New Delhi: China has finally tested its first stealth combat drone named Lijian or Sharp Sword on Friday. Images posted online showed it is a sleek grey delta-wing aircraft apparently powered by a jet engine and resembling an American combat drone.Sharp sword aced its first test flight in southwest China, making the People's Republic of China the fourth nation to successfully fly a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle.According to the reports the test flight lasted nearly 20 minutes.It is made for the People's Liberation Army Air Force and Navy Air Force for combat, tracking and reconnaissance.Lijian is designed jointly by the Hongdu Aviation Industry Group and Shenyang Aviation Corporation. The project was launched in 2009, and the drone's first ground test was conducted on December 13, 2012.The drone is capable of flying undetected at high altitudes while providing high-resolution video and other intelligence, will let maritime departments keep abreast of developments in the East and South China seas and will help Beijing make accurate decisions when dealing with territorial disputes with its neighbors.Long-distance photos of a Lijian prototype started appearing in May on various military forums.With this successful testing China joins the US, UK and France in successfully flying a stealth combat drone.
