Carrier-based Armed-Recon Drone Model Displayed at Airshow China

A foldable winged-drone indicating aircraft-carrier deployment was displayed at Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai.

Designated HK-5000G, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) appeared on display at the booth of the Aeromarine Intelligent Equipment Company, a subsidiary of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

The model of the drone looks like that of a medium- and high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. Global Times newspaper quoted Liu Yubao, vice manager of the company's research and development department as saying that the HK-5000G is a vessel-based armed reconnaissance drone. Liu said. "It can carry a payload for scouting missions or missiles for combat."

The drone potentially has an endurance of 12 hours and weighs about 5 tons, Liu said however that these were early specs. "We have made many pre-studies including takeoff and landing on an aircraft carrier and aircraft-vessel adaptation."

Given the HK-5000G's size, its 5-ton weight and its engine The UAV must use a catapult launch system which makes its deployable only on the third aircraft carrier which is still under developm