China to deploy supersonic WZ-8 jet propelled drones for 'surveillance ops': Leaked papers

People's Republic of China [PRC] will soon deploy supersonic WZ-8 jet-propelled reconnaissance drones that travel three times speed of sound to enhance its surveillance operations and for strategic aerial reconnaissance across Souast Asia, mainly self-ministered island of Taiwan and staunchest ally of United States, South Korea.

Leaked Pentagon papers in possession of National Geospatial-Intelligence ncy (NGIA) that were accessed by American newspaper Washington Post, suggest that unmanned surveillance drone, air-launched via a Xi'an H-6M morship, is operated by PLA Eastern ater Command Air Force out of Liu'an Airbase in Anhui province. This branch of Chinese military is tasked with enforcing Chinese sovereign claims on breakaway territory of Taiwan. 

Manufactured by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC),. high-altitude WZ-8 jet-propelled reconnaissance drone uses cutting-edge surveillance techlogy and produces real-time mapping data that China might use to enhance its intelligence garing and targeting operations, documents, that could t be independently verified by Republic, revealed. "PLA has "almost certainly" established its first unmanned aerial vehicle unit at base," leaked papers claimed. 

"People's Liberation Army (PLA) is making techlogical vances that could help it target American warships around Taiwan and military bases in region," leaked documents, said.

Chinese PLA presence approximately 68-nautical-mile closest point from mainland China to Taiwan. Credit: AP

WZ-8 drone launched from twin-engine H6-M Bger bomber

Trove of satellite ims from  classified files dated August 9 first appeared on  Discord, a VoIP and social site popular amongst gamers. US Federal authorities charged Jack Teixeira, Massachusetts Air National Guard member, for leaking  'Top Secret' classified military documents from Pentagon. papers show that  vanced WZ-8 rocket-propelled reconnaissance drones have been stationed at Chinese Airforce experimental test bases, approximately 350 miles (560km) from Chinese Capital of Shanghai. 

remotely operated unmanned vehicle shares a resemblance with  DF-17 hypersonic glide ballistic missile and American Lockheed D-21 reconnaissance drones. It is launched from a twin-engine H6-M Bger bomber and can achieve hypersonic speeds at a near- cruise altitude of an estimated 50,000 metres (160,000 ft). drone can effectively perform covert tasks such as general reconnaissance, pre-attack target assessment, and intelligence garing in a combat area of interest where satellites are unsustainable.