World ( The cow news digital ) Beijing: A new defense report has revealed that China has deployed a large number of outdated supersonic fighter jets converted into attack drones near airbases close to the Taiwan Strait, raising fresh concerns over regional military tensions.
According to the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, satellite imagery indicates that China has stationed aircraft resembling the retired J-6 fighter jets at multiple military airfields. These aircraft, originally designed in the 1960s, have reportedly been modified for unmanned operations and placed at strategic locations in Fujian and Guangdong provinces.
The report suggests that at least six airbases now host these converted drones, with an estimated fleet of over 200 aircraft. The analysis was compiled using open-source intelligence and commercial satellite imagery by defense researchers, including senior fellow J. Michael Dahm, a former U.S. naval intelligence officer.
Experts cited in the report believe that these converted drones are intended for use in the initial stages of a potential conflict involving Taiwan. Rather than functioning as conventional remotely piloted aircraft, they are expected to operate more like cruise missiles, designed to overwhelm enemy air defenses through mass deployment.
Military analysts say that in a hypothetical scenario, these drone conversions could be used to target Taiwan and allied military assets in large numbers, potentially saturating defensive systems and forcing costly interception responses.
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China continues to invest heavily in expanding its military drone capabilities as part of its broader modernization of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Alongside advanced fighter jets, bombers, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles, these converted platforms represent an additional layer in Beijing’s evolving airpower strategy.
Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly stated that it has not renounced the use of force to achieve reunification. Taiwan, however, strongly rejects these claims and maintains that only its people have the right to determine the island’s future.
Recent intelligence assessments have shown differing views on China’s military intentions. While some reports suggest Beijing is not currently preparing for an immediate invasion, others indicate that China aims to be capable of military action against Taiwan in the coming years.
Taiwan’s defense authorities have acknowledged the growing threat posed by unmanned systems and are reportedly accelerating the development of counter-drone technologies to address what they describe as an emerging form of asymmetric warfare.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, the deployment of converted drones adds another dimension to the already complex security environment in the Taiwan Strait, with global powers closely monitoring developments.
