China Turns Sci-Fi Into Reality with Successfully Test Artillery-Launched Drones After 12-Year Quest

After more than a decade of skepticism and technical hurdles, Chinese engineers have finally turned an ambitious military concept into reality — successfully developing and testing drones that can be fired from artillery guns.

This futuristic technology, once thought impossible, involves launching compact drones packed inside 155mm artillery shells. These drones are designed to survive the crushing force of an artillery blast, which is equivalent to over 3,000 times their own weight — or, as experts describe it, like having 35 adult African elephants press down on a single person.

The breakthrough was achieved through a collaboration between the Shaanxi Applied Physics and Chemistry Research Institute, the Chinese air force, and major defence contractor Norinco. The key to this success lies in a specially designed pyrotechnic ejection mechanism that allows the drone to separate from its shell mid-air without using any electronic controls.

A Simple, Smart Solution

Instead of relying on delicate electronics, which would likely be destroyed under such extreme forces, the engineers designed a chain of carefully timed small explosions. This sequence safely ejects the drone from its shell, protects it from aerodynamic forces during separation, and prepares it for immediate operation once airborne.

The heart of the system is a hardened stainless steel frame capable of withstanding stresses of up to 1,100 megapascals. Inside, specially formulated explosives, including lead azide and boron-based charges, survive the intense forces. The engineers added clever features like a maze-like channel system that safely directs explosive pressure and prevents debris from clogging critical pathways.

This entire ejection sequence unfolds in eight rapid stages — starting from fuse ignition to bulkhead thrust, capsule ejection, delayed igniters, and protective panel release — all without a single electronic component.

Overcoming a Decade of Doubt

The idea of artillery-launched drones was first proposed by Chinese military scientists in 2013, under a concept called Tianyan or "Sky Eye." Despite early interest, the program faced heavy skepticism, especially regarding whether sensitive drone components could survive the brutal launch forces.

Even as recently as last year, Chinese military experts doubted its feasibility, citing the difficulty of protecting electronics against ultra-high G-forces. But undeterred, the team pressed on, supported by consistent government and military funding.

By moving away from electronics and opting for a purely mechanical and pyrotechnic system, the team finally achieved reliable results. In five successful ground tests and five live-fire artillery launches at a western test range, the drones survived and deployed flawlessly, enduring forces of over 3,500 times gravity.

Why It Matters

These artillery-launched drones can travel distances of over 10 kilometers in just seconds and loiter in the air for surveillance, target tracking, or even attack missions. Their method of deployment gives them an edge — firing from cannons allows rapid, long-range insertion without needing runways, drone launchers, or large aircraft.

Such drones also promise lower operational costs and increased versatility on the battlefield, capable of being launched in harsh environments ranging from freezing -50°C to sweltering 80°C.

The Chinese research team believes this invention could play a vital role in future military operations, offering new ways to deploy reconnaissance or attack drones deep behind enemy lines, or into areas where traditional launch methods are impossible.

As one of the senior engineers, Huang Yunluan, wrote:
"These drones will undoubtedly hold a pivotal position in future military development."

With this success, China positions itself at the forefront of turning once science-fiction-style battlefield concepts into working military technologies.