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Drones

Drones
The latest news, analysis and opinion on drones, especially Chinese drone makers and drone usage.
Hong Kong has sets its sights on developing a low-altitude economy. Photo: SCMP / Sam Tsang
Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Trials will ensure the low-altitude economy can soar far and high

With the right policy support and regulation, the much-touted benefits of the sector will be unleashed.

US-China relations

Trump unveils plans for secretive F-47 fighter jet, as US eyes China threat

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China's military weapons

China’s 6th-gen fighter sighted again as Trump ‘set to announce’ jet contract

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Hong Kong science and tech

Hong Kong drone tests for low-altitude economy to follow line-of-sight rule

Transport minister Mable Chan says 38 projects picked for pilot scheme, covering activities such as emergency rescue and parcel delivery.

Hong Kong has sets its sights on developing a low-altitude economy. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong economy

Food deliveries by drone to take flight in Hong Kong as early as April

One lawmaker also expects authorities to ease civil aviation regulations by October to allow wider usage of commercial drones.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng says robotics industry will get bigger than automotive sector

Xpeng plans to mass produce humanoid robots and flying cars for the consumer market by the end of next year.

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China technology

My Take | Will AI and robots drive China’s next consumer spending spree?

China is seeking the next ‘big items’ to encourage consumers to open their wallets. Technology looks to be a key.

A humanoid robot seen at an expo in China’s northern city of Tianjin. Photo: Xinhua
Science

DARPA is losing a critical next-gen stealth jet tech race to China: study

As the US works on a new radical design for its latest stealth drone, the project is already lagging far behind China’s.

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China airliners

China tests huge transport drone capable of airlifting over 1 ton of goods

The TP1000, which completed its maiden flight on Saturday, has a larger payload and longer range than any previous unmanned transport aircraft in China.

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Japan

The rattle of Okinawa: Chinese drones probe Japan’s defences

Japan’s air force scrambled jets to shadow the drones, which analysts believe were probing Tokyo’s military readiness and assertiveness.

A Chinese military drone is spotted near the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyakojima earlier this year. Photo: Japan’s Defence Ministry
Ukraine war

Ukraine accuses Russia of undermining UN nuclear watchdog

Ukraine condemns IAEA visit to Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant via Russian-occupied territory.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. File photo: Reuters
US-China relations

US imposes sanctions on more Hong Kong firms for aiding Iran drone makers

Treasury Department alleges six companies obtained components for Iranian drones and missiles in violation of US bans.

China economy

China’s security ministry warns of safety risks from low-altitude aircraft

Users need to be aware of the threats to data, privacy and the public, ministry says.

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China's military weapons

China’s anti-drone contractors make Mideast pitches with rapidly evolving tech

At region’s biggest military expo, Chinese defence suppliers promote counter-unmanned aerial vehicles to fill possible US arms sales void.

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Chinese companies showcased their latest systems designed to defend against UAV, as global defence contractors turned out in force at the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Photo: AFP
China economy

Opinion | How China’s low-altitude economy can soar both at home and abroad

Behind the spectacle of flying cars and drone shows lies a bold economic plan to grow jobs, boost inclusion and transform industries.

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The ZG-ONE electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is displayed at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, on November 13, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
Ukraine war

Russian drone hits Chernobyl cover, radiation levels normal

Zelensky’s comments came just hours before he was to meet with US Vice-President J.D. Vance in Germany.

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Science

China’s stratospheric airship can detect F-35 fighter from nearly 2,000km: study

Chinese researchers say they found jet’s potential vulnerability in study of simulated combat involving Taiwan.

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Ukraine war

Russians told not to panic over ‘gas cloud’ near plant struck by Ukraine

The gas was the result of work to restart the plant near Astrakhan, which has a population of about 475,000 people, the governor said.

A Ukrainian soldier prepares a drone in the Donetsk region in 2024. Ukraine on Monday struck Russia with dozens of drones, triggering fires at a major oil refinery and gas processing plant. Photo: AP
Ukraine war

Ukraine drone sparks fires at Russia’s major energy facilities

The attacks started fires at a major oil refinery and gas processing plant and disrupted flights from the Volga to the Caucasus mountains.

Science

China’s Type 055 destroyer can stop US fleet with unmanned ‘kill web’: study

Chinese researchers have shown in a simulation how a combination of drones and unmanned boats could battle a US fleet.

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US-China relations

US military says ‘unmanned hellscape’ strategy in Taiwan Strait is on track

Drones set to form the first part of America’s Replicator initiative are expected to meet their deadline, a US official says.

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The first drones to form part of the Pentagon’s “unmanned hellscape” military strategy in the Taiwan Strait are on track for their August 2025 deadline. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

New Jersey drones ‘not the enemy’, White House says, dispelling Trump theories

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the flights were authorised by the US government, in a message she said came directly from Trump.

The Biden administration had sought to tamp down conspiracy theories surrounding a series of drone sightings across New Jersey and other areas in the Northeast.. Photo: X/Zieron
Ukraine war

Russia says it repelled massive drone attack on 13 areas, including Moscow

Targets of the drone strikes – among the most widespread in recent months – are said to have included an oil refinery and an electronics plant.

Science

‘Era of supersonic passenger flights’ nears as China firm preps drone debut

As hypersonic tech enters commercial sector, Mach-4 drone looks set to fly next year while high-speed passenger jet expected to soar in 2030.

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Technology

Opinion | In the global marathon for tech supremacy, Brics’ size matters

Collaborative, flexible Brics gives leading members China and Russia a significant advantage over the increasingly defensive and restrictive West.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin chat at the Brics summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 24. The two countries are leading the way in collaboration from AI to moon exploration. Photo: Reuters
Science

China’s submarine-launched drones can do more than the US military thinks

Amid reports of a new US military plan for an underwater drone release, scientists say China has already done it better.

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The US is considering launching drones from submarines, but China has already developed the technology to do it better. Photo: Handout
US-China relations

Elise Stefanik, Trump’s UN ambassador pick, vows to counter China ‘inroads’

New York congresswoman at Senate confirmation hearing outlines plans to vie with Beijing’s ‘whole-of-government approach’ to building sway.

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Ukraine war

Ukraine’s Zelensky calls for more air defence after 1,000 attacks in a week

Russia attacked Ukraine with more than 660 glide bombs, around 550 drones and almost 60 missiles over the past week, president says.

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