In a rare admission, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said its anti-aircraft weapons had a low success rate against a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The assessment was made during a recent training exercise that aimed to test the country’s counter-drone capabilities and identify air defense issues that need to be addressed.
Duan Xiaolong, a member of an unnamed PLA regiment, told state broadcaster CCTV that his unit only achieved a 40-percent hit rate during the first round of artillery strikes against multiple drone targets.
He said UAVs naturally have the speed, size, and ability to change flight trajectories, making it difficult for gunners to neutralize them individually or in a swarm.
According to a military commentator, the artillery used in the training exercise may have been older models from the 1990s or 2000s.
These weapons apparently have outdated technology against drone swarms, compromising both their accuracy and operational safety.
Growing Significance
Global investments in counter-drone capabilities have soared amid multiple geopolitical conflicts.
UAVs have become a key feature in the Ukraine and Gaza wars, dramatically altering battlefield tactics and providing enhanced reconnaissance.
In anticipation of the pivotal role of drones in future conflicts, many countries including the US have ramped up their spending to address these threats.
Last week, the US Army received its first EAGLS laser-guided counter-drone system featuring the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II.
NATO countries in Europe have also bolstered their air defenses, with Poland unveiling the HAASTA drone-killing UAV and the UK testing a truck-mounted directed-energy weapon.
For its part, Beijing has urged its defense industry to ramp up production of smarter and more efficient anti-drone weapons, including jammers and lasers.