The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops, who are taking part in a joint exercise in Laos, have shared drone and anti-drone technologies with their Lao counterparts. It demonstrates the PLA’s commitment to incorporating unmanned equipment and related tactics into combat. During the China-Laos Friendship Shield-2024 joint drill, a live-fire shooting session took place at Kommadam Academy in Laos on Monday local time under the hot sun. This information was shared in a press release by the PLA Southern Theater Command on Tuesday, as reported by the Global Times.
The Chinese press release mentioned that the Lao soldiers obtained Chinese weapons, including the PLA’s new QBZ-191 assault rifle. Chinese soldiers provided training to the Lao soldiers on the proper use of the equipment, including shooting techniques and tactical approaches in anti-drone tasks. During the exercise, a Lao soldier test-fired a Chinese anti-drone gun at an in-flight multi-rotor drone. The gun, which features a pistol grip and three large barrels, successfully captured the drone with a net, according to a report by the PLA Daily.
The PLA Daily report also highlighted the introduction of an anti-mine robot by the Chinese side. This unmanned equipment, approximately the size of an adult, operates on caterpillar tracks and is equipped with a long arm for mine disposal. The report also mentioned previous instances where the PLA brought unmanned equipment to joint exercises with other countries, such as the deployment of a robot dog during the Golden Dragon-2024 joint exercise in Cambodia, as reported by the Global Times.
In light of the rapid advancements in unmanned technologies and their extensive use in real combat during recent conflicts around the world, a military expert from China, who preferred to remain anonymous, informed the Global Times on Tuesday that China is escalating its efforts to explore and utilize drones and robots, as well as develop countermeasures for them.
The People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong is participating in joint military drills between China and Laos this week, the fourth time it has participated in an international exercise. The drills began in Laos on Friday and ran until 18 July. It is the two countries’ second joint exercise following a drill in May last year in Laos involving the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command.
Team BharatShakti
