Taiwan’s Iran-style attack drone could swamp PLA air defences: analysts

Por Gabriel Dominguez — South China Morning Post – News feed

Advertisement Taiwan China Military Taiwan’s Iran-style attack drone could swamp PLA air defences: analysts

Newly tested Shahed-style model could reach military targets on Chinese mainland and force Beijing to spend heavily on interception

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Gabriel Dominguez Published: 10:00pm, 21 Oct 2026 A flight-tested attack drone similar to Iran’s Shahed model that its Taiwanese maker says could reach military targets in mainland China is meant to swamp PLA air defences, analysts said. Drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East, military experts broadly agree on the utility of such low-cost systems but differ on how it could be deployed in a conflict with Beijing should it enter service. While some see greater value in targeting People’s Liberation Army forces in the event of a landing on Taiwan , others point to strikes against airfields and ports on the mainland.

The weapon at the centre of the debate is Thunder Tiger’s Papa Delta PD-136, which the company showcased at the Association of the United States Army defence exhibition in Washington earlier this month as it sought international defence-industry partners.

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Fonte: South China Morning Post – News feed