Armament
KVD002 – China’s People’s Liberation Army shows off new combat drone
The KVD002 at the trade fair.
© PR
Visually, the KVD002 is similar to the older CH-4, the advances lie in the sensors and AI. This drone has probably been used in the Taiwan area for a long time.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s new KVD002 drone was shown at the 6th China Helicopter Exhibition at the end of September. It has probably been in use around Taiwan since 2022. It is based on the well-known CH-4 drone and has been confused with it. The design of the new drone is very similar to the CH-4, which in turn was clearly inspired by the US model “MQ-9 Reaper”. From the outside, only a radar pod on the belly has been added. The KVD002 combines reconnaissance capabilities with the ability to use weapons. At the exhibition it was shown with AR-1 air-to-surface missile. Since September 2022, Taiwan has increasingly noticed Chinese reconnaissance drones in the area around the island.
Export model CH-4
According to the announcement at the exhibition, the KVD002 is the PLA’s first armed reconnaissance drone that can attack enemy air defense systems, armored targets and share its data with other air units. To date, over 200 of the CH-4 have been sold abroad. The Iranian Saqr-1 is said to be based on it.
The variant, which can also carry weapons in addition to reconnaissance sensors, is called the CH-4B. The CH-4 can stay airborne for 30 hours, reach a top speed of 230 kilometers per hour and carry nearly 350 kilograms of weapons and equipment, including missiles, bombs, radars, cameras and civilian payloads. A special feature is its ability to use the air-to-surface missiles at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, allowing the drone to stay out of the range of Manpads and anti-aircraft tanks such as the German Gepard.
Electronics matter
The visual similarity of CH-4 and KVD002 does not mean that these systems are equivalent. The aerodynamic component can be seen from the outside. The capabilities of sensors and electronics are “invisible”. The PLA attaches great importance to the use of drones. It is intended to compensate for the existing technological inferiority compared to the USA in other systems such as stealth jets. Beijing is counting on deploying these systems in large numbers at low cost. The KVD002 will have better sensing and AI capabilities.
Attrition tactics against Taiwan
Currently, these drones play an important role in attrition tactics against Taiwan. Due to continuous exercises of various weapon systems around the island, the defense and especially the air force are permanently overwhelmed. The regular alarm missions mean that a growing number of Taiwan’s jets are no longer operational.
At the end of 2022, the USA simulated an invasion of Taiwan. In the simulation, the invasion was successfully repelled, albeit with heavy US losses. However, one critical objection could be made: What can be done if the mainland Chinese forego the risky physical invasion and choose a long-range weapons war to isolate the island and destroy the military infrastructure?
Source: Global Times, edge