TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s People’s Liberation Army Ground Force staged a drill last week in which attack drones targeted unmanned surface vessels.
A Chinese military media post published Thursday showed KVD002 unmanned combat aerial vehicles striking fast-moving drone boats with missiles, according to USNI News. The footage showed at least 13 drones assigned to a PLA Ground Force unit.
The training highlights the Ground Force’s growing role in maritime strike operations. USNI News said the branch has demonstrated land-based anti-ship capabilities during recent exercises around Taiwan.
The Ground Force’s growing drone fleet, along with missile launchers equipped with specialized long-range munitions, could support Chinese forces in a potential invasion or blockade of Taiwan, USNI News said.
Taiwan, meanwhile, is ramping up drone production as part of efforts to strengthen its deterrence against China. The defense ministry said on Aug. 5 that it is developing a “hellscape” deterrence network, according to the New York Times.
The strategy would deploy waves of drones to locate and attack approaching enemy forces while troops maneuver between firing positions.
Taiwan’s Cabinet aims to turn the country into a major drone manufacturing hub capable of producing 100,000 drones a month by 2030. It has proposed an NT$210 billion (US$6.6 billion) special budget over five years to acquire 1,446 coastal surveillance drones, 208,000 coastal attack drones, and 1,320 small unmanned attack boats.
