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Drones

Drones
The latest news, analysis and opinion on drones, especially Chinese drone makers and drone usage.
Dai Shuying operates a plant protection drone under the guidance of her grandson Wang Tiantian in east China’s Anhui province. Photo: Xinhua
US-China trade war

‘Bad policy’: China’s drone makers to shrug off US ban, analysts say

The addition of foreign drone makers, including those from China, to a US trade blacklist is unlikely to heat up relations, observers said.

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China's military weapons

‘Saturation attacks’: drone swarms key for wartime victory, PLA Daily says

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Ukraine war

Huge drone barrage ‘strikes Ukraine before Christmas’, killing 3

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US-China trade war

US adds new models of China’s DJI and all other foreign drones to its blacklist

The FCC move, which does not affect existing DJI models, is a significant escalation in Washington’s battle to crack down on Chinese drones.

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A drone on display at DJI’s flagship shop in Hong Kong. The Trump administration has barred the approval of Shenzhen-based DJI’s new models. Photo: Reuters
Africa

Sudan war drags on as drone attack kills 10 in Darfur market

The conflict has split Sudan in two as the army controls the north, east and centre while the UAE-backed RSF dominates Darfur and parts of the south.

Low-altitude economy

China’s ‘black flying’ drone dilemma: when tech clashes with aviation safety

Videos posted online have shown drones climbing above 8,000 metres, dangerously close to passenger aircraft.

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Japan

Bear aware: Japanese drone school develops AI system to track animals

The new system being developed in Akita prefecture can detect bears and share their locations via smartphones.

D-Academy Tohoku tests a bear-detection drone at a zoo in Kitaakita, Akita prefecture, in April. Photo: D-Academy Tohoku/Kyodo
Ukraine war

Ukraine claims disabled Russian submarine in first underwater drone attack

Ukraine says strike is a historic first, but Russia denies attack caused any damage.

China's military weapons

China’s latest stealth endurance drone, CH-7, completes maiden flight

Designer says UAV can quickly penetrate target areas for reconnaissance and rely on stealth to send information from battle front lines.

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Ukraine war

Ukraine retakes Kharkiv areas as Russian troops ‘completely cut off’ in Kupiansk

Disputing Moscow’s claim of controlling Kupiansk, Ukraine retakes villages and isolates Russian troops amid fierce eastern battles.

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Ukrainian servicemen during military training near Kupiansk ,Kharkiv region, Ukraine, in November. Photo: EPA/127th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence
China's military weapons

China’s drone carrier Jiu Tian takes flight to signal PLA swarm capacity boost

Xinhua hails ‘breakthrough in China’s large drone technology’, says Jiu Tian could also be deployed in wide range of civilian applications.

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China says its Jiu Tian aerial “drone carrier” has completed its maiden flight in the western province of Shaanxi, described as a “breakthrough” by state media. Photo: Weibo/人民日报
Thailand

Video | Thai military drones strike Cambodian border

At least 15 people, including Thai soldiers and Cambodian civilians, have died in the most recent border clashes.

Africa

33 children killed in drone attack by Sudan paramilitaries, doctors say

17 adults were also killed in the strike on a kindergarten, which drew condemnation from the Sudan Doctors’ Network.

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Ukraine war

Why more women are embracing combat roles in Ukraine’s military

Equipment such as drones has opened up new paths for women and helped them overcome resistance in the military.

Monka, an FPV drone operator from the third assault brigade, assembles an FPV drone in November, in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. Photo: AP
France

Drones buzz French nuclear base amid Russian hybrid warfare fears

Marines deployed electronic jammers against five suspected devices spotted hovering over the Ile Longue submarine facility.

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A nuclear submarine at the naval base in Ile Longue, western France. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

Chernobyl safety shield damaged, UN confirms. Ukraine blames Russian drones

Despite the loss of ‘confinement capability’ at the notorious nuclear plant, IAEA officials report no radiation leaks.

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Ukraine war

Drones spotted near Zelensky’s flight path to Dublin spark security alert

Report says enquiries are trying to determine whether the drones took off from land or an undetected ship.

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China's military weapons

China’s unmanned Moyujian strike helicopter is ready for plateau combat tests

At Aero Asia in Zhuhai, developer says it put high-altitude drone with missiles through live-fire target tests above 4,000 metres.

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The Moyujian’s next round of testing will be “a target test mission using satellite communication and beyond visual line of sight control, at an altitude of over 6,000 metres”. Photo: CCTV
China's military weapons

Is China’s rapid anti-submarine drone progress adding to concerns of Japan, US?

After decades within the confines of the first island chain, the PLA Navy is unveiling a succession of game-changing advances.

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Science

China’s ‘dirt cheap’ missiles could shake up global defence market: state media

The ‘cement-coated’ YKJ-1000 could prove ‘formidably competitive’ internationally if sold at the relatively cheap price of US$99,000.

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Ukraine war

Kazakhstan tells Ukraine to stop Black Sea oil terminal attacks

Ukraine has mounted wave after wave of attacks on Russia’s oil refineries and crude oil terminals in an attempt to undermine the Russian war economy.

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This video grab taken from images released by the Security service of Ukraine (SBU) on Saturday shows smoke rising from a cargo ship in the Black Sea off the Turkish coast Ukraine says is transporting sanctioned Russian oil, on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

Russian drone strike kills 1 near Kyiv amid flurry of peace talks

A child was among the 11 wounded during the attack on Vyshgorod, regional governor said.

A fire burns at a residential building after a Russian attack in Vyshgorod, outside of Kyiv early on Sunday. Photo: AP
Taiwan

Taiwan’s plan to acquire drone ‘takeover’ technology sparks security debate

Network would protect key infrastructure from incursions by small commercial drones but there are concerns over use of takeover function.

Ukraine war

Ukraine naval drones strike Russian oil tankers in Black Sea off Turkish coast

The Kairos and Virat are said to be part of the ‘shadow fleet’ that helps Moscow evade international sanctions.

Israel-Gaza war

Israeli drone attack kills two children in Gaza, say medics

Over 350 Palestinians have been killed since a ceasefire came into effect on October 10, with more than 70,000 killed since the war began.

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A boy pushes a bucket for water at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday. The level of violence in the enclave has reduced since a ceasefire began last month, but Israel has continued its strikes. Photo: AFP
Italy

Italy’s Leonardo unveils ‘Michelangelo Dome’ air defence system

The system uses predictive AI to help position assets and shorten response times against threats like hypersonic weapons and drone swarms.

The Michelangelo Dome aims to coordinate warfare platforms from below sea level to out in space across a single network. Image: Leonardo.
Ukraine war

Russia’s Putin sets hardline condition for peace: Ukraine must cede land

Putin says Russia is seeking international recognition of occupied territories as the US pushes to end the nearly four-year Ukraine war.

China exports

China strengthens global drone dominance with record orders at Dubai Airshow

The country already dominates global patent applications for drones, one report shows, and manufacturers are rapidly expanding overseas.

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