China Deploys Drones to Support Motuo Frontline Soldiers in Tibet

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has, for the first time, deployed drones to provide logistic support to soldiers stationed at the remote Motuo region in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Ten multirotor drones each having a payload capacity of 15-25kg and range of 20km (under full load) opened air routes to the four frontlines stations of the PLA Tibet Military Command in Motuo region. This was done through satellite positioning, automatic take-off and landing, intelligent cruise and fixed-point delivery, CCTV reported.

The stations, located in dense forests of the high mountains, are often hit by landslides and heavy snow, and the soldiers at the stations are PLA's only frontline troops who relied on manpower on foot to transport food and other supplies, Global Times reported Sunday.

Previously, about 120 soldiers transported dehydrated vegetables and canned food to the stations over 2-3 days. The delivery of the drones enabled soldiers to have fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, milk and eggs and even mooncakes.