As tensions in the Middle East continue to grow, war-torn states are starting to outsource some of its military hardware. Riding on in this tide of war, Chinese arms dealers have been busy supplying military drones to several Middle Eastern countries.
According to many experts, most of these countries are prohibited from buying drones manufactured in the United States due to several violations. Chief among these violations is an excessive amount of civilian casualties.
As these countries are locked out of the U.S. drone trade, some of these countries are bringing their business to Chinese arms dealers. According to recent data, Chinese arms manufacturers are now the world's top distributor of armed drones most of which are used on some of the world's deadliest battlefields.
Chinese military analyst and former lecturer at the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force University of Engineering Song Zhongping, Chinese military drones are now on par with the world's top drone technology. He added that the only factor lacking is market share. Now that the United States is restricting its arms exports, this opens up a great opportunity for Chinese drone manufacturers to extend their market, added Mr. Song.
These drone sales are helping to spread Chinese influence over some of America's most vital security interests. International Institute for Strategic Studies airpower specialist Douglas Barrie said that China is taking advantage of what it calls as a "hedging strategy."
One of the most sought-after hardware in the vast Chinese drone arsenal is the Cai-Hong, which is also known as the Rainbow. It is a series of drones designed and constructed by China Aerospace Space and Technology Corporation or CASC. The CASC is considered as the largest contractor for the Chinese space program.
Two drone models from the CASC are of particular interest to many in the Middle Eastern market. These are the CH-4 and the CH-5 models which are widely hailed as a direct competitor of the Predator and Reaper drones manufactured by General Atomics.
The most attractive feature of the CH-4 and CH-5 is their price tag. While all four drones are equally ranked when it comes to their military and technological capabilities, the CH-4 and the CH-5 are exponentially cheaper and easier to produce.
Since 2014, more than 30 CH-4 drones were sold to several countries including Middle Eastern powerhouses Saudi Arabia and Iraq. It is said that these deals are worth more than $700 million. According to CASC, ten countries are currently in negotiation with the company for a possible drone deal of their own.
