Braxton Taylor
The China Intelligence is an occasional series that draws on open-source material to report on China and its military.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are reshaping modern warfare—from the battlefields of Ukraine to the contested skies over the South China Sea—and spurring Beijing to upgrade its counter-drone capabilities aggressively. Recent demonstrations featuring high-power microwave systems and AI-assisted autonomous interceptors reveal an evolving PLA strategy designed to neutralize mass drone swarms and first-person-view (FPV) attack drones. China now appears to be adopting a multi-layered defense approach that integrates electronic warfare, directed-energy weapons, and AI-driven interception systems, combining both kinetic and non-kinetic solutions.
The successful and varied use of drones in locales ranging from Azerbaijan and Sudan to Ukraine and Israel has exposed clear gaps in traditional air defense systems. Conventional systems, built to target large, fast-moving aircraft have struggled with agile, low-flying, and often massed drones that operate in coordinated swarms. Traditional defenses are also extremely expensive compared to the cost of drones. One U.S. ally shot down a $200 drone with a Patriot missile that costs just over $3 million.
Watching these trends, the PLA has come to the same realization. During its training exercises last summer, countermeasures managed to neutralize only around 40 percent of incoming UAVs. These underwhelming results prompted Chinese military planners to rethink their approach.
China’s commitment to counter-drone technology is underscored by a rapid increase in domestic investment, as previously noted in Defense One. The market now features more than 3,000 manufacturers producing anti-drone equipment in some form, highlighting the strategic importance placed on this domain, while recent procurement data reveal a dramatic rise in the acquisition of counter-UAV systems. In 2024 alone, government authorities issued 205 procurement notices related to counter-drone technology—a significant leap from 122 in 2023 and 87 in 2022. This surge reflects Beijing’s heightened concern over low-altitude security and the need for robust drone mitigation.
Chinese military commentators have advocated for a layered defense that combines robust detection networks with a mix of kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures. This approach blends radars, electro-optical sensors, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence for real-time threat analysis, enabling rapid engagement against swarming drones. The goal remains clear: disrupt and disable hostile UAVs before they can inflict damage on critical assets.
China’s counter-drone strategy thus emphasizes integrating an array of detection and engagement tools. Advanced anti-UAV radars seek to detect drones by analyzing their unique electromagnetic signatures. For this, the PLA operates a mix of active and passive radars, such as the YLC-48 “UAV Terminator,” a portable phased-array radar with 360-degree coverage designed specifically for drone detection. A particular attribute of passive radar systems, such as the DWL002, is to provide low-observable UAV detection without emitting signals, which makes them both more resilient to electronic warfare threats and less likely to be found and counter-targeted with kinetic strikes.
These radars work in tandem with AI-driven sensor fusion networks to improve tracking accuracy and response coordination. The PLA’s integration of multiple radar types into its air defense ecosystem reflects a broader trend of enhancing detection range, minimizing blind spots, and improving survivability against adversarial electronic warfare countermeasures.
Such radars are then blended with electro-optical sensors and electronic warfare systems to form an interconnected network. A prime example is the “ Tianqiong” (Sky Dome) system, developed by the state-owned military electronics giant CETC. This system combines radar, jamming, and directed-energy countermeasures into an automated network capable of real-time threat analysis.
An effective counter-drone operation also demands seamless command-and-control (C2) integration. To achieve this, researchers from the PLA Naval Research Institute have highlighted the necessity of integrating AI-driven decision-making, multi-sensor fusion, and networked defensive assets to counter UAV swarms effectively. Firms such as Quansheng Technology and Chengdu Kongyu Technology claim to integrate AI with advanced radio-frequency detection and jamming systems to enable fully autonomous drone neutralization. These innovations not only improve detection accuracy but also reduce response times, crucial factors when facing fast-moving drone swarms.
China is investing in C2 networks that unify disparate defense assets into a single, cohesive system. CETC’s “Yuanmo“ integrated command and control system remains central to these efforts by combining with the Tianqiong system to synchronize radar data, electro-optical inputs, and electronic warfare capabilities to automate threat assessments and coordinate rapid countermeasures.
China’s civil-military fusion strategy further bolsters these initiatives. Chinese defense companies such as Lianchuang Optoelectronics are pursuing AI-driven imaging and targeting technologies. These innovations enhance the precision of drone tracking and interception, making the overall defense system more responsive. Collaborations between state enterprises and private tech firms—such as the joint venture between Sichuan 6912 Communication Technology Company and the China Academy of Engineering Physics focused on high-power microwave technology—drive innovation and expedite the transition of commercial advancements into military applications.
Once found, a UAV must be shot down, which involves other new approaches than traditional missile interceptors. One of China’s most significant C-UAV advancements is the NORINCO-produced Hurricane-3000, a high-power microwave weapon recently showed at the Zhuhai Airshow. Described as the equivalent of “launching thousands of microwave ovens into the sky,” the system delivers rapid, area-wide electromagnetic pulses capable of frying drone electronics within a 3,000-meter radius. This would allow it to engage multiple targets simultaneously, offering an effective solution against coordinated drone attacks.
To complement the Hurricane-3000, NORINCO also produces the Hurricane-2000, a smaller, mobile variant mounted on armored vehicles. Although both systems face challenges like energy dissipation and high power consumption, Chinese engineers are employing gallium nitride (GaN)-based amplifiers to improve efficiency and minimize interference. These improvements promise to boost operational range and adaptability on various terrains.
China has also invested heavily in laser-based counter-UAV systems. The Silent Hunter laser defense system, developed by China Poly Technologies, exemplifies this effort. This 30-kilowatt fiber-optic laser targets and destroys low-flying drones at ranges up to 4 kilometers. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in domestic security operations, and has begun to be used internationally. Saudi Arabia, for instance, has incorporated Silent Hunter into its defense systems after it countered a Houthi attack drone.
Other major players, including state-owned defense conglomerates AVIC and CASIC, are advancing their own laser platforms. Systems like AVIC’s Light Arrow and Sky Shield series and CASIC’s LW-30 and LW-60 offer rapid, vehicle-mounted drone interception. They integrate AI-driven automation and multi-waveband targeting, broadening the operational envelope to counter diverse UAV threats. These laser systems not only reduce reliance on expensive missile interceptors, but also promise lower operational costs due to their ability to deliver continuous fire without the need for ammunition.
Smaller and non-traditional firms are also playing an increasing role in developing high-power laser systems for counter-drone missions. According to a Minsheng Securities Report, Raycus Laser’s fiber laser delivers precision targeting that claims to be able to burn through UAV components at long distances. Advances in beam focusing and heat dissipation technology are likely to further enrich the PLA’s growing arsenal of laser-based countermeasures against UAV threats.
China’s counter-UAV advances reveal three important developments: a dedication to learning from and mastering the latest trends in conflict and technology; a determined effort to secure its airspace; as well as a larger goal to dominate the electromagnetic battlespace in future conflicts.
Tye Graham is a Senior Researcher with BluePath Labs and a retired U.S. Army Foreign Area Officer.
P.W. Singer is Strategist at New America and the author of multiple books on technology and security, including Wired for War, Ghost Fleet, Burn-In, and LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media.
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