China’s PLA found ‘shooting at drone swarms challenging’ in recent air defence drills
The PLA’s latest air defence training exercise was held to test drone defence capabilities at different distances, and to identify issues to be addressed in future drills, Cui Yang, a major with the regiment told CCTV.
According to a military commentator posting on WeChat, China’s X-like social media platform, the artillery used in the exercise may have been older models from the 1990s or 2000s, which could have impacted the damage and success rate.
The combined use of electronic jamming systems, surface-to-air missiles and automatic rifles would be able to raise the hit rate, the commentary said.
The rising use of UAVs in modern warfare has been highlighted by the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, where drones have become a key feature of asymmetrical warfare.
Ukraine’s deployment of domestic air and sea drones in strikes against key Russian infrastructure has signalled a potential new era of battle tactics.
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Drones allegedly from Ukraine hit high-rise buildings in Moscow central districts
Both drone detection and defence systems in the US are not yet adequately prepared to handle tracking and shooting down multiple drones at once, according to a report from the National Defence University, which is funded by the US Department of Defence.
However, while Beijing has made significant advancements in building up its drone capabilities, the training exercise may indicate that it must double down on building up new technology and tactics to reinforce its anti-drone capabilities.
Recent PLA reports indicate a growing interest in the implementation of anti-drone technologies on battlefields, including running drills to test new equipment.