DroneScoutRemote ID in China
Last reviewed: 2026-10-06
What is Remote ID? How the technology works: the standards, what a broadcast contains, and Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi transmission.
China's Interim Regulations on the Flight Management of Unmanned Aircraft have applied since 1 January 2024 and require, among other things, real-name registration of civil drones. Two mandatory national standards, drawn up by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), turn this into technology from 1 May 2026:
- GB 46761-2025 — real-name registration and activation: a drone must not be able to fly before it is activated, or after it is deactivated.
- GB 46750-2025 — operation identification: China's Remote ID.
Which drones must broadcast it?
GB 46750-2025 covers civil drones of every category, from micro to large.
| Drone | Operation identification |
|---|---|
| Produced or sold from 1 May 2026 | Required, built in |
| Sold before 1 May 2026, firmware can be upgraded | Manufacturer upgrades it with new firmware |
| Sold before 1 May 2026, no firmware upgrade possible | Manufacturer fits an identification module, scheduled to be done by 1 November 2026 |
Broadcast and network, both at once
A Chinese drone must identify itself in two ways at the same time:
- Broadcast, directly from the drone to receivers nearby, without any network;
- Network, over a mobile or other connection to the authorities' monitoring system.
The pilot cannot switch either off. China is the only country where network Remote ID is mandatory for every drone — see the FAQ for how it differs from broadcast. The drone reports its unique identity code, position, altitude, speed and operating status at least once per second.
Its own standard
GB 46750-2025 is not the same as the US (ASTM F3411) or European (ASD-STAN EN 4709-002) standard. It has its own data format, so a Remote ID app built only for the US or EU standards does not understand it. It also allows only two radio transports, each carrying the complete message in a single transmission:
- Bluetooth Long Range (Bluetooth 5)
- Wi-Fi Beacon
How to see it
DroneScout decodes GB 46750-2025 next to ASTM F3411 and EN 4709-002 and shows Chinese drones on the same live map. On Android, it receives both GB 46750-2025 transports — Bluetooth Long Range needs a phone whose Bluetooth Long Range S8 actually works, see the FAQ. An iPhone cannot receive either transport: Apple doesn't support Bluetooth Long Range and doesn't let apps scan for Wi-Fi Beacons.