The Feilong-300D has been unveiled at a shock price (~$10,000) for Chinese aerial munitions, pushing the boundaries of drone warfare and shaking up the industry.
Summary
Chinese manufacturer Norinco has unveiled the Feilong-300D (“Flying Dragon”) suicide drone, which could cost as little as $10,000 (approximately €9,200) per unit—an extraordinarily low price for long-range aerial munitions. This delta-wing drone, powered by a piston engine running on regular gasoline, is advertised as capable of performing reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike missions against armored targets or infrastructure. It mimics the appearance of Iran’s Shahed-136 and is in line with China’s strategy of producing masses of inexpensive munitions to saturate or threaten advanced defenses. By comparison, equivalent munitions such as the Russian Geran series or the Lancet munition are estimated to cost $75,000-150,000 per unit. The logic is clear: democratize air strikes at minimal cost, redefining the cost-effectiveness equation in future conflicts.
The Feilong-300D drone and its announced features
The Feilong-300D was highlighted at the Zhuhai Air Show and confirmed by press reports in early November 2025. It is described as a very low-cost kamikaze or loitering munition. According to an article in the South China Morning Post, Norinco says it is a “simple, highly reliable, and low-cost” system.
The technical data available is limited, but some features are mentioned:
- Piston engine using standard gasoline—which reduces cost and complexity.
- Delta wing, which provides better lift and an expected long range (one exercise mentioned ~1,000 km); the article cites “1,000 kilometers (621 miles)” in a simulated exercise.
- Multi-role capability: reconnaissance, surveillance, and strikes against armored targets or controversial infrastructure.
- Unit price reported as “equivalent to $10,000.”
The fact that this drone combines loitering (hovering or slow gliding surveillance) and suicide strike capabilities enhances its strategic value in saturation warfare scenarios or conflicts with limited resources. The reduction in unit cost potentially means the possibility of launching massive waves of ammunition to overwhelm a defense.
Price and positioning compared to competitors
The big shock is the announced price: $10,000 per unit. In the long-range attack drone sector, this seems exceptional. By way of comparison:
- The Russian Lancet series is estimated at $75,000-80,000 per unit.
- The Russian Geran drone (a variant of the Shahed-136) costs around $125,000-150,000 depending on the modification.
Thus, the Feilong-300D appears to cost less than 10% of the price of Russian alternatives, which changes the industrial equation, particularly for states with limited budgets. This positioning allows China to target “price-sensitive” customers in conflict zones or for “medium-sized” state armed forces. The export marketing strategy is clear: offer a weapon that is inexpensive to mass produce in order to counter technologically more advanced adversaries. It is a numbers game rather than a bet on technological sophistication.
Strategic and tactical implications
The arrival of a system such as the Feilong-300D changes several dynamics:
- Saturation of air defenses: if hundreds or thousands of low-cost units can be launched, expensive defense systems can be put under severe strain.
- Increased proliferation: a low price facilitates export, and therefore distribution to states or non-state actors. China is targeting not only its domestic capabilities but also an international market for low-cost ammunition.
- Cost strategy: the Western obsession with high-cost precision can be challenged by waves of “economical” strikes, calling into question the paradigm of “expensive missile = high-quality strike.”
- Psychological effect: for an adversary, knowing that they may face waves of cheap strikes changes their tactical management, defense planning, and resource allocation.
Limitations and areas of uncertainty
Despite this attractive positioning, the Feilong-300D raises questions:
- Actual performance has not yet been independently published: the 1,000 km range remains “simulated.” It is unclear whether this performance is operational or demonstrative.
- Guidance, air defense penetration, and electronic warfare resistance are not transparently documented.
- Low sophistication could limit targets to those with weak defenses or light infrastructure.
- Actual use in a theater of war remains to be confirmed.
- Finally, mass export may face geopolitical, regulatory, or logistical constraints even at low cost.
The international market and Chinese competition
With the Feilong-300D, China is entering the market for low-cost strike drones more aggressively. It is targeting states or actors for whom cost is a major factor. This strategy differs from that of the United States or Israel, which sell high-cost, highly sophisticated drones or munitions. The Chinese model is volume + low cost + wide distribution.
This logic is reminiscent of Iran’s approach with the Shahed series, already used in the Ukrainian conflict. The Feilong-300D is presented as the Chinese version of this model. This means that competition in the market for low-cost strike drones could become a segment in its own right within the arms market. The United States and its allies will have to adapt to this low-cost model, which could tip the balance in terms of purchasing decisions or alliances.
China’s industrial and export ambitions
For China, the Feilong-300D represents both a technological innovation and a strategic export weapon. It allows China to showcase its mass production capabilities, attract customers who have historically turned to Russia or other suppliers, and introduce an element into the Chinese arms chain that offers “minimal cost, maximum use.”
The fact that Norinco is a state-owned conglomerate reinforces the idea that this effort is part of a national arms and export strategy. The drone becomes a vehicle for soft power and technology diffusion, as each customer trained to operate these drones increases dependence on the Chinese ecosystem (training, maintenance, replacement ammunition, logistics networks).
Lessons for Western forces
The emergence of the Feilong-300D forces Western forces to revise certain assumptions:
- The high hourly cost or unit cost of a weapon no longer guarantees its absolute superiority; mass can become an increased deterrent.
- Defense systems must consider not only expensive missiles but also waves of low-cost ammunition.
- Western drone exports could face competition from very low-cost Chinese offerings, which could shift the balance of power in the arms markets.
- Logistics, maintenance, and training must be designed to cope with influxes of cheap ammunition from the adversary.
The Feilong-300D marks a break in the long-range strike drone category: very low price, mass production ambitions, and significant export potential. This new economic and strategic model could reshuffle the cards in unmanned warfare. For planners and analysts, it is time to pay attention: the era of “disposable but numerous weapons” is approaching, and each drone no longer costs tens of thousands of euros but a few thousand dollars.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.