"If Targeted by China, It Stops Functioning"... The Secret of 'Junggukje Drone'

'Geofence' Recognition Feature Mandatory
"Technology to Prevent Export Drone Weapon Utilization"

It has been reported that unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) manufactured in China are equipped with a function that recognizes Chinese borders and prevents attacks. In other words, countries that purchase Chinese-made drone weapons cannot set China as a target in case of emergency.

On the 18th (local time), Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) cited a Chinese military source saying, "All Chinese combat and reconnaissance drones are designed and developed to recognize the 'geofence' surrounding China's territorial borders, which is a program that creates virtual boundaries or zones based on actual map information."

According to the media, drones manufactured in China and exported abroad recognize China's geofence, so they cannot be used to attack China.

DJI, a Chinese drone manufacturer, 'Mavic' drone. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this, the source explained, "It is a simple technology aimed at ensuring that drones exported by China as so-called surveillance tools are not used as weapons to attack their own country."

He added that this function is specified to be included in the components and parts of drones exported from China.

Beijing military expert Li Ze told SCMP, "Embedding surveillance functions in export drones is common sense," and stated that this technology has been developed and matured in China for decades.

He explained, "Such surveillance systems are connected to the drone's power supply and weapon systems," adding, "This means that the drone stops flying or firing weapons when approaching the Chinese border."

He also added, "If such surveillance systems are modified or dismantled, the drone has the capability to self-destruct."

The claim that Chinese drones cannot set attack targets toward China has been made several times in the past. For example, in September last year, Harun Bayraktar, CEO of Turkish defense company Baykar Tech, told Eurasia Times, "Chinese drones turn away when approaching the Chinese border."

He added that due to this hidden software and limited functions of Chinese drones, many importing countries are turning their attention to Turkish drones. Eurasia Times also reported at the time that Turkey's drone export volume had already surpassed China's.