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Seong Hyeon Choi

One of China’s largest defence contractors displayed a model of a drone assembly line at a leading international defence exhibition, hinting that the firm is planning to make more of the weapons overseas.
The state-run North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) displayed the model during this year’s Eurosatory, one of the world’s largest exhibitions of army weaponry, which is being held in Paris this week.
The miniature depicted the manufacture of several Norinco drones, such as the BZK-005E reconnaissance aircraft – which is currently operated in Indonesia, Mauritania and reportedly Sudan.
The assembly line showed the production of parts and components, final assembly and testing. A graphic in the Norinco booth also described how the explosives and propellants used in the drones are made.
In another corner of the booth, models of the CY-8 cargo drone, the Z-6B unmanned helicopter and various loitering munitions were on display. According to state media reporting, the CY-8 is the world’s heaviest cargo drone and is capable of carrying a 3.5-tonne payload.
Behind the miniature assembly line hung a banner that read “Norinco defence localisation”.


“It’s not hard for China to transfer drone assembly lines to friendly countries, once the conditions are met, just like it did with certain lines to Pakistan,” said Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor.
“China can consider transferring the assembly lines to some Middle Eastern countries as demand for drones is growing there. It can offer the core components for the countries to assemble them locally, if the buyers have made such a demand.”
It is rare for a Chinese state-owned defence contractor to showcase how it makes weapons at an overseas exhibition, as the assembly lines of the country’s arms makers are off-limits to both the domestic public and international observers.
Norinco’s display comes as the company is working to expand its drone exports, given the growing role cost-effective drones are playing in modern warfare, as seen in both the US-Israel war on Iran and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In December, Egypt’s Arab Organization for Industrialisation signed a memorandum of understanding with Norinco to co-produce military drones based on China’s ASN-209 drones, up to 85 per cent of which will reportedly be produced domestically in Egypt.


During the Iran war, Tehran has used its low-cost, slow-moving Shahed drones – along with faster cruise and ballistic missiles – to strike at Gulf states hosting US troops. Defending against this assault has cost billions of dollars and drained the states’ stockpile of air-defence missiles. Analysts have said that the Chinese military would likely draw lessons from the conflict.
The Middle East is China’s most important export market for drones. Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group’s Wing Loong series of unmanned aerial vehicles are exported to 11 countries in the region, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The platform can be used in both reconnaissance and combat operations.
Additional reporting by Jun Mai


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Norinco displaying a model assembly line at a top defence exhibition could mean the firm hopes to make more weapons overseas


Norinco displaying a model assembly line at a top defence exhibition could mean the firm hopes to make more weapons overseas.


Is Beijing planning to make more drones overseas for Middle Eastern buyers?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Norinco displaying a model assembly line at a top defence exhibition could mean the firm hopes to make more weapons overseas

Norinco displaying a model assembly line at a top defence exhibition could mean the firm hopes to make more weapons overseas