China has introduced a cheap kamikaze drone priced at $10,000
The drone resembles the Iranian Shahed-136 in appearance and purpose, which indicates Beijing's desire to create mass production of drones for future conflicts.
The drone resembles the Iranian Shahed-136 in appearance and purpose, which indicates Beijing's desire to create mass production of drones for future conflicts.
Chinese state-owned defense conglomerate Norinco has developed a new low-cost kamikaze drone, Defense Blog reports . The Feilong-300D could reportedly cost as little as $10,000 per unit, significantly cheaper than Iranian-Russian counterparts that range from $75,000 to $150,000 per drone.
The Feilong-300D is equipped with a piston engine that runs on standard gasoline and is characterized by simple design, high reliability and low cost. It is added that the delta-wing design of the drone provides increased flight range under equivalent power conditions.
During one simulated exercise, Feilong reportedly flew 1,000 kilometers, evaded enemy air defenses, and struck a target.
The drone is said to be able to coordinate with fighter jets and ground-based missile systems during operations. It can also be equipped with adaptive warheads, allowing drone operators to select target options based on varying operational requirements.
According to the South China Morning Post, Norinco's sales strategy is based on the increasing intensity of regional conflicts, which will help the company attract foreign buyers. The publication claims that the Feilong-300D could become an affordable but highly productive weapon option for small countries, allowing them to create their own unmanned combat forces through mass procurement.
Earlier, China's Norinco released footage of the VU-T10 tracked unmanned ground vehicle.
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