Scope and evidence
This audit covers the original research register for Asia defence drone coverage audit. The review below records work completed on 21 September 2026. Resolved means the named research task was addressed, not that every national programme or undisclosed capability is catalogued. Partially resolved topics now have published evidence but retain a narrower question.
China — Partially resolved
Wing Loong-1 / 1E and Wing Loong-3 / BZK-005, TB-001 and smaller tactical ISR families. Added seven profiles covering Wing Loong 1/1D/1E, Wing Loong 3, CH-3, CH-6, BZK-005, TB-001 and WZ-8. Evidence categories are explicit: issuer-filed original specifications, development and exhibition statements, and Japanese official flight observations. Existing Wing Loong 2, CH-4/5/7 and WZ-7/10 remain distinct.
India — Partially resolved
Archer / Archer-NG / HAL CATS Warrior and other collaborative concepts. Added Archer, CATS Warrior, ZOLT, Nishant and Panchi, separating catalogue, trial and historical-use evidence.
Pakistan — Partially resolved
Burraq and original Shahpar delivery and current configuration / Yalghar, Blaze and other loitering-munition families. Added current Yalghar 100/500, Scout V30 and Super Ranger V150 baselines; preserved supplier-only status.
South Korea — Partially resolved
Next corps-surveillance UAV / KUS-VS VTOL and KUS-VT tiltrotor programmes. Added Next Corps UAV, KUS-VS, KUS-VT and KUS-FX with zero-filled catalogue fields excluded.
Taiwan — Partially resolved
Chien Hsiang anti-radiation family / Cardinal II and III. Added Cardinal II and explicit Mighty Hornet I–III configurations without reusing IV performance.
Japan — Partially resolved
FFOS and FFRS / Mitsubishi and ATLA newer uncrewed-aircraft concepts. A new ATLA-backed Terra B1 record extends documented Japanese domestic procurement. The existing FFOS/FFRS profile already separates historical deployment from current inventory uncertainty.
Singapore — Partially resolved
ST Engineering Veloce 15 and Veloce 60. Added a Veloce family record preserving different 15/60 endurance, propulsion and link baselines.
Indonesia — Partially resolved
PTDI Wulung and Black Eagle / Elang Hitam programmes. Added Wulung and Black Eagle separately. Wulung's supplier-reported certification is distinguished from acceptance; Black Eagle catalogue figures remain developmental.
Thailand — Partially resolved
DTI D-EYES 01, 02 and 03 families. Added D-Eyes 02 using a 2020 prototype handover and later tooling evidence, beyond the original 2019 display.
Vietnam — Partially resolved
Viettel reconnaissance UAVs, including VUA-SC-3G. Added VUA-SC-3G with official military reporting of its trial and early fielding history.
North Korea — Open
Reconnaissance UAV inventory and subsequent announced programmes. Reviewed the older DIA baseline and a newer INSS discussion of Saetbyol programmes. Neither supplies sufficient original developer documentation to resolve manufacturer, version-specific performance and current acceptance.
Japan — Partially resolved
Terra Drone Terra B1 interceptor procurement. Added Terra B1 using ATLA's 25 August 2026 production-contract record and the manufacturer's description.
Open research register
These are editorial research tasks, not confirmed capabilities. Remove or revise each row when the evidence has been published.
China · Air · High priority
Chinese smaller ISR, rotary-wing, loitering and collaborative families; export configurations
Continue smaller ISR aircraft, uncrewed helicopters, loitering and collaborative designs. Obtain current developer sheets for BZK-005/TB-001 and configuration-specific Wing Loong 1E/3 and CH-6 progress; flight observation or display alone is not acceptance. Named export customers, licensed variants and current CH-7 trial outcomes still require primary evidence.
India · Air · High priority
Archer-NG, NewSpace and Sagar programmes; current Indian acceptance
Obtain an original Archer-NG flight statement; identify NewSpace aircraft-level swarm configurations and Sagar maritime VTOL/Varuna acceptance. Complete ZOLT customer outcomes, current Nishant/Panchi inventories and imported-aircraft operator links. DRDO-hosted press clippings remain secondary reporting.
Pakistan · Air · High priority
Burraq, original Shahpar, Blaze, Ranger V50H and Integrated Dynamics
Recover original service and configuration records for Burraq/Shahpar; establish Blaze identity and current Integrated Dynamics reconnaissance models. Add V50H separately and reconcile legacy brochures without transferring figures to current Uqab-NG. Imported fleets need operator links.
South Korea · Air · High priority
Korean acceptance records and named loitering-aircraft identities
Confirm Next Corps acceptance and present KUS-VS/VT flight outcomes. Korean Air's ADEX release differentiates small and medium loitering projects but does not establish stable public model identities here; obtain model-specific technical and delivery records before creating them. Review other domestic logistics/ISR suppliers.
Taiwan · Air · High priority
Chien Hsiang, Cardinal III, private procurement and Teng Yun update
Locate current official Chien Hsiang deployment/variant evidence and a Cardinal III technical baseline. Establish version-specific Mighty Hornet acceptance, private-sector military deliveries and a Teng Yun primary update newer than 2024. Catalogue footer dates remain unsuitable milestones.
Japan · Air · High priority
FFOS/FFRS current standards and other Japanese aircraft programmes
Obtain current FFOS/FFRS fleet/configuration records, identifiable Mitsubishi/ATLA flight projects, shipborne VTOL and military cargo procurements. Confirm imported-aircraft operator relationships. Civil cargo demonstrations and anonymous concepts are insufficient to invent a fielded model.
Singapore · Air · High priority
Veloce military acceptance and current technical sheets
Obtain named customers, dated deliveries and model-specific mass/payload sheets for Veloce 15 and 60. Supplier maritime and endurance claims do not establish acceptance by a particular armed force.
Indonesia · Air · High priority
Wulung certification scope and Black Eagle programme milestones
Recover the Wulung certificate and current operator configuration, plus original statements resolving Black Eagle ownership, flight-test progress, certification and procurement after reported programme changes. Current portfolio pages alone do not prove an accepted fleet.
Thailand · Air · High priority
D-Eyes 01/03 and D-Eyes 02 subsequent acceptance
Establish current D-Eyes 01 and Bua Khao/D-Eyes 03 configurations and partner responsibilities, and follow D-Eyes 02 from evaluation to any later production or acceptance. No numeric performance was inferred from exhibition photographs.
Vietnam · Air · High priority
VUA-SC-3G current configuration and later Viettel families
Obtain a model-specific Viettel technical sheet, named current operators and configuration links to later programmes. The official 2026 retrospective establishes earlier fielding but supplies no complete current inventory or verified numerical baseline.
North Korea · Air · High priority
Saetbyol 4/9 and newer North Korean aircraft evidence
Recover original dated state releases and independently assess flight and deployment evidence for Saetbyol 4/9 and later variants. External visual comparison with US aircraft does not establish matching engines, payload or endurance; avoid attributing an unnamed factory or importing a foreign baseline.
Japan · Air · High priority
Terra B1 deliveries and accepted configuration
Obtain a delivery or acceptance statement and the contracted aircraft specification. ATLA confirms the order; the supplier's September delivery forecast does not establish that deliveries occurred.
Publication history
- — Reviewed every original topic; published supported additions and replaced broad gaps with the remaining evidence questions.
- — Published a regional country review and editable register of remaining research gaps.
Suggest a correction to this entry →
Follow the evidence
Source types identify who makes the claim. Programme milestones and supplier statements should be read in context.
- AVIC Chengdu: 2022 prospectus, product tables pp.110–111 (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer
- DRDO Compendium of Products for Export 2025 (opens in a new tab)Government / developer
- GIDS Yalghar current product page (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
- KAI UAV programme page (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
- NCSIST Cardinal II official brochure (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
- SUBARU aerospace programme history (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
- ST Engineering uncrewed aerial vehicles catalogue (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
- PTDI UAV portfolio: Wulung (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer / programme
- DTI prototype handover (opens in a new tab)Government / developer
- People's Army Newspaper programme history, 23 April 2026 (opens in a new tab)Military / official reporting
- DIA North Korea Military Power (opens in a new tab)Government assessment
- ATLA small-drone evaluation and production contract (opens in a new tab)Government / procurement
- ideaForge January 2026 investor-call transcript: ZOLT and SWITCH orders (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer
- GIDS current portfolio navigation and Shahpar-II specification (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer
- NCSIST current unmanned-aircraft catalogue (opens in a new tab)Manufacturer