China Opens High-Altitude UAV Testing Base in Western Tibet

China has opened a high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing facility in Ngari, western Tibet, amid ongoing border tensions with India. The base, inaugurated on September 28, 2025, sits over 4,500 meters above sea level and is designed to test drones in extreme cold and thin air. Officials describe the site as serving civilian uses such as logistics and emergency response, but analysts say it also strengthens China’s military capabilities. The base reportedly supports new high-altitude drones like “Ali Yundun-1,” capable of carrying 100-kilogram payloads.