Archive · 4 Aug 2025
Chinese Scientists Propose Drone Upgrades After Ukraine War
Imagine toy planes, but they're used in war and can be shot down.
Chinese scientists saw how well missiles work in the Ukraine war and want to help their planes survive.
They're adding tiny rockets to the planes.
These rockets would fire at the last second to make the planes zoom away from the missiles.
This would make it harder for missiles to hit them.
The rockets need to fire at just the right time and in the right direction, or the plane might still get hit.
It's like a super quick dodge move that could keep the planes safe.
Chinese engineers propose drone upgrades after observing the war in Ukraine.
The proposal involves equipping drones with side-mounted rocket boosters for terminal evasion.
These boosters enable high-G maneuvers to avoid missile interception.
Simulations show an 87% survival rate for drones with this system.
The technology focuses on precise timing, directional intelligence, and powerful acceleration.
- Who
- Chinese aerospace engineers and defense researchers led by Bi Wenhao.
- What
- Chinese engineers propose equipping drones with rocket boosters for terminal evasion.
- When
- Last month, a study was published in the Chinese defense journal Acta Armamentarii.
- Where
- Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xian, China.
- Why
- To improve drone survivability and increase success rates in modern warfare, drawing lessons from the Ukraine war.
Current Drone Technology
Proposed Upgrade
Evasion Capability
Current Drone Technology
Current drones are vulnerable to modern air defenses, with missile interception rates growing
Proposed Upgrade
Proposed technology significantly enhances drone survivability against missile attacks.
- Technology
- Side-mounted rocket boosters
- Evasive Action
- High-G maneuvers
- Survival Rate (Simulated)
- 87%
- Acceleration Required
- At least 16Gs
- Timing
- Within 1-2 seconds of missile impact
- Researchers
- Bi Wenhao and team