China Deploys J-6 Attack Drones Near Taiwan

China has converted an estimated 200 or more obsolete J-6 supersonic fighter jets, which first flew in the 1960s, into attack drones, designated J-6W. These drones have been stationed at six air bases close to the Taiwan Strait, with five in Fujian Province and one in Guangdong Province. The deployment, detailed in a report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, is seen as a significant escalation in China's military preparedness against Taiwan. Experts, including J. Michael Dahm, suggest these drones would be used in large numbers in the opening phase of an assault on Taiwan, the United States, or allied targets, functioning more like cruise missiles to overwhelm air defenses. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has responded by outlining plans to rapidly acquire new counter-drone systems to address this asymmetric warfare threat. While the United States intelligence community recently assessed that China is not currently planning to invade Taiwan in 2027, this contrasts with earlier United States — The Pentagon reports. The event highlights China's heavy investment in military drone technologies and the evolving nature of modern warfare, as demonstrated by conflicts in Ukraine and the US-Israeli war with Iran.