AVIC WZ-8

Overview

WZ-8 (Chinese: 无侦-8; pinyin: Wú Zhēn-bā; lit. 'unmanned recon-8'), is an unmanned aerial vehicle produced by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Introduced during China's 70th anniversary military parade, the drone is intended to conduct strategic aerial reconnaissance across southeast Asia, particularly Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. Its reconnaissance capabilities reportedly include electro-optical imaging, synthetic-aperture radar, and other sensors. Some have suggested the drone will be weaponized to provide strategic anti-access/area denial capabilities. The drone cannot take off under its own power, instead it is air-launched from a Xi'an H-6M mothership once the H-6 reaches a prescribed speed and altitude.