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Alcott Wei

The People’s Liberation Army has released footage of exercises countering swarms of suicide drones, a key element of Taiwan’s asymmetric defence strategy.
Mainland state broadcaster CCTV showed a video on Sunday of a naval unit conducting anti-drone and uncrewed target drills as the PLA launched its 2026 training cycle.
During the drills, the “blue force”, acting as the adversary, deployed multiple suicide drones to simulate ultra-low-altitude penetration strikes against maritime targets.
In response, the “red force”, which usually represents the PLA, used ship-borne missiles and interception systems to neutralise the incoming swarm.

CCTV said the unit recreated battlefield environments incorporating multi-wave suicide drone attacks to simulate air strike scenarios and test the capabilities of its countermeasure equipment.
In an interview with CCTV, Colonel Jing Haoyu said the unit used “digital modelling to better leverage the blue force’s role in testing our equipment”.
The training did not specify who the hypothetical adversary was.
Suicide drones are a cornerstone of Taiwan’s asymmetric warfare strategy. By adopting tactics inspired by the armed conflict in Ukraine, Taiwan aims to leverage these systems to offset the conventional military advantages of a larger opposing force.
As part of that approach, Taiwan bought about 1,000 suicide drones from the United States in 2024.
In addition, the island has pursued a strategic collaboration between the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology – the island’s leading weapons research institution – and US defence company Kratos.
Together, they have modified the MQM-178 Firejet target drone into a high-speed, long-range suicide drone called “Chien Feng IV”.
The Firejet target drone has long been used for missile defence training in Taiwan.
The project focuses on converting the Firejet into a low-cost cruise missile designed for long-range precision strikes within mainland China, including major cities such as Shanghai.
This modified platform has been integrated with an advanced guidance system and a specialised warhead designed for high-precision strikes.


Suicide drones have played a major role in the Ukraine war, with both Russia and Ukraine using them for reconnaissance and precision strikes against armour, personnel and grounded aircraft.
Last June, Ukraine secretly smuggled drones into Russia and launched them from within Russia’s borders to conduct high-precision suicide attacks on strategic assets, including A-50 reconnaissance planes and Tu-95 long-range bombers parked on the tarmac.
The PLA has been monitoring the use of counter-drone technology on the battlefield and testing its strengths through regular exercises.
Beijing has doubled down on developing its uncrewed and counter-drone equipment, showing several non-missile counter-drone methods. Most analysts consider missile defence against suicide drones effective but too expensive.
During the Victory Day military parade in Beijing on September 3 last year, the PLA showcased its latest active-duty counter-drone equipment, including anti-drone artillery systems, high-energy laser systems and high-powered microwave weapons.
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.


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China’s military drills

The People’s Liberation Army has been monitoring the use of counter-drone technology on the battlefield and testing its capabilities through regular exercises. Photo: CCTV

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News

China

Military

CCTV footage shows naval unit conducting anti-drone and uncrewed target exercises as mainland China’s military launches 2026 training cycle


CCTV footage shows naval unit conducting anti-drone and uncrewed target exercises as mainland China’s military launches 2026 training cycle.


PLA drills target swarms of suicide drones – Taiwan’s front line of defence

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}CCTV footage shows naval unit conducting anti-drone and uncrewed target exercises as mainland China’s military launches 2026 training cycle

CCTV footage shows naval unit conducting anti-drone and uncrewed target exercises as mainland China’s military launches 2026 training cycle