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Chinese-made military drones have hidden tech to stop them being used to attack China, source claims
- Exported UAVs are said to include a feature that recognises an ‘electric geofence’ encircling Chinese territory and turns them away
- Earlier reports have suggested drone developers are including restrictions in their products for sale overseas
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Chinese drones are leading the global market, but hidden “watchdog” technology is in place to limit their use in attacks on China.
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A source close to the military said all Chinese combat and reconnaissance drones had been designed and developed to recognise an “electric geofence” encircling the borders of China’s territory.
“This is the so-called watchdog tool, which is a simple technology aimed at making sure Chinese exported drones are not used by enemies as weapons to attack our country,” said the source, who asked for anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity.
The function – included in the implantable components and parts of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – was declared by Chinese developers in their instruction books, the source said.
The comments appear to confirm claims last year by the head of a leading Turkish drone developer, who told Indian-Canadian website EurAsian Times that Chinese-made UAVs “turned around as they approached the Chinese border”.
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