Wanted: low-cost drones, search and strike ability an asset. See PLA Air Force for details

China’s air force will hold a contest next month aimed at finding a “low-cost” drone, a rare public event that could lead to procurement deals for competition winners, as the aerial vehicles play increasingly crucial roles in modern warfare.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force announced on its social media account that it will organise a competition platform for “extremely low-cost drones” in December to promote an “innovation-driven development strategy” while taking advantage of China’s industrial supply chains and its capacity to rapidly innovate.

The competition, to be held by Key Laboratory of Complex Aviation System Simulation and sponsored by the Air Force Equipment Department under the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission, is intended to promote the “formation of new quality capabilities” in Chinese society, according to the post.

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) competition will be evaluated across six categories: reconnaissance and guidance, detection and strike integration, anti-armour targeting, reconnaissance and mapping, search and strike, and transport and delivery.

The PLA Air Force will use simulated targets and communication and navigation jamming systems in the competition, and the results will be judged based on actual flight tests – with technology accounting for 70 per cent of the score and cost making up the other 30 per cent.

First, second and third prizes will be awarded to the top three competitors in each category, and those entries will be included in a procurement catalogue, from which the PLA Air Force could place orders.