The Chinese military has started introducing fiber-optic FPV drones and drones with a machine vision system for automatic targeting.

This was outlined in a report at a Chinese army training base in Yunnan province.

The People’s Liberation Army of China is actively implementing advanced tactics for using small drones in tactical operations to defeat targets and several related tasks.

FPV drones are used as kamikaze drones or to drop free-fall ammunition into trenches in coordination with more sophisticated DJI Mavic drones that provide reconnaissance and objective control. At the same time, larger multicopters are delivering containers of supplies to the front lines.

The video captures the Chinese military practicing maneuvers in confined spaces and at high speeds, for which special obstacle courses have been built at the training ground. The training ground has a workshop and a classroom where the same military personnel assemble drones from components and train to fly them on simulators.

The quality of FPV drones in the military’s arsenal deserves special attention: at the stand, reporters were shown copters controlled via a fiber-optic channel that are not vulnerable to electronic jamming systems. The instructor also demonstrated the drone’s operation with a capture and automatic targeting system.

It can be seen that drones are being introduced not only as an independent means of destruction but also as an active tool on the battlefield that will work in close cooperation with infantry.

For example, some FPV copters provided cover for infantrymen by flying near them with lit smoke bombs, thus creating a veil. Other drones monitored the unit’s actions from the air in the thermal imaging spectrum.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has obviously had a strong impact on the PLA command, which is developing its warfare doctrines. However, this is not the only Asian country that is actively adopting the experience of modern warfare. The other day, Militarnyi reported on the testing of fiber-optic drones by the Vietnamese army.

The Z131 factory, which is subordinated to the Vietnamese Defense Department and specializes in producing mechanical devices and ammunition, has handed over FPV drones with fiber optic cable data transmission systems for testing.

In addition to unmanned systems, this plant produces ammunition, including fragmentation and cumulative grenades for grenade launchers. Therefore, if necessary, drones can be equipped with warheads at the same facility.

In addition to FPV drones, this plant also produces more sophisticated locally developed attack drones BXL.01 and QXL.01, which Militarnyi previously reported on.