China has unveiled a domestically made military drone with an estimated range of over 10,000 kilometers.

The Wing Loong-3 was shown to domestic and overseas media for the first time on Sunday, two days before the opening of China's largest air show in the southern province of Guangdong.

Chinese online media outlets report that the Wing Loong-3 can be used for both reconnaissance and combat and is capable of carrying more than two tons of missiles.

They say significant improvements from its earlier models now put it on par with world-leading US drones.

Observers say China aims to demonstrate its expanded scope of military operation to the United States amid ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

They say Beijing also wants to use this occasion to expand exports of its military drones. The country is already selling military drones to more than 10 countries, including some in the Middle East and Asia.

A Chinese journalist told NHK that wonderful weapons make China's homeland security solid. He says their technology will catch up with the US in five to six years.