China is planning to introduce a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the TYW-1, for military purpose to the international market next year.

Dubbed as a strike-capable reconnaissance UAV, the TYW-1 is scheduled to make its maiden flight this September and will be launched by 2018, Wang Jianping, deputy general manager and chief designer from Beihang Unmanned Aircraft System Technology, told IHS Jane.

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Wang said that the company is eyeing the markets in neighboring countries such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Chinese military UAVs, which have been deployed in the Middle East, have seen increasing demands.

The TYW-1 is an unmanned system for surveillance and combat based on the BZK-005, used by China's People's Liberation Army. It could also patrol Chinese "territorial waters," indicating a possible deployment in the East and the South China Sea, according to Daily Caller.

Meanwhile, drone developer China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation is also producing CH-4, another combat drone used in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. On the other hand, the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute also developed the Wing Loong.

China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the biggest Chinese missile maker, is also producing a stealth military drone that could evade radar and anti-aircraft weapons. It also developed high-speed, cruise missile-like WJ series drone.

 "As military reforms are drastically changing armed forces around the world, drones have become an indispensable weapon in modern warfare because they can play an important role in high-resolution reconnaissance, long distance precision strikes, anti-submarine operations and aerial combat," Wei Yiyin, CASIC's deputy general manager, said.

TagsUAV, unmanned aerial vehicle, drones, TYW-1, CH-4, WJ series