Sign InThe Forum > Article Comments > Weapons of the weak: UAVs in the South China Sea > Comments
Weapons of the weak: UAVs in the South China Sea : Comments
By Liang Nah, published 27/10/2015Though expanded maritime patrol aircraft fleets would be unaffordable, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles might be an economical solution.
- Pages:
- ‹
- Page 1
- ›
- All
Posted by plantagenet, Tuesday, 27 October 2015 3:27:08 PM
|
- Pages:
- ‹
- Page 1
- ›
- All
UAVs are a sound idea with the added benefit if shot down by the Chinese nobody gets killed.
If the Philippines or Malaysia buy or are given UAVs by the US these UAVs, to an extent, are US flagged. China cannot be certain that such UAVs do not belong to the US military.
In terms of crews a 20 hour Predator mission may need 2 or 3 crews of 2 operators to fly it (one crew would get too tired) and a crew at a small airport to launch and retrieve the Predator.
Israeli sourced UAVs indeed are cheaper and are neutral in the South China Sea setting.
Overall China's reef building of airports/seaports at Mischief, Subi and Fiery Cross reefs are giving China stationary aircraft carrier like capabilities in the center of the South China Sea. Such a regional capability may soon be too great for the US to counter.
Regards
Pete
see http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/chinas-anti-submarine-asw-capabilities.html