China Unveils New Killer Drones, Aims Them at Russia

Watch out, Vladimir Putin: China’s drone fleet is getting real. And judging from how Beijing is promoting its robots to the outside world, they’re aimed straight at Russia.

That’s all from a glimpse of the biennial China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, held earlier his month in Zhuhai, which has become the main event for the latest in all things Chinese aircraft. It’s China’s largest aircraft expo, while also presenting an opportunity for Beijing to show off its growing robotic muscle — and potential buyers in the developing world. But until recently, the drones on display were usually mock-ups or drawings, not the real thing.

This year, Beijing’s most prominent new drone is the dinosaur-named Wing Loong, or Pterodactyl,according to a round-up at Defense News. The drone is reportedly operational — China has previously shown only models of the drone — and closely resembles the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper, which the Pentagon uses to bomb insurgent hideouts in Pakistan

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/11/zhuhai/