China Deploys 2 Types of Drones Aboard Aircraft Carrier Shandong

At least seven drones of two different types were spotted on the Chinese People’s Liberation Amy (PLA) Navy’s Shandong aircraft carrier.

Chinese analysts say such a combination could enhance the ship's logistics support capability and situational awareness.

On Sunday, state-owned international radio broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) reported citing a picture recently circulated on social media that a fleet of lightweight, fixed-wing drones that are capable of vertical takeoff and landing had been spotted on the flight deck of the Shandong. The source of which was unknown, but a watermark of China Central Television (CCTV) indicated its authenticity, the report said.

China’s semi-official Global Times found that the picture was indeed a screenshot taken from official reports. It first emerged in a video released by the PLA South Sea Fleet on Tuesday, then was widely reported by other PLA-affiliated media. No elaboration was given about the drones in the report.

With limited takeoff weights, these drones do not have a long range, but can serve transport purposes among ships in a flotilla, or enhance the carrier's situational awareness when used for search or reconnaissance, a Beijing-based military expert told the Global Times on Sunday.

In terms of carrier-based drone development, the U.S. is still ahead of China, the expert said, noting that the U.S. has already tested the likes of the MQ-25 aerial refueling drone as well as the X-47B combat drone from aircraft carriers, which are much more technologically sophisticated and of tactical significance than the drones seen on the Shandong.

With China's continued aircraft carrier development, the country will also develop larger drones for aerial refueling and armed reconnaissance, the expert predicted.