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China 'flies first stealth drone' - reports | China 'flies first stealth drone' - reports |
(about 1 hour later) | |
China successfully flew a stealth drone for the first time on Thursday, state media said, citing eyewitness reports. | China successfully flew a stealth drone for the first time on Thursday, state media said, citing eyewitness reports. |
A drone, called "Sharp Sword" by the media, made a test flight for around 20 minutes in Chengdu, reports said. | A drone, called "Sharp Sword" by the media, made a test flight for around 20 minutes in Chengdu, reports said. |
China has been developing stealth aircraft in recent years, including J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters. | China has been developing stealth aircraft in recent years, including J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters. |
In September, an unmanned drone flew close to a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea, raising tensions with Japan. | In September, an unmanned drone flew close to a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea, raising tensions with Japan. |
Following that incident, Japan said it would shoot down unmanned aircraft in Japanese airspace. | Following that incident, Japan said it would shoot down unmanned aircraft in Japanese airspace. |
China's Defence Ministry said that any attempt by Japan to shoot down Chinese aircraft would constitute "an act of war". | China's Defence Ministry said that any attempt by Japan to shoot down Chinese aircraft would constitute "an act of war". |
"The successful flight shows the nation has again narrowed the air-power disparity between itself and Western nations," state-run newspaper China Daily said on Friday. | "The successful flight shows the nation has again narrowed the air-power disparity between itself and Western nations," state-run newspaper China Daily said on Friday. |
The BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus says China is joining a small elite club of nations that includes the US, Israel, France and the UK, who are pushing the boundaries of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology. | |
It comes as China pours money into its military making its neighbours in the region nervous, BBC Beijing correspondent Martin Patience says. | |