Chinese combat recce vehicle displayed with copies of US killer micro-drones

PL02: Battlefield Reconnaissance System

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PL02 is a vehicle mounted integrated battlefield reconnaissance comprising a ground surveillance radar with fire detection, location and artillery fire direction capabilities. The radar is mounted on a telescopic mast, along with EO payload. Target location data can be translated automatically between radar and EO, to be fed to the artillery network or precision fires units. At Airshow China 2014 the PL02 was displayed with what looks like four copied ‘Switchblade’ type micro UAVs, these could be used for target acquisition or for precision strike, if the Chinese version is capable of such function, as the US developed mini-drones.

The Switchblade developed by Aerovironment under a DARPA funded research and development program is a brand new weapon system, which has been inservice for about one year.

Photo: Tamir Eshel, Defense-Update
Photo: Tamir Eshel, Defense-Update
Photo: Tamir Eshel, Defense-Update
Photo: Tamir Eshel, Defense-Update

The Switchblade developed by Aerovironment under a DARPA funded research and development program is a brand new weapon system, which has been inservice for about one year.