China’s military is rapidly deploying cutting-edge AI-powered drones that are low-cost and agile on the battlefield, as it races to gain an edge in the modern warfare technology.
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One of the latest – a micro drone that looks like a thermal flask and weighs less than a kilogram – was featured on state broadcaster CCTV on Saturday. The micro drone is the first of its kind and is designed for use across the People’s Liberation Army infantry units, according to the report.
It said the drone’s coaxial dual-rotor system provided superior lift compared with traditional quadcopters, “allowing it to carry up to twice its own weight – the highest known payload ratio among drones globally”.
The drone also has foldable rotors and modular payload bays and can support both reconnaissance and attack missions, according to the report. It operates silently, can transmit real-time battlefield intelligence and can carry up to three grenades. An on-board neural processing unit enables AI-powered targeting, allowing one operator to manage multiple drones simultaneously.
The micro drone is part of what the military’s official newspaper PLA Daily on Tuesday described as a “phased leap” in unmanned combat team technology – from expanding its use, to deep integration within operations that will eventually become autonomous. The report said the transition would be “vital for defining future battlefield rules and gaining an early edge in intelligent warfare”.
The CCTV report on Saturday said the micro drone could also be launched from a 35mm grenade launcher, reducing its take-off time and extending its strike range. A similar drone – the CH-817 made by state-owned Aerospace CH UAV – was shown at the 2021 Zhuhai air show, its compact system optimised for guerilla and urban warfare.