Border Defense Cooperation 2026 brought together helicopters, FPV drones and armored vehicles in an area near the tri-border region; the training comes amid tensions between Moscow and Europe and a growing strategic rapprochement between Russia and China
China, Russia and Mongolia held the Border Defense Cooperation 2026 joint military exercise on September 2 and 3 in a designated area near the tri-border region around Manzhouli, in Inner Mongolia, China.
According to China’s Ministry of National Defense, the activity brought together border defense troops from the three countries and focused on jointly preventing and responding to reconnaissance and sabotage activities in border areas. The 2026 edition was the second exercise held under this trilateral training format.
The scenario adopted for the exercise simulated the escape of a group classified by authorities as terrorists from a Russian border area toward Chinese and Mongolian territory. Based on this scenario, each force was assigned specific roles within a coordinated operation.
Russian troops deployed a helicopter in a simulated air strike against the target, while Mongolian forces were tasked with blocking possible escape routes. On the Chinese side, a drone-assisted team located and tracked the targets.
In the next phase, FPV drones were used to provide cover for the advance of an assault team, which moved in armored all-terrain vehicles toward the group’s simulated hideout. The operation concluded with troops entering the location and capturing the designated targets.
The training highlights how low-cost unmanned systems are increasingly being incorporated into border protection operations. Reconnaissance drones and FPV platforms can expand situational awareness and support small ground units without relying exclusively on manned aircraft or sensors installed at fixed positions.
