China Reveals KVD002 Drone Striking Moving Maritime Target in Coastal Exercise.

China’s People’s Liberation Army Ground Force has released footage showing a KVD002 armed reconnaissance drone tracking and striking a moving unmanned surface vessel off China’s southeast coast. The demonstration highlights the Army’s expanding ability to use land-based unmanned aircraft for coastal surveillance and precision maritime attack missions.

The strike occurred during a joint exercise after forces detected an unidentified unmanned surface vessel operating offshore, according to Chinese state media. The KVD002 crew reportedly shifted to manual control after the target’s rapid maneuvers disrupted the aircraft’s automatic tracking, allowing the operator to establish a stable lock before a missile struck the vessel from above. Footage aired by China Central Television also showed at least 13 KVD002 unmanned combat aerial vehicles at an unidentified base in southern China. The aircraft entered People’s Liberation Army Ground Force service after its public debut in Tianjin in September 2023 and is designed to conduct reconnaissance, target designation, and precision strikes against air defenses, armored vehicles, and fortified positions.

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China’s KVD002 armed drone struck a moving naval target, demonstrating reconnaissance and maritime precision-attack capability. (Picture source: CCTV)

The operation took place during a joint exercise off China’s southeastern coast. After an unmanned surface vessel was detected in the area, a ground force drone unit was ordered to conduct an armed reconnaissance mission. The target performed rapid maneuvers, complicating identification and tracking. The footage then shows a missile striking the vessel from above, although the extent of the damage cannot be determined.

The sequence was broadcast on 31 July 2026 in the second episode of the documentary series Victory, titled The Transformation of the Ground Force, produced to mark the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army. The report features Zhao Lichuan, a member of the unit involved in the operation, and shows at least 13 KVD002 drones gathered at an unidentified airbase in southern China. The aircraft visible on the ground are not carrying weapons, but their number indicates that the system is now present within an established formation rather than being limited to a single demonstration platform.

The KVD002 was unveiled in Tianjin in September 2023 as the first armed reconnaissance drone specifically intended for the Chinese ground force. It has a configuration associated with long-endurance missions, including a large straight wing, a V-tail, a rear-mounted pusher propeller, and retractable landing gear. Its wingspan is estimated at 18 meters, while propulsion is believed to rely on a four-cylinder piston engine producing approximately 85 kW, or 114 hp. The documentary did not disclose precise data on operating altitude, endurance, or range.

The drone is equipped with an electro-optical and infrared turret installed beneath the forward fuselage. Zhao Lichuan states that the camera used during the exercise has a zoom capability of up to 20 times. The KVD002 also carries VHF/UHF communications equipment and a satellite communications link, which can be used to transmit reconnaissance imagery, targeting data, and mission information to command echelons. A synthetic aperture radar and moving-target detection capability have also been mentioned, although their presence on the aircraft involved in this operation is not confirmed by the footage.

The KVD002 can carry guided weapons intended to engage air-defense systems, armored vehicles, fortifications, and other point targets. The AR-1 air-to-surface missile is associated with the platform. The strike shown in the report demonstrates that its mission system can also be used against a small moving maritime target, which presents different tracking and engagement challenges from a fixed position or a vehicle moving in open terrain.

During the exercise, the unmanned vessel proved difficult to distinguish from the waves in the video feed transmitted by the drone. Its changes in direction also prevented the onboard computer from maintaining a reliable lock. With three minutes remaining before the strike, Zhao Lichuan switched to manual control. He then had about one minute to position the aircraft, maintain stable altitude and flight parameters, and manually establish the conditions required for engagement.

This episode provides an indication of the system’s actual level of automation. The KVD002 has detection and tracking functions, but automatic lock-on was insufficient against a small, fast-moving vessel operating in a disturbed maritime environment. The success of the strike depended on the operator’s ability to take over the mission and stabilize the firing solution. The demonstration therefore confirms an operational capability while also showing that human intervention remains necessary when conditions exceed the limits of automatic tracking.

The location of the exercise also provides an indication of the scenarios in which the Chinese military could employ this type of drone. From bases in southeastern China, the KVD002 could be used to monitor coastal approaches, waters between the mainland and nearby islands, and maritime areas in the Taiwan Strait. In these sectors, it could search for and track light craft, unmanned surface vessels, or other surface targets before transmitting their position or engaging them directly. This assessment is based on the reported exercise area and the type of target shown, not on confirmation of a permanent deployment in the strait.

The main contribution of the KVD002 is that it places this capability directly under the control of the ground force. China already operates aircraft, ships, missiles, and other drones capable of acting in the maritime domain. The KVD002 therefore does not create an entirely new national anti-ship strike capability. It does, however, allow a ground force unit to conduct its own armed reconnaissance mission against a coastal or maritime target while sharing collected data with other service branches. This integration could shorten the interval between target identification and engagement, although the documentary does not provide enough information to measure that time.

The strike against the unmanned vessel does not establish how the KVD002 would perform against active defenses, electronic warfare, or a protected military target. It does confirm an observable capability: the Chinese ground force can deploy an armed drone, track a small maneuvering naval target, and complete an attack after automatic lock-on fails. In the maritime approaches to southeastern China, a larger number of platforms able to combine surveillance and strike functions could place additional pressure on small surface units and restrict their freedom of movement during a crisis or military operation near islands close to the mainland.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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