Italian authorities seize Chinese military drones hidden in shipment

Italian authorities successfully intercepted Chinese military drones, known as Wing Loong, disguised as wind turbine parts being transported to Libya. Here, we explain the capabilities of these Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles and provide insights into the entire situation.

According to the newspaper "The Libya Observer," the drones were transported in parts and hidden in several containers. Customs officers attempted to be deceived not only by this tactic but also by mixing parts of the disassembled drones with wind turbine elements.

The Italians intercepted the shipment, which had departed from the southern Chinese port of Yantian, in the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria. This was achieved thanks to information from American intelligence. The reason given for confiscating the Chinese equipment was the international embargo on weapons delivered to Libya.

Everything suggests that the Chinese drones were intended to reach the port of Benghazi to support the forces of General Khalifa Haftar, the leader of the Libyan opposition. There have been reports for some time indicating that the United States is increasingly concerned about Haftar's growing ties with Russia and China. A few weeks ago, with American assistance, a ship carrying Russian weapons to the same port in Libya was also seized in Italy.

The Defense Express portal, which specializes in military topics, described the Wing Loong drones as "equivalents of the Bayraktar TB2." They are designed for use as observation and reconnaissance platforms but can also be equipped with air-to-ground weapons and serve a strike role.

Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles are characterized by a length of just over 30 feet and a wingspan of about 46 feet. Their takeoff weight reaches 2,425 pounds, and the combat load can be up to 441 pounds. They can travel at a maximum speed of 174 mph and at an altitude of up to 16,404 feet. According to the manufacturer, the range and flight duration are 25 miles and 20 hours, respectively.

NATO military specialists may now thoroughly examine the Chinese drones in terms of their precise equipment and performance. Such practices have long been conducted by adversarial countries. A few days ago, a set of sonar buoys dropped by the American patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon fell into Chinese hands, considered a significant blunder by the United States. Consequently, China will likely learn the technologies used in this American equipment.