June 2020

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been busy introducing new artillery platforms, and China is currently developing a replacement for its existing 8x8 armoured vehicle. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Artillery UAV [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirement & Replacement The Royal Thai Army (RTA) was understood to be seeking a new tactical UAV to replace four legacy Israel Aerospace Industries ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  FL-71

  The FL-71 (Fei Long-2  or Flying Dragon-2) is a supersonic unmanned transportation platform designed by ZT Guide Control. The design was presented at Airshow China ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  CM-502KG

  The CM-502KG is a Chinese air-to-surface missile. It is a variant of the CM-502G, similar in size to the AR-1. It has more than twice ...

• Land: RWS

  UW5

  The UW5 is an uncrewed turret developed by Norinco for integration on AFVs. During its debut at the Zhuhai Airshow in September 2021, it was seen ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VN22

  The VN22 is a 6x6 armoured vehicle unveiled by Norinco at the Zhuhai Airshow in September 2021. Little is known about this vehicle's capabilities, but ...

• Military - USVs

  JARI USV-A

  The JARI USV-A is a large, uncrewed surface vessel developed in China by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC).

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  TD220

  The TD220 is an electric, coaxial dual-rotor UAV manufactured by Zhong Hang Zhi (ZHZ). The aircraft, which debuted at the 2014 Singapore Airshow, is designed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Mysterious Bee

  The Mysterious Bee hybrid, fixed-wing/quadcopter UAV was unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow 2016. It is designed to operate from ships, small islands, mountainous areas and ...

• Awing-F100J

  Awing-F100J is the latest UAV from Tianjin-based Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology and was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China for the first time ...

• T333

  The T333 is a coaxial dual-rotor UAV. It is an upgrade to the TD220 unmanned helicopter and was displayed for the first time at the ...

• Military - USVs

  SeaFly-01

  The SeaFly-01 USV, developed by Beijing Sifang Automation, was showcased at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China in November 2016. It is designed for various ...

• Awing-F20

  The Awing-F20 is a fixed-wing UAV designed by Quadrant Space (Tianjin) Technology. The platform was displayed at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow in China, alongside other ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VN2C

  The VN2C 6x6 armoured vehicle was introduced at the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2016. Aimed at the export market, it appears to be an updated version ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  CH-7

  The CH-7 (Caihong-7) is a turbofan-powered stealth UAV designed for reconnaissance, support and strike missions.  In 2022, an improved version was showcased. The version has ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  FL-2

  The FL-2 is a turbofan-powered multirole MALE UCAV designed to conduct precision strikes against key assets and provide an ISR capability. First displayed at Airshow China ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  MD-22

  The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) unveiled the near-space hypersonic technology testbed MD-22 at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022. Capable of speeds of Mach 7, the ...