INSIGHT: PLA drone seen flying false codes in flightSPOOFING SIGNALS A Chinese long-endurance drone has been spotted flying a pattern that corresponds with Taiwan’s geography using false transponder codesReuters, HONG KONGA large Chinese military drone has conducted regular flights over the South China Sea while transmitting transponder signals that made it appear to be other aircraft, including a sanctioned Belarusian cargo plane and a British Typhoon fighter jet. The real Belarusian Il-62 has been active throughout the period with a different call sign and was once airborne at the same time as the Chinese drone flying under its transponder code, the Flightradar24 data showed. Flying out of Hainan’s Qionghai Boao International Airport, the aircraft frequently remained airborne for hours, flying geometric patterns over the same areas. The Chinese military generally flies its drones “dark,” transmitting neither call signs nor registration numbers. “It is a compelling image — extensive rehearsals across the South China Sea to be deployed over Taiwan’s key points,” Neill said.

Source: Taipei Times February 26, 2026 17:15 UTC