Iran fumed after nearly all Chinese Sunflower-200 (SF-200) drones were downed by US Patriots, with one dud hitting a Dubai apartment.
Evidence shows Iran using those drones—its attacks relied on homegrown Shahed models, one of which did crash into a Dubai high-rise and start a fire without exploding.
While Iran’s Chinese-made HQ-9B air defence system proved completely useless and a waste of money against US-Israeli strikes and users mocked the cheap tech, experts note the war reveals real limits in Chinese exports amid the conflict that erupted on March 2.
China has unveiled its copy of Iran’s Shahed suicide drone, known as the Sunflower-200, raising speculation that Beijing may soon offer the weapon to nations critical to its geostrategic interests and ambitions.
China sold the Sunflower-200 to Russia and Iran; however, it is an open but important question as the conflict in Ukraine is increasingly characterised by drone warfare.
The Forbes report says the Sunflower-200 is in still under development and may be just months away from full-scale production.
According to Chinese Global Times, the Sunflower-200 as a low-cost weapon designed to engage long-range stationary targets.
The website says the drone has a 3.2-meter length, 2.5-meter wingspan and a flight speed of 160-220 kilometers per hour. The Sunflower-200 has a maximum take-off weight of 175 kilograms, a combat payload of 40 kilograms and can fly up to 1500 kilometers to engage targets.
Forbes says the Sunflower-200 is a direct copy of the Shahed with similar performance, range and capabilities.
© 2026, GDC. © GDC and www.globaldefensecorp.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to www.globaldefensecorp.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
