From FPV drones to lasers: 3 ways China is adapting to modern warfare

A small drone can threaten a soldier behind cover, a warship at sea, or an aircraft parked far from the front line. For China’s military, the war in Ukraine offers a running demonstration of those dangers and an opportunity to study them without exposing its own forces to combat. Beijing is incorporating selected lessons into exercises, equipment development, and military research. An October 7 analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), drawing on more than 90 Chinese-language sources, traces that process from battlefield observation to publicly visible changes in Chinese preparations. What China is learning from Ukraine One lesson concerns the combination of inexpensive drones, surveillance, and precision attacks. Chinese researchers have examined Russia’s use of reconnaissance drones to locate targets and direct strikes. Their interest extends beyond individual aircraft to the connections between operators, weapons, and command networks. According to CSIS, Chinese analysts identify emerging battlefield techniques within roughly four months on average. Translating those observations into publicly documented training, equipment, or organizational changes generally takes a year or longer. The changes are visible in training footage. In May 2024, The War Zone examined Chinese state television video showing soldiers taking cover from first-person-view (FPV) drones, using a net-catching projectile, and demonstrating a handheld jammer. Other footage showed personnel practicing attacks against mock armored vehicles and defensive positions. The precise filming dates and locations were unclear. Electronic warfare adds another lesson. Fiber-optic drones transmit commands through a cable, avoiding the radio connection conventional jammers target. However, a Ukrainian commander interviewed by The War Zone described cable breakage, equipment fragility, and handling difficulties. Protection against radio jamming therefore comes with practical limitations. Why ships and airfields need new defenses China’s research focuses on defending valuable assets. CSIS found an especially detailed examination of Ukraine’s attacks on Russian ships and airfields, which Chinese analysts consider relevant to threats their own military could face. Following Ukraine’s June 1, 2025 Operation Spider’s Web raid, an October Chinese exercise involved defending against more than 20 drone operators. Detection equipment identified radio emissions and compared them against a database covering more than 800 commercial drone models. The researchers connect this exercise to preparations against similar infiltration attacks. Such detection addresses a different part of the problem from interception. Finding an approaching drone, identifying it, and bringing it down are separate tasks; the training footage and equipment illustrate China’s attention to each stage. At its September 2025 military parade, China displayed missile-and-gun counter-drone equipment, high-energy lasers, and high-power microwave weapons, Reuters reported. Together with the nets and portable jammers seen in training, these displays show a broad search for defensive options. What these lessons mean for Taiwan The regional relevance is clear. Taiwan is also studying Ukraine‘s experience, particularly the use of uncrewed boats against larger naval forces. Reuters reported in June 2025 that Taiwan was working with commercial manufacturers on sea drones as part of efforts to deter a possible Chinese invasion. Taiwanese officials and companies described these systems as a way to introduce uncertainty and danger for an approaching force. That makes maritime drone defense a practical concern for Chinese planners. It also means both sides are drawing lessons from the same conflict while adapting them to their own requirements. Still, exercises and parade appearances provide an incomplete picture. Analysts assessing China’s September 2025 weapons display cautioned that questions about operational capabilities remained. The evidence establishes that China is preparing for drone warfare; its effectiveness against a capable opponent remains unproven. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.