Key facts
- Taiwan's new attack drone is designed to resemble Iran's Shahed model.
- The drone is intended to swamp People's Liberation Army air defenses.
- Military experts agree on the utility of low-cost drone systems.
Taiwan's new attack drone, designed to resemble Iran's Shahed model, could overwhelm China's air defenses, according to analysts. Military experts broadly agree on the utility of such low-cost systems, drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East. However, they differ on how such a drone could be deployed in a conflict with Beijing should it enter service, with some seeing greater value in targeting People's Liberation Army forces.