Taiwanese F-16V Fighter Locks Onto Chinese Military Drone While Regional Tensions Surge
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On March 17, 2025, a Taiwanese F-16V fighter jet, supplied by the United States, targeted a Chinese military drone over the contested waters surrounding the self-governing island of Taiwan. This incident occurred amid escalating tensions as China increased its military activities around the island, reaffirming its territorial claims.
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The Wing Loong-2 UCAV was photographed by a Taiwanese F-16V’s Sniper ATP targeting pod. Taiwan’s Military News Agency referred to this drone as the “Type 2 Attack UAV” and the Wing Loong-10 as the “Wuzhen-10 UAV.” (Picture source: ROC)
China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory, despite never having exercised control over the island. The Chinese government has never ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification and applies continuous military pressure, notably through frequent aerial and naval incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). These shows of force have intensified in recent years, with large-scale military exercises around the island reflecting a strategy of coercion aimed at deterring any pro-independence moves and testing the responsiveness of Taiwan’s armed forces.
During recent drills in which 59 Chinese aircraft encircled Taiwan, a Wing Loong-2 and a Wing Loong-10 drone were explicitly identified and photographed for the first time by the Taiwanese military. The Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) released images of these Chinese drones, captured using electro-optical systems onboard their F-16V Viper fighters and P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft. The interception took place as China conducted extensive naval and aerial exercises around the island, with Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracking 59 PLA aircraft and nine PLAN vessels between March 17 and March 18.
In previous incursions, Taiwanese reports had identified BZK-005 ISR and TB-001 reconnaissance-strike drones entering Taiwan’s ADIZ, but this was the first time that the Wing Loong-2 and Wing Loong-10 (also known as Wuzhen-10 or WZ-10) were reported in such operations. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense rarely specifies the types of Chinese military aircraft it tracks or intercepts, often referring to them generically as “aircraft” and “drones.” While these drones may have been used in previous operations, this marks the first occasion that they have been explicitly identified and photographed.
An image of the Wing Loong-10, captured by the P-3C Orion’s electro-optical system, shows it from a side-rear angle, with its two exhausts visible. These exhausts, concealed within the fuselage between canted vertical stabilizers, identify the drone as the “Wind Shadow” variant, equipped with two turbofan engines. In contrast, the “Cloud Shadow” variant has a single engine with a simpler exhaust nozzle. The Wing Loong-10 had previously been spotted over the western Pacific, and open-source aircraft tracking data recorded its presence north of the Taiwan Strait’s median line in February and March.
The Wing Loong-2 UCAV was photographed by a Taiwanese F-16V’s Sniper ATP targeting pod. Taiwan’s Military News Agency referred to this drone as the “Type 2 Attack UAV” and the Wing Loong-10 as the “Wuzhen-10 UAV.”
The Wing Loong-2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) combat drone developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. It can conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions and carry a payload of up to 480 kg, including air-to-ground missiles and guided bombs. It has an endurance of approximately 32 hours and a maximum speed of about 370 km/h. Its design resembles that of the American MQ-9 Reaper, featuring a high-wing configuration and a rear-mounted propeller engine.
The Wing Loong-10, on the other hand, is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) stealth drone powered by jet engines. It can fly at altitudes exceeding 12,000 meters and reach speeds of around 620 km/h. Primarily designed for electronic intelligence (ELINT) and electronic warfare (EW) missions, it can also be equipped with precision-strike weaponry. Its advanced aerodynamic design, including canted stabilizers and a fuselage optimized for low observability, enhances its survivability against air defense systems.
Additionally, political uncertainty in the United States, particularly with the potential re-election of Donald Trump, adds another layer of unpredictability to the regional power balance. While the Biden administration has maintained consistent military support for Taiwan, Trump’s more transactional and unpredictable approach to international relations could call into question the stability of U.S. commitments. A potential strategic shift in Washington’s policy could have direct implications for Beijing’s posture, possibly leading to an increase in Chinese military actions against the island. In this uncertain environment, each PLA incursion and each Taiwanese response contribute to the growing risk of a regional conflict with global ramifications.
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On March 17, 2025, a Taiwanese F-16V fighter jet, supplied by the United States, targeted a Chinese military drone over the contested waters surrounding the self-governing island of Taiwan. This incident occurred amid escalating tensions as China increased its military activities around the island, reaffirming its territorial claims.
The Wing Loong-2 UCAV was photographed by a Taiwanese F-16V’s Sniper ATP targeting pod. Taiwan’s Military News Agency referred to this drone as the “Type 2 Attack UAV” and the Wing Loong-10 as the “Wuzhen-10 UAV.” (Picture source: ROC)
China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory, despite never having exercised control over the island. The Chinese government has never ruled out the use of force to achieve reunification and applies continuous military pressure, notably through frequent aerial and naval incursions into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). These shows of force have intensified in recent years, with large-scale military exercises around the island reflecting a strategy of coercion aimed at deterring any pro-independence moves and testing the responsiveness of Taiwan’s armed forces.
During recent drills in which 59 Chinese aircraft encircled Taiwan, a Wing Loong-2 and a Wing Loong-10 drone were explicitly identified and photographed for the first time by the Taiwanese military. The Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF) released images of these Chinese drones, captured using electro-optical systems onboard their F-16V Viper fighters and P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft. The interception took place as China conducted extensive naval and aerial exercises around the island, with Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracking 59 PLA aircraft and nine PLAN vessels between March 17 and March 18.
In previous incursions, Taiwanese reports had identified BZK-005 ISR and TB-001 reconnaissance-strike drones entering Taiwan’s ADIZ, but this was the first time that the Wing Loong-2 and Wing Loong-10 (also known as Wuzhen-10 or WZ-10) were reported in such operations. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense rarely specifies the types of Chinese military aircraft it tracks or intercepts, often referring to them generically as “aircraft” and “drones.” While these drones may have been used in previous operations, this marks the first occasion that they have been explicitly identified and photographed.
An image of the Wing Loong-10, captured by the P-3C Orion’s electro-optical system, shows it from a side-rear angle, with its two exhausts visible. These exhausts, concealed within the fuselage between canted vertical stabilizers, identify the drone as the “Wind Shadow” variant, equipped with two turbofan engines. In contrast, the “Cloud Shadow” variant has a single engine with a simpler exhaust nozzle. The Wing Loong-10 had previously been spotted over the western Pacific, and open-source aircraft tracking data recorded its presence north of the Taiwan Strait’s median line in February and March.
The Wing Loong-2 UCAV was photographed by a Taiwanese F-16V’s Sniper ATP targeting pod. Taiwan’s Military News Agency referred to this drone as the “Type 2 Attack UAV” and the Wing Loong-10 as the “Wuzhen-10 UAV.”
The Wing Loong-2 is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) combat drone developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group. It can conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions and carry a payload of up to 480 kg, including air-to-ground missiles and guided bombs. It has an endurance of approximately 32 hours and a maximum speed of about 370 km/h. Its design resembles that of the American MQ-9 Reaper, featuring a high-wing configuration and a rear-mounted propeller engine.
The Wing Loong-10, on the other hand, is a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) stealth drone powered by jet engines. It can fly at altitudes exceeding 12,000 meters and reach speeds of around 620 km/h. Primarily designed for electronic intelligence (ELINT) and electronic warfare (EW) missions, it can also be equipped with precision-strike weaponry. Its advanced aerodynamic design, including canted stabilizers and a fuselage optimized for low observability, enhances its survivability against air defense systems.
Additionally, political uncertainty in the United States, particularly with the potential re-election of Donald Trump, adds another layer of unpredictability to the regional power balance. While the Biden administration has maintained consistent military support for Taiwan, Trump’s more transactional and unpredictable approach to international relations could call into question the stability of U.S. commitments. A potential strategic shift in Washington’s policy could have direct implications for Beijing’s posture, possibly leading to an increase in Chinese military actions against the island. In this uncertain environment, each PLA incursion and each Taiwanese response contribute to the growing risk of a regional conflict with global ramifications.
