Chinese air forces are utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to develop combat plans for operations involving more than 100 combat units, according to a documentary by state television. This “intelligent strike planning system,” as reported by the CCTV program on Sunday, was designed to assist commanders and pilots in identifying priority targets, coordinating attack waves, and assigning specific tasks among units. It has been noted that it has already been used “many times.”
The rare insight into the use of AI highlights Beijing’s efforts to integrate advanced technologies into the operations of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and support the concept of “system of systems warfare,” which involves combining multiple platforms and weapon systems.
Integration of AI into military operations
The system was developed for planning combat air operations. It was created by a team led by Senior Colonel Deng Jiangping to support exercises involving increasingly larger formations and various types of aircraft.
According to Deng Jiangping, who spoke in the CCTV documentary series “Zhisheng” (“Achieving Victory”), which aired in honor of the 99th anniversary of the PLA, with the presence of “hundreds of targets and dozens of formations” moving at high speeds, traditional planning methods could no longer keep pace.
Challenges of developing combat AI
“The most difficult thing is not writing code or building models. It is a deep understanding of the logic of the battlefield. Targets, firepower, penetration, and damage assessment—the entire strike chain,” noted Deng. He added that even the “smallest flaw in logic” could determine the outcome of victory or defeat.
During testing, the system demonstrated how missiles launched from different platforms simultaneously struck targets on land and at sea after pilots were commanded to open fire.
Source: South China Morning Post
