China has changed the nature of its UAV industry and UAV technology procurement with the emergence of a more modern and able domestic defense industrial base. With this new product, NORINCO shows its ability to design and develop new military products in the field of unmanned aerial aircraft.

Today, China’s UAV industry is comprised of a variety of defense firms and academic research groups. The industry has swelled in the past decade due to high demand from military and civilian customers.

China now is developing UAVs with increased payload capacities, longer range, and greater endurance. The industry appears to focus on developing UAVs for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and military communications relay, but likely is developing and operating UAVs for electronic warfare (EW) and lethal missions as well. Furthermore, China’s UAV industry recently has made advancements in armed UAVs and unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) development, including those with low-observable technology.

The new Chinese-made unmanned rotary aircraft Sharp Eye III can be equipped with CCD, and laser EO (Electro-Optic) equipment to perform target positioning, fire correction, battlefield situation reconnaissance and damage assessment tasks.

This unmanned helicopter can also carry a laser illuminator to go at the front line and provide target-illumination for semi-active laser guided weapons.

The Sharp Eye II features autonomous take-off and landing, 3D programmed control, on-line task planning etc.