US predicts 42,000 unmanned Chinese military planes by 2023

The United States claims its arch superpower rival China is poised to become the world leader in unmanned military aircraft with up to 42,000 pilotless aircraft aloft by 2023.

According to the United States Defense Department’s latest report on China’s military build-up the “Middle Kingdom” will spend more than $10 billion on land and sea based unmanned aircraft.

These will include fixed wing and rotary aircraft to conduct surveillance, attack and even air combat missions.

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