The US and Israel stands like a giant above the rest of the world in military supremacy and is far ahead in drone technology and associated satellite and sensor technology. But more than 50 countries had either bought or begun researching surveillance drones from 2007 onwards, according to US Air Force drone expert Lt. Kendra L.B. Cook.

Richard Fisher is a senior fellow at the Washington-based International Assessment and Strategy Center and predicts that the rest of the world could start catching the US.

"The Chinese are catching up quickly. This is something we know for sure," Fisher told The Washington Post.

"We should not take comfort in some perceived lags in sensors or satellites capabilities. Those are just a matter of time."

Every major manufacturer for the Chinese military has a research center devoted to drones, Chinese analysts told the Washington Post.

In 2011, the market for drones has increased, and Chinese companies are expected to fill the demand.

Many nations have access to some surveillance UAVs, but few have drones with weapons. Nations covet US drones because they are relatively cheap and undetectable scouting weapons that could put soldiers further away from battlefield harm.