Taiwan actively develops and purchases naval drones for protection from Chinese fleet and naval landing. However PRC does not intend to sit idle and showed its exercises countering such drones using UAVs.
China Central Television CCTV published video with practicing destruction of small moving maritime targets. It is stated KVD002 reconnaissance UAV was used to perform this task.
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First footage showed drone preparation and takeoff from base, and after this video switches between UAV operators and image from targeting station. As result, unmanned boat was engaged using missile.
Defense Express notes that on video, naval drone did not explode after engagement. However this may be connected not so much with small missile warhead as with fact this was target without explosives inside, or weaponry.
Fact of publishing footage from such exercises is most likely aimed at showing existence of capability to combat unmanned boats using UAVs. Meaning threat is perceived seriously and countermeasure methods are being practiced.
Regarding applied equipment, this involves KVD002 — reconnaissance-strike long-endurance UAV, which is variant of CH-4, very reminiscent of American MQ-9 Reaper. It can take up to 340 kg payload and remain airborne over 30 hours.
One can assume that for destroying unmanned boat, AR-1 air-to-surface missile weighing 40 kg was used. Usually it has inertial and semi-active laser guidance systems, but some modifications may have other seeker installed, like anti-radar, infrared or television.
Method itself of using reconnaissance-strike UAVs for destroying naval drones was already noticed on battlefield. In this role, from Ukrainian side, strike Bayraktar TB2 were encountered, and from russian side — Orion.
Overall such drones can well supplement unmanned boat threat countermeasure system thanks to ability to long remain airborne and conduct patrol. However they are not only possible answer in this question and should work in cooperation with other assets and components.
Recall Taiwan actively develops its defense, including using modern high-tech assets like naval drones. However on island everything goes not as planned, as ordered counter-UAV system lags behind schedule and cannot counter some threats.
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