By Wu Qiaoxi | 2025-05-29

China's state broadcaster CCTV in late April unveiled a small drone resembling a thermal flask and capable of carrying small grenades, the latest sign of Beijing's accelerated development of compact, AI-enabled drone systems.

Through its "military-civil fusion" strategy, China is rapidly adapting commercial technologies for military use, increasing pressure on the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea while introducing new volatility to regional security.

The drone, designed specifically for infantry combat, weighs less than 1kg and can carry three grenades. It features low-noise operation and a concealed delivery system. A single person using AI can control multiple units.

Soldiers can designate targets, enabling the drone to "learn first; afterward, it can autonomously perform missions on the battlefield," according to drone designer Yang Gong, as cited in the report.

The drone's coaxial dual-rotor system provides superior lift, "allowing it to carry up to twice its own weight -- the highest known payload ratio among drones globally," the report said, adding that it "can be launched from a 35mm grenade launcher" for rapid frontline deployment and surprise attacks.

The first of its kind, the drone is designed for use across the People's Liberation Army (PLA) infantry units, the report added.

CCTV also highlighted several kamikaze drones in another April report, mostly modified commercial models that gained prominence during the Russia-Ukraine war.

Equipped with fiber-optic control and first-person view (FPV) capabilities, the drones are suited for anti-armor and loitering munitions missions. Fiber-optic systems offer enhanced resistance to electronic interference and improved transmission stability compared to traditional radio-controlled drones.

The report featured a PLA brigade under the 71st Group Army, which has adopted Ukraine's FPV drone tactics and integrated them with fiber-optic guidance and AI to boost electronic countermeasure resistance and frontline strike capabilities.

"The PLA's emphasis on real-world application and cost-effective innovation is reshaping its procurement priorities" and poised to "define its edge in the era of intelligent warfare," Guangzhou-based AI consultant Zhang Xiangbo, who observed the trials, told the South China Morning Post.

Quality and quantity

China has been closely following the conflict in Ukraine, experts say.

Chinese military experts have gained invaluable insights as the conflict has evolved over the last three years, a March report by the Jamestown Foundation noted.

These lessons have reshaped their understanding of the capabilities and vulnerabilities of "autonomous systems that likely will play an important role in a potential conflict over Taiwan," wrote authors Sunny Cheung and Joe McReynolds.

The report noted that China's military drone capabilities are evolving rapidly, built on extensive operational experience and data, and increasingly pose a regional security threat.

In practice, China continues to apply drone pressure on Taiwan, including encircling flights and electronic interference.

Chinese drones have become a frequent and concerning presence in Taiwan's airspace and surrounding areas, reflecting a normalization of gray-zone coercion tactics.

It has also deployed advanced reconnaissance drones in the South China Sea to enhance real-time surveillance and deterrence.

China's significant advantages in the drone supply chain also exacerbates the security threat.

According to Drone Industry Insights, it controls 90 percent of the global commercial drone market, with DJI alone holding an 80 percent share. In the fiber-optic sector, China holds over 60 percent of global capacity.

In 2023 alone, it produced 62.5 percent of the world's optical fiber, supporting not only communications but enhancing the endurance and stability of FPV drones in electronic warfare.

Michael Raska, assistant professor at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told Voice of America in July 2024 that China is developing over 50 drone models, with a fleet possibly 10 times larger than those of Taiwan and the US combined.

"This quantitative edge currently fuels China's accelerating military modernization, with drones envisioned for everything from pre-conflict intel gathering to swarming attacks," Raska said.

Supported by robust industrial capabilities and strategic national policies, China is rapidly advancing its drone technology and achieving significant advantages in both technology and scale.

This growing superiority poses considerable strategic pressure in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, potentially escalating regional tensions and creating long-term challenges to geopolitical stability.

For Taiwan, addressing the threat of small drones is a critical national security imperative, requiring the development of counter-drone technologies and independent innovation.