Why is China’s ASN-301 suicide drone more deadly than its Iranian counterpart?

China’s ASN-301 shares the Iranian drone’s aerodynamic delta-wing design that is rooted in a common technological origin.

The Chinese drone and its variants have evolved into either a highly sophisticated SEAD (suppression of enemy air defences) weapon or an even lower-cost loitering munition, capable of precision radar-hunting or air-defence attrition, which could surpass Iran’s current capabilities in scale and versatility.

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Specifications

Despite the striking resemblance between the two – both bearing a low-aspect-ratio tailless delta wing with a cylindrical fuselage, a spherical optoelectronic nose payload and a rear-mounted pusher propeller – the Chinese ASN-301 is an anti-radiation loitering munition rather than a simple kamikaze drone.

The system made its public debut in 2017 during the People’s Liberation Army anniversary military parade, and its capabilities were showcased in a live-fire drill in October last year.

Smaller than its Iranian counterpart, the ASN-301 is 2.5 metres (8.2 feet) long, with a wingspan of 2.2 metres and a total weight of 135kg (298lbs).

It is equipped with a 30kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead, which is lighter than that of the Shahed-136. But the ASN-301 is fitted with a laser proximity fuse to disperse about 7,000 preformed fragments, optimising damage against radar antennas and control systems.

South China Morning Post