China used its advanced high-altitude reconnaissance UAV WZ-7 for the first time.

Beijing has deployed its advanced high-altitude reconnaissance drone WZ-7 "Soaring Dragon" for the first time during exercises in the South China Sea, the South China Morning Post reported on September 28, citing a report by the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

This was the first official confirmation of the use of the WZ-7, also known as the "Soaring Dragon," in a real operational environment, the article says. As noted, the long-range drone operated in conjunction with various types of fighters that took off from several airfields. As noted, the WZ-7 became the world's second UAV "capable of performing operations on civil aviation routes," i.e. at altitudes from 8,000 to 12,000 meters, inaccessible to most drones. Thus, the Chinese WZ-7 will compete with the American RQ-4 Global Hawk.

It is specified that the device has a cruising altitude of more than 18 thousand meters, a range of over 4.5 thousand km and is capable of being in the air for more than 6.5 hours. As noted by former PLA Air Force officer Fu Qianshao, due to the long flight duration and high speed, the WZ-7 does not require deployment to bases in the South China Sea, but can take off from land airfields on the coast of China and conduct real-time reconnaissance in a given area for a long time.

The WZ-7 strategic reconnaissance UAV was developed by Chengdu Aviation Industrial Corporation. The device made its first flight in 2009. After a number of modifications, the WZ-7 was officially unveiled at the Zhuhai Exhibition in 2021.

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Dmitry Yadrov, head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, said on September 15 that Russia and China were negotiating the creation of cross-border routes for unmanned aerial vehicles. According to him, cooperation with the Chinese side continues, and negotiations on the project are in an active phase.