China's 'unmanned army' gradually covering land, sea, and air domains: Expert

In recent years, domestic drone technology in China has continued to innovate, and drones have become one of the highlights of Airshow China.

A military expert interviewed by Wen Wei Po stated that domestic drones have achieved a series of breakthroughs in both military and civilian applications. Currently, the domestic unmanned combat system has gradually covered the army, navy, and airforce domains, including new types of unmanned swarm combat, micro reconnaissance swarm systems, and intelligent unmanned underwater reconnaissance networks. The "unmanned army" is set to become an important component of future warfare.

"The concept of an unmanned combat system refers to the use of a large number of drones to perform various missions on different battlefields. This system is evolving from traditional manned operations towards intelligent and automated operations, representing a transformation in modern warfare," the expert pointed out.

"At present, the development of the domestic unmanned combat system is rapid, with series already in active service and favored by many countries and regions. China has now reached a world-class level in drone research and development."

The military expert outlined the domestic unmanned combat system across multiple fields, highlighting the increasing sophistication of intelligent and collaborative unmanned combat systems. For instance, a system developed by a state-owned military enterprise consists of different types of drones working in coordination with communication satellites and fighter jets. This system can execute multiple units such as reconnaissance and strike missions, targeting enemy naval forces and ground targets.

Improving the Underwater Reconnaissance Network

"A state-owned military enterprise has developed a micro reconnaissance swarm drone system, which is a fully distributed, highly automated, and intelligent aerial unmanned swarm reconnaissance combat system," the expert explained. By equipping over 20 micro drones carrying electro-optical reconnaissance payloads with a swarm flight management platform, these drones can autonomously complete sequential takeoffs, maintain formations, conduct coordinated area searches, track moving targets, and perform rapid dive reconnaissance missions according to task settings. Intelligent task allocation and efficient collaboration among drones significantly enhance aerial reconnaissance operational efficiency.

Additionally, the domestic intelligent unmanned underwater reconnaissance network is being further developed. For example, the integrated network of "satellite- drone-unmanned underwater vehicle" forms a three-dimensional reconnaissance network, achieving comprehensive coverage and diverse information integration across the underwater, surface, atmospheric, and outer space domains. The expert acknowledged that the global unmanned combat system is still in the development stage, and the domestic system also needs to strengthen technological research and continuous upgrades to maintain its advantages and gain the upper hand in global competition.

(Source: Wen Wei Po)

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