Combat drones from China: DR Congo procures three Wing Loong II from Catic

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is buying three Wing Loong II combat drones from the Chinese aerospace company Catic. They are intended to strengthen military capabilities in the east of the country, where the DRC is fighting the M23-RDF/AFC rebels – a group that Kinshasa classifies as a terrorist organisation.

The Wing Loong II is characterised by precision strikes and a long endurance of up to 20 hours. The unmanned aircraft carry a payload of 480 kilograms, allowing them to attack enemy positions and supply lines in a targeted manner.

This is exactly where the DRC comes in: the M23 group's operations and advance are to be disrupted. As a tactical asset, the drones are meant to help regain momentum – in a conflict marked by setbacks for the DRC's armed forces (FARDC) and their allied Wazalendo militias.

Combat drones against the M23 advance

The purchase was negotiated with Catic. It is part of a broader strategy by which the DRC aims to strengthen its military capacities. The background is the conflict, ongoing since January this year, with the Rwanda-backed M23 group, which has since controlled key cities such as Goma and Bukavu.

Chinese drones are nothing new for the African country. Nine Chinese-made CH-4 drones were delivered to the DRC in 2023 and 2024. The M23 rebels shot one of them down in January, so the three Wing Loong II now complement an arsenal of eight CH-4. Because of the longer endurance and greater firepower, the FARDC expect the Wing Loong II to provide an upgrade that will support the counter-offensive.

First the CH-4, now the Wing Loong II: with each further procurement, the DRC becomes more dependent on Chinese military technology, and Beijing gains influence in the country.

China's share of global drone exports

The importance of Chinese drones is also growing worldwide. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute states that CASC, CAIG and other major Chinese drone manufacturers have sold 282 combat drones to 17 countries over the past ten years. The USA delivered twelve such drones over the same period.