As China’s military tries to stay ahead of the curve in contemporary battle technology, it is quickly deploying cutting-edge AI-powered drones that are affordable and efficient on the battlefield.
One of the most recent features was on state broadcaster Video on Saturday, which resembles a thermo flask and weighs less than a gram. According to the report, the People’s Liberation Army infantry products are the first to use the micro aircraft, which is the first of its type.
The vehicle’s coax dual-rotor system, according to the company, provided exceptional lift when compared to traditional quadcopters, “allowing it to take up to half its own weight – the highest known payload ratio among drones worldwide.”
According to the report, the drone can support both recon and attack missions and has portable rotors and flexible payload bays. It operates quietly, may transmit real-time field intelligence, and can hold up to three grenades. One operator can control various drones at once thanks to an on-board neurological processing unit, which enables AI-powered targeting.
The micro aircraft is a component of what the military’s top news PLA Daily reported on Tuesday as a “phased step” in autonomous combat team technology, from expanding its use to heavy integration within operations that may ultimately be automatic. The transition may be crucial for “establishing potential battlefield rules and gaining an earlier advantage in smart warfare,” according to the report.
The microscopic aircraft could also be launched from a 35mm rocket rocket, according to a report from CCTV on Saturday, reducing its take-off period and expanding its reach range. At the 2021 Zhuhai air display, a similar aircraft, the CH-817, made by state-owned Aerospace CH UAV, was unveiled. Its compact system is designed for rebel and urban war.
A Army battalion under the 71st Group Army is using first-person perspective, or FPV, robots guided by fibre-optic wires, according to another Video report released earlier this month. These drones are frequently modified from business models to resemble the battlefield maneuvers used in Ukraine, where their precise manoeuvrability and opposition to jamming make them perfect loitering munitions.
Russia’s fiber drones currently strike 25 kilometers away, while Ukraine’s approach 41 kilometers, most notably with its Flagbearer-10 type. Personal Chinese companies have followed suit, with support ranges up to 50 kilometers available and business fiber kits from Wuhan-based Skywalker Technology.
China is poised to take the lead in this area: in 2023, it produced more than 350 million core-kilometres of fiber, which represented 62.5 % of global output, according to the most recent business images.
The long-range fiber cables ‘ strength was also addressed in the CCTV statement. It claimed that optic spools would relax from the helicopter during flight, reducing tension and preventing breakage or entanglement, yet during complicated manoeuvres, like wire-guided missiles and torpedoes.
According to the statement, grass-roots PLA models were creating improvised grenade- and mortar-dropping uavs based on earlier efforts like the Blowfish A2, a high-speed helicopter created by Zhuhai Ziyan UAV that can build eight involves mortar rounds.
According to CCTV, lighter, handcrafted variants are then preferred for quick front rollout. The implementation of anti-tank mines by drone is a strategy that the PLA does not use but is well-known in Ukraine. Russia quickly followed with the use of modified TM-62 mine from large drones in Ukraine. These items have the violent strength of two 155mm artillery shell.
Similar mines and common exposure to agricultural robots that could be militarized are already present in China. In the presence of artillery or air support, quite systems would boost frontline units with smart firepower.
Chinese universities and institutes have reported significant progress in fibre-optic drone communication in the wake of the growing interest in battlefield drones. One such example is the SKP-880FM, which was co-developed by Wang Hongyu and his research team at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Xuntian Optoelectronics in Jiaxing.
The drone’s test flights earlier this year successfully turned into control signals and data, significantly improving signal stability and operational security. Wang’s team claimed that “it promotes smooth mission execution and increases its resilience to electromagnetic interference.”
According to numerous CCTV reports this year, China’s military, particularly its units in the north and west of the country, has also been conducting defensive drills against drones, including testing camouflage with tanks and getting ready for drone incursions across various terrain.
One of the most lethal and widely used systems in the Ukraine-Russian battlefield is battling the FPV drones guided by fibre-optic cables, which is one of the main objectives. Although these drones are more resistant to electronic warfare, their presence in conflict areas has forced militaries to reevaluate traditional deception and armoured defense strategies.
In addition to advancing low-cost drone technologies in fields ranging from reconnaissance to logistics, the PLA Air Force and the Central Military Commission’s Equipment Development Department have been conducting trials.
The fiber and wireless drones both performed well, according to Zhang Xiangbo, an AI consultant based in Guangzhou who conducted the trials.
There is no single best option; only the best fit for particular circumstances, Zhang said. ” Wireless drones excelled in agility and response time, while fibre-guided systems, dubbed “high-tech kites,” excelled in anti-jamming reliability.
He claimed that more thorough system integration and autonomous battlefield decision-making would be the main topics for upcoming trials. He claimed that the PLA’s procurement priorities are being reshaped by its emphasis on practical application and cost-effective innovation. This might give it an advantage in the era of intelligent warfare.