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China’s Grey Eagle equivalent.
www.forbes.com
www.scmp.com
The People's Republic of China unveiled its newest drone in early November. The Wing Loong 3 has a 24-meter wingspan, a 6,200-mile range, and a much heavier payload than its predecessor. Its impressive purported range suggests that the proliferation of long-range "intercontinental" drones could be just around the corner, which undoubtedly would have significant implications for global security.
"The Wing Loong 3's innovations – such as its longer range and heavier payload – are to ensure China remains competitive in the global sale of armed military drones," James Rogers, a professor at the Center for War Studies at the University of Southern Denmark and a non-resident senior fellow at the Cornell Tech Policy Lab at Cornell University, told me.
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Wing Loong 3: The Emergent Threat Of Long-Range ‘Intercontinental’ Attack Drones
Soon, drones like the Wing Loong 3 will be available on the market, potentially enabling their operators to threaten targets from entire continents away.
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China unveils Wing Loong-3 military drone with intercontinental range
The UAV is armed with air-to-air missiles that military analysts say will allow it to hit helicopters and other drones and has a range of 10,000km.
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