China has deployed hundreds of outdated supersonic fighter jets converted into strike drones in areas near the Taiwan Strait. This is according to a new report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, quoted by “Reuters“, reports News.bg.
The analysis, based on satellite images, establishes the presence of such aircraft at six air bases - five in Fujian province and one in Guangdong. These are modified J-6s, a Chinese version of the Soviet MiG-19 from the 1950s, which was actively used until the end of the 20th century.
According to expert J. Michael Dam, China has deployed at least 200 such aircraft in the area. They are intended for use in the initial phase of a possible operation against Taiwan, functioning more like guided munitions than classic drones.
According to him, their goal is to simultaneously attack multiple targets, including Taiwanese, American or allied targets, with the idea of overloading air defense systems.
According to Taiwanese sources, this strategy would force the defense to use expensive missiles against significantly cheaper targets, which would exhaust its resources in the early stages of a conflict.
The report notes that although these drones do not represent the most advanced Chinese technology, their mass use could make them an effective tool in a defense overload strategy. In parallel, China is also developing more modern unmanned systems, including stealth models.
Beijing continues to consider Taiwan part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force, while the authorities in Taipei reject these claims. According to US intelligence estimates, China is not planning an invasion before 2027, but the Pentagon believes that the country is striving to develop such a capability by the end of the decade.
Experts warn that in a possible conflict, these systems could be used together with missiles and manned aircraft in a large-scale first wave that would pose a serious challenge to air defenses.