Chinese tank maker stresses UAV threats with anti-drone modules, electronic warfare vehicles

The China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO), China's leading tank and armored vehicle manufacturer, unveiled its anti-drone solutions at the Airshow China 2024 after the world witnessed how drones could pose serious threats to ground forces in recent regional conflicts.

The company is displaying anti-drone modules mounted on tanks and armored vehicles, a set of electronic warfare vehicle system and a suite of equipment designed to counter low-altitude, small, and slow-moving drones at the event from November 12 to 17 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province.

In line with current trends in military advancements, NORINCO is bringing to the airshow a series of new products, technologies and systems with a focus on distributed combat empowered by intelligent network, demonstrating China's advancements in ground force technology and systems, the Global Times learned from the company at the airshow.

NORINCO is showcasing 225 pieces of equipment, with 68 debuting at the airshow. Featured items include the VT4A main battle tank, VT5U unmanned light tank, VU-T10 unmanned ground combat platform, AR3 and SR5 multiple launch rocket systems, SH15 and SH16A self-propelled howitzers, the Sky Dragon air defense missile system, and Red Arrow anti-tank missiles, along with drones like the BZK005E.

The company has scheduled a product launch event for Wednesday, where it will unveil details about its latest assault vehicle, howitzer, and electronic warfare vehicle.

Cheng Ziheng, a spokesperson at NORINCO, told the Global Times at the airshow that after analyzing recent regional conflicts, it's clear that the nature of warfare has evolved: Large-scale troop battles are now rare, as troops scatter in large areas. Combat has become diversified, as they no longer only feature artillery versus artillery or tank versus tank, as all kinds of elements including electronic warfare and cyber security come into play in dynamic environments. Uncertainty is now central to modern combat.

To tackle these uncertainties, NORINCO is exhibiting a system of hundreds of equipment, named the digitally empowered combined arms brigade combat system. 

It has three core qualities: comprehensiveness, resilience and agility, Cheng said. He explained that comprehensiveness provides countermeasures for various threats, resilience ensures the system can withstand attacks without full paralysis, and agility allows for rapid decision-making, command and response. 

Cheng emphasized the growing threat of low-altitude, small, slow-moving drones, which increasingly make tanks and armored vehicles vulnerable without adequate countermeasures.

Addressing this concern, NORINCO has outfitted the VT4 tank and similar vehicles with compact anti-drone modules designed to protect individual units. The company is also showcasing electronic warfare vehicles that provide mobile protection for tanks and armored units. Together with radars, drone detection devices and fire units, multiple layers of protection are expected to provide complete defense against not only low altitude, small, slow-flying drones, but also medium-sized drones, according to Cheng.