a portable armed dronesimilar to the US drone used in the war in Ukraine and Russia was presented on Tuesday by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology from Taiwan.

The device is designed to be carried in a backpack and has the capacity to stay in the air for 15 minutes.

“Because it is light and portable, It’s like a big grenade that flies.”said Chi Li-pin, head of the institute’s Aviation Systems Research Department.

This drone resembles the US-made Switchblade 300 used by Ukrainian soldiers.

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“It is effective for attacking targets close to our coasts,” Chi added, noting that its maximum flying capability is 10 km.

Taiwan’s 23.5 million people live under constant threat of invasion by China, which considers the democratically governed island part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, even by force.

Under President Xi Jinping, threats from Beijing have increased in recent years.

Taiwan is also developing the next generation of attack drones, Chi said, including versions that could be used for longer range attacks.