China’s largest ground-based arms manufacturer is displaying air defence systems specifically for drone warfare, along with advanced artillery equipment at this year’s Eurosatory exhibition in France.Demand for air defence solutions is skyrocketing, fuelled by the conflict in Ukraine and the US-Israeli war on Iran which have been largely defined by the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and missiles.

At the heart of the Norinco display is its air defence systems – not only surface-to-air missiles that target aircraft and projectiles, but also guns and laser weapons systems aimed at countering smaller aerial threats, such as drones.

Among the surface-to-air systems is the medium-range GAS9, also known as Sky Dragon 100, that can intercept aerial threats within 100km (62 miles), and the shorter-range GAS8, or Yitian II, at 20km, which together provide a multilayered air defence network.

Also on show is Norinco’s SA2/LD76, a high-mobility anti-aircraft gun system designed to counter modern asymmetric threats like drone swarms, cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions.