In the ever-evolving theatre of modern warfare, the future is being shaped by the silent, synchronised ballet of machines soaring through the skies. The latest testament to the reality that distance is no longer a barrier and the sky now belongs to machines that think came with Operation ‘Spider Web.’ As militaries worldwide race to claim dominance with AI-guided unmanned systems, China has unveiled technological marvels. With the creation of a groundbreaking, low-cost jet engine designed specifically for FH-97 drones, the development of ‘Nine Heavens’ and an anti-drone barrage system, Beijing is all set to unleash swarms of next-generation, AI-powered aerial forces onto the future battlefields.

China’s Feihong-97A drone engine cuts costs to one-fifth of global competitors, enabling mass drone production.

The development of the Chinese high-speed, long-endurance Feihong-97A ‘Loyal Wingman’ Valkyrie drone, powered by low-cost jet engines, has baited the US and other competitors into an expensive arms race. In hindsight, the real trap lies in the budget, as this engine cuts production costs to a mere one-fifth of what comparable systems cost globally. This is primarily due to its superior fuel efficiency and simplified design.  On the flip side, the US’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones will cost around USD 30 million

China is quickly aligning its military planning with the emerging reality of drone-driven wars of attrition, comprehending the fact that high drone losses often result from technical vulnerabilities, such as susceptibility to jamming and exposure to SHORADs. Therefore, it has shifted its focus toward mass-producing low-cost, disposable drones as the cost of intercepting these one-way attack drones far exceeds their actual value. This reality has been observed in the recent May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, where India deployed several high-end drones, notably the Israeli-made Harop loitering munitions valued at approximately USD1 million each.

Pakistan’s spoofing and shooting down of these drones resulted in an estimated financial cost of  USD 77 million for India, illustrating that possessing swarm capabilities is insufficient unless supported by a coherent doctrine and successful operational implementation. This was demonstrated by the Indian media’s reports during Operation Marka-e-Haq that the PAF’s drones were hovering over New Delhi. While India’s drone employment was effectively countered.

Additionally, the wreckages of Indian UAVs neutralised by Pakistan were shown all over the international media, while the Indian media had nothing of this sort to show. In this backdrop, China’s shift to mass-producing low-cost, expendable drones marks a strategic recalibration that rewrites the cost calculus of war for the projected 2035 conflict landscape, where endurance, saturation, and autonomy will define the future battlespace.

Beijing’s formidable manufacturing scale and ability to overcome critical supply chain challenges have positioned China as the unrivalled leader in mass-produced military drones. In contrast, the US, which perceives itself as a global security guarantor with commitments across multiple theatres, has faced significant hurdles in scaling up low-cost drone production.

Operation Spider Web underscores drone swarms as the future battlespace with endurance, saturation, and autonomy.

This is because of higher material and labour costs, supply chain issues, and a lack of priority for such a project. Reflecting these challenges, following 2016, several Western drone companies exited the market after being outcompeted by China. This explains why the ambitious US’ Replicator program and the low-cost Autonomous Multi-Domain Adaptive Swarms-of-Swarms (AMASS) project have yet to achieve their envisioned objectives.

Taking its drone warfare capabilities further, China has introduced several other technologies. One such epoch-defining advancement is the latest Jiu Tian, the ‘mothership drone’.  Powered with an AI swarm control algorithm and equipped with quantum-encrypted communications, the drone carrier can be airborne with 100 kamikaze UAVs. Having a payload capacity of 6000 kgs and an altitude of 15 kilometres, its operational range is expected to be 7000 km.

Similarly, China’s ‘phased leap’ micro-drone is poised to give Beijing an early advantage in intelligent warfare, signalling a move away from its traditional ‘informationised warfare’  approach. Moreover, China’s anti-drone swarm system, called ‘Bullet Curtain’, is another next-generation leap in the drone warfare domain. Employed with a unique “plane-to-point” interception method and integrated with an optical detection system, radar, and adaptive fire control using AI, it releases a large number of 35mm bullets to obliterate anything in the target area. These new Chinese technologies demonstrate a shift in technological supremacy that is set to redefine how future wars will be fought and won.

China’s Jiu Tian mothership drone carries 100 kamikaze UAVs, controlled by AI and quantum communications.

Despite a great demand for such high-tech military equipment in the global arms market and being the world’s largest exporter of armed military drones, China has not shown any interest in exporting most of these technologies, which can be attributed to Chinese strategic and economic restraint in external conflicts. This is evinced by China’s cautious approach in supporting Moscow through the export of dual-use drones and supplying the improved variants of the Sunflower-200 loitering munition. It also shows that China does not want to invite sanctions by provoking the West.

Therefore, China’s drone dominance stems from strategic foresight and adaptability, blending innovation with cost-efficiency and geopolitical balance. As warfare shifts from costly precision strikes to affordable swarm attrition, Beijing stands poised not just to participate but to lead and define the next generation of conflict.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.