China stations jets-turned-drones at bases near Taiwan Strait, report says

A satellite image shows obsolete Chinese J-6 fighters that have been converted into attack drones, lined up next to the runway at Longtian airbase in China's Fujian Province on March 10
| PLANET LABS PBC / via REUTERS
Threads
Email
Print
Bookmark story
Copy link
Hong Kong –
China has stationed obsolete supersonic fighters converted to ⁠attack drones at six air bases close to the Taiwan Strait, according to a new report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.Satellite imagery of these airfields from the February report, China Airpower Tracker, shows what appear to be lines of stubby, swept-winged aircraft matching the shape of J-6 fighters that first flew with the Chinese air force in the 1960s
Since their conversion to drones, these aircraft have been identified at five bases in Fujian Province and one in Guangdong Province, according to the report from the Arlington-Virginia based institute.Senior fellow at the Mitchell Institute, J
Michael Dahm, said China’s military, the People’s ​Liberation Army (PLA), has deployed an estimated 200 or more obsolete fighters converted to drones to airfields near the Taiwan Strait.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories
However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name
in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.

Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting
MSDF destroyer becomes Japan’s first ship capable of firing Tomahawk missiles
Pokemon shop employee killed by stalker in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district
Japan adopts new target for regions to address overtourism
Japan to tighten requirements for naturalization starting April 1
Cabinet Office and Tokyo government prepare for Mount Fuji eruption risk
With the end of 3G, Japan's beloved flip phones go dark
What’s new (and what’s not) at the reopened Edo-Tokyo Museum
A Saitama sake brewery embraces a little-known rice variety
Tokyo earns seven spots on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list
Beijing row highlights need for Japan to reduce cleantech dependence on China
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’
The human-made roots of Japan's hay fever crisis
Inaka no Taiho: Chinese restaurant offers experience of ‘receiving life’
Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division.

The war with Iran may be ushering in a new nuclear age
58 mins ago
Yemen's Houthis enter Iran war with attacks on Israel, as U.S
Marines arrive in region
1 hour ago
Cherry blossoms are now in full bloom in Tokyo
2 hours ago
Sakura Internet formally selected as government cloud provider
2 hours ago
Settlement of HIV-tainted blood scandal marks 30 years
2 hours ago