Taiwan tests suicide drone at sea, Japan manufactures missile shield.
Taiwan tests Chin Feng I drone at sea; Japan mass-produces Chu-SAM Kai air defense system; China unveils smart surface technology for stealth weapons.
Military news on December 30th highlighted new advances in weapons technology in the Asian region. Taiwan conducted its first test of a suicide drone launched from a speedboat, Japan ramped up production of air defense systems capable of intercepting hypersonic targets, while China introduced technology that allows stealth weapons to harvest energy from enemy radar waves.
Taiwan tests Chin Feng I suicide drone at sea.
Taiwan recently conducted a live-fire test of the Chin Feng I suicide drone in a maritime environment. This marks the first time the system has been confirmed to be deployed from a maritime platform instead of fixed land-based launch platforms. The test took place on December 25 near Zuoying Port, using an M96 speedboat as a mobile launch platform.
The Chin Feng I, developed by the Zhongshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), is based on the concept of "one launch - one target." The drone is launched from a pneumatic tube and then uses an electric motor to fly along a pre-programmed trajectory. The system incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in target detection, but the final decision to attack rests with the operator via a control tablet.
Integrating the drone onto the M96 boat allows special forces to access the combat zone, launch drones from a safe distance of 8km, and quickly withdraw at a speed of 35 knots. This is a step towards enhancing dispersed and multi-layered defense capabilities in the complex coastal environment.
Japan is mass-producing the Chu-SAM Kai air defense system.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced the start of mass production of the new generation Type 03 Chu-SAM Kai medium-range air defense system. This decision aims to strengthen the defense network against threats from cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs) in their terminal phase.
The upgraded Chu-SAM Kai version, developed by Mitsubishi Electric, uses an active radar-guided missile and a mobile vertical launch system. The system has passed tests for electronic jamming resistance and high-speed target engagement. Japan plans to deploy the completed units sooner than after the full evaluation cycle is completed in 2028, in order to respond promptly to regional security developments.
China unveils smart surface technology for stealth weapons.
Chinese scientists have just introduced a type of reconfigurable smart reflective surface (RIS), which allows devices to directly harvest energy from electromagnetic waves in the environment, including enemy radar signals. This technology could change the way unmanned vehicles and stealth aircraft operate in the future.
Technically, RIS is a two-dimensional material capable of controlling the direction of electromagnetic waves in real time and converting a portion of that energy into electrical power. In military applications, stealth platforms can absorb energy directly from enemy radar detection to power onboard communication and sensor systems, reducing reliance on traditional batteries. Additionally, RIS is expected to be a key component in 6G telecommunications networks, improving coverage quality in urban areas with high levels of obstruction.
