China's giant WZ-7 Soaring Dragon drone with a cruising speed of 750 km/h, copying the US RQ-4 Global Hawk, has entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone

Since last Friday, more than 100 Chinese military aircraft, drones and ships have carried out operations near Taiwan. Several drones and fighter jets entered the air defence identification zone. One of them turned out to be the giant WZ-7 Soaring Dragon.

Here's What We Know

Late last week, 22 aircraft entered the Air Defence Identification Zone. The WZ-7 Soaring Dragon unmanned aerial vehicle headed east. The Taiwanese military believes the Chinese People's Liberation Army wants to build up the number of aircraft from the eastern and southeastern sides of the island, where defences are not as strong.

The WZ-7 Soaring Dragon is a reconnaissance drone of the Chinese Navy. It resembles the American Northrop RQ-4 Global Hawk strategic drone, which is called the MQ-4C Triton when modified for the US Navy.

Soaring Dragon is also used exclusively for reconnaissance and is not equipped with bombs or missiles. The drone has a cruising speed of 750 km/h and a maximum range of 7000 km.

The WZ-7 Soaring Dragon is 14.3 metres long and has a wingspan of 25 metres. The reconnaissance drone can conduct reconnaissance from an altitude of over 18 kilometres. The maximum take-off weight is 7,500kg including 650kg payload.

Source: scmp