The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has confirmed it is pursuing a development programme for carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to an interview with CASC senior engineer, Shi Wen, published in the Global Times newspaper on 3 April.
Additional remarks from Li Jie, a widely quoted naval commentator in Beijing, added that “research into carrier-based UAVs started a long time ago”.
In fact, commercial satellite imagery captured in November 2016 shows a UAV at a catapult test site of the People’s Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF) base at Huangdicun. The site has two catapult test tracks installed side by side, one of which is assessed to be steam powered, and the other electromagnetic.
Janes