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Drones

Drones
The latest news, analysis and opinion on drones, especially Chinese drone makers and drone usage.
A Chinese military drone is spotted near the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyakojima earlier this year. Photo: Japan’s Defence Ministry
Japan

The rattle of Okinawa: Chinese drones probe Japan’s defences

Japan’s air force scrambled jets to shadow the drones, which analysts believe were probing Tokyo’s military readiness and assertiveness.

Ukraine war

Ukraine accuses Russia of undermining UN nuclear watchdog

US-China relations

US imposes sanctions on more Hong Kong firms for aiding Iran drone makers

China economy

China’s security ministry warns of safety risks from low-altitude aircraft

Users need to be aware of the threats to data, privacy and the public, ministry says.

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A drone delivers takeaway at Futian Port in Shenzhen, southern China. The low-altitude economy generally refers to activities within airspace below 1,000 metres. Photo: Xinhua
China's military weapons

China’s anti-drone contractors make Mideast pitches with rapidly evolving tech

At region’s biggest military expo, Chinese defence suppliers promote counter-unmanned aerial vehicles to fill possible US arms sales void.

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China economy

Opinion | How China’s low-altitude economy can soar both at home and abroad

Behind the spectacle of flying cars and drone shows lies a bold economic plan to grow jobs, boost inclusion and transform industries.

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Ukraine war

Russian drone hits Chernobyl cover, radiation levels normal

Zelensky’s comments came just hours before he was to meet with US Vice-President J.D. Vance in Germany.

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The New Safe Confinement at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant that covers the number 4 reactor unit. Photo: AFP
Science

China’s stratospheric airship can detect F-35 fighter from nearly 2,000km: study

Chinese researchers say they found jet’s potential vulnerability in study of simulated combat involving Taiwan.

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Ukraine war

Russians told not to panic over ‘gas cloud’ near plant struck by Ukraine

The gas was the result of work to restart the plant near Astrakhan, which has a population of about 475,000 people, the governor said.

Ukraine war

Ukraine drone sparks fires at Russia’s major energy facilities

The attacks started fires at a major oil refinery and gas processing plant and disrupted flights from the Volga to the Caucasus mountains.

Russian conscripts called up for military service in Bataysk in the Rostov region. Russia’s defence ministry said that its air defence units intercepted and destroyed 70 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight, including over the Rostov region. Photo: Reuters
Science

China’s Type 055 destroyer can stop US fleet with unmanned ‘kill web’: study

Chinese researchers have shown in a simulation how a combination of drones and unmanned boats could battle a US fleet.

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Using a Type 055 destroyer with a group of unmanned mother ships, boats and drones, a war game simulation by Chinese scientists showed how China could defeat a US naval fleet in a simulation set in the western Pacific. Photo: PLA Navy
US-China relations

US military says ‘unmanned hellscape’ strategy in Taiwan Strait is on track

Drones set to form the first part of America’s Replicator initiative are expected to meet their deadline, a US official says.

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Donald Trump

New Jersey drones ‘not the enemy’, White House says, dispelling Trump theories

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the flights were authorised by the US government, in a message she said came directly from Trump.

Ukraine war

Russia says it repelled massive drone attack on 13 areas, including Moscow

Targets of the drone strikes – among the most widespread in recent months – are said to have included an oil refinery and an electronics plant.

Twenty drones targeted the Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow, Russia’s Defence Ministry said. Photo: Social media via Reuters
Science

‘Era of supersonic passenger flights’ nears as China firm preps drone debut

As hypersonic tech enters commercial sector, Mach-4 drone looks set to fly next year while high-speed passenger jet expected to soar in 2030.

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Sichuan Lingkong Tianxing Technology unveils a model of its Cuantianhou UAV in Chengdu on Monday. Photo: Handout
Technology

Opinion | In the global marathon for tech supremacy, Brics’ size matters

Collaborative, flexible Brics gives leading members China and Russia a significant advantage over the increasingly defensive and restrictive West.

Science

China’s submarine-launched drones can do more than the US military thinks

Amid reports of a new US military plan for an underwater drone release, scientists say China has already done it better.

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US-China relations

Elise Stefanik, Trump’s UN ambassador pick, vows to counter China ‘inroads’

New York congresswoman at Senate confirmation hearing outlines plans to vie with Beijing’s ‘whole-of-government approach’ to building sway.

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US congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, testifies in Washington on Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on her nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Ukraine war

Ukraine’s Zelensky calls for more air defence after 1,000 attacks in a week

Russia attacked Ukraine with more than 660 glide bombs, around 550 drones and almost 60 missiles over the past week, president says.

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Ukraine war

‘Heinous’ Russian strike kills 6 across Ukraine in ‘retaliation’ attack

The attack comes as both sides seek to gain an advantage in the conflict, with Russia claiming advances in the east and Ukraine launching drone strikes on Russian targets.

US-China relations

Trump’s return could mark start of new race with China over drones for military

The US is lagging behind its main rival when it comes to dual-use drones that play a key role in many aspects of modern warfare.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Germany

Germany plans to let military shoot down unidentified drones

A series of drone sightings over military and industrial sites in Germany has sparked alarm in recent months.

Several drones have recently been spotted near the US airbase in Ramstein in western Germany. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China relations

US bans Chinese and Russian tech in smart cars, citing national security risks

‘Targeted approach’ meant to ensure foreign adversaries’ software and hardware are kept off American roads, commerce secretary says.

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Ukraine war

Ukraine carries out ‘most massive strike’ on Russian territory in 3 years

The Russian military accused Kyiv of using US-and British-supplied missiles for one of the strikes and promised it would ‘not go unanswered’.

Ukraine war

Russia accuses Ukraine of ‘energy terrorism’ over alleged pipeline attack

Moscow says Ukraine tried to attack TurkStream pipeline infrastructure in Russia with drones.

A Ukrainian drone operator conducting an aerial reconnaissance mission at an undisclosed location in December. File photo: EPA-EFE
Germany

Germany charges 3 with spying on naval tech for China

They allegedly gathered information on boat engines, sonar, drones and other technologies and illegally exported specialised lasers to China.

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A sign is seen at the entrance to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office building in Karlsruhe in June 2019. Photo: dpa
US-China relations

US adds Tencent, CATL to list of Chinese firms said to help Beijing’s military

Chipmaker Changxin Memory Technologies and drone-maker Autel Robotics also included among companies Pentagon says threaten national security.

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Ukraine war

Russia says it captures ‘important logistics hub’ in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian forces did not confirm the claim, saying only that Russia was “conducting assault operations in the urban area of Kurakhove”.

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