Chinese drones in demand as Algeria and Egypt eye orders from world’s leading UAV exporter
- Good payment plans and service as well as a change to US drone export policy restricting sales to American allies are boosting Chinese UAV sales
- Delivery of Caihong-5 drones to Algeria in March add to Caihong-3 and Caihong-4 UAVs will bring its air force attack drones to about 60 by late 2022
Defence analysts said the new deals showed China’s “successful drone market strategies” overseas, reflecting accessible pricing and payment methods, the suitability of the goods and a readiness by China to fill the gap left by the US’ new drone export policy, which from 2020 restricted sales to close allies only.
According to Mena Defence, a military website covering defence news in the Middle East and North Africa, Algeria confirmed the order of half a dozen Caihong-5 UAVs. Price details were not disclosed, but it said the new drones would be delivered in March.
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The new Caihong-5 UAVs would join squadrons of Caihong-3 and Caihong-4 drones Algeria had previously bought from China, bringing the number of the country’s air force attack drones to about 60 by the end of 2022, Mena Defence added.
Caihong-5, or Rainbow-5, which was developed and manufactured by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), is China’s largest strike-capable drone able to counter the American MQ-9 Reaper UAV.
With an endurance of 60 hours and 1,000kg payload, it was designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, patrols, target positioning and strike missions.
Meanwhile, Egypt is in talks to buy a number of Wing Loong-1D drones from China for its air force, according to Tactical Report, a market information and intelligence agency website operated by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Wing Loong-1D, or Pterosaur, is a multipurpose and military capable UAV developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic), a sister manufacturer to CASC. Like the Caihong-5, Wing Loong-1D is another competitor for the American MQ-9 combat drones.