The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has demonstrated that a single soldier can command a swarm of more than 200 autonomous drones, showcasing a rapid, intelligent warfare capability developed by the National University of Defence Technology. As reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, the AI-enabled swarm can divide tasks, withstand electronic jamming, and launch devastating saturation strikes, redefining the scale of human-machine teaming on the modern battlefield.
Imagine commanding a vast, intelligent flock of birds, each with a specific job—some to scout, some to distract, and some to strike. This is no longer science fiction but a demonstrated capability of the Chinese military. In a recent television feature, CCTV detailed groundbreaking tests where one operator managed over 200 fixed-wing drones launched simultaneously from multiple vehicles. The core of this awesome force isn’t just numbers; it’s the artificial intelligence that allows the swarm to think and act as a single, collaborative entity. “Through interconnection and autonomous negotiation, they can form a powerful, collaborative intelligent swarm,” research fellow Xiang Xiaojia of the National University of Defence Technology told CCTV.
This represents a monumental leap in swarm warfare. Traditional drone operations often require multiple pilots for a handful of aircraft. Here, after extensive offline training in simulators, the swarm leverages advanced algorithms to operate with terrifying autonomy. Each drone is not merely a remote-controlled camera but an intelligent node. As shown in the footage, they can dynamically switch roles between reconnaissance, electronic jamming, and attack based on the real-time battlefield picture they collectively perceive. This allows a single soldier to function less as a joystick pilot and more as a swarm commander, setting broad objectives for an intelligent, responsive cloud of machines.
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A critical hurdle in modern warfare is electronic countermeasures designed to sever communication links. The PLA’s solution, according to the CCTV report, is a robust “autonomous anti-jamming algorithm.” Even when knocked offline by electromagnetic interference, the drones can enter an offline mode, collaboratively planning new flight paths and conducting swarm searches to complete their mission. This resilience ensures the swarm remains a potent threat even in contested electronic environments.
The hardware enabling this vision is equally impressive. The report highlighted the Swarm I land vehicle, a High Mobility Swarm Weapon System that can launch 48 fixed-wing loitering munitions—drones that can circle a target area before striking—in one devastating salvo. Its successor, the Swarm II, debuted in 2024 with enhanced capabilities, including relay communication payloads, a speed of 100 km/h, and an endurance of over 60 minutes. CCTV states the entire launch sequence for 48 drones takes less than 4 minutes, with an interval of under 5 seconds between launches, enabling a rapid, overwhelming assault.
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This development places China at the forefront of a global race for swarm dominance. The United States military is pursuing similar “hellscape” strategies, with a Pentagon-backed study in 2021 demonstrating a single operator controlling over 100 drones. However, the scale and integrated autonomy showcased by the PLA suggest a rapidly closing gap. The implications are profound, particularly for scenarios like coastal defence or urban warfare, where swarms could outnumber and saturate traditional air defences, conducting coordinated strikes on multiple high-value targets simultaneously. This isn’t just a new weapon; it’s a new form of warfare, where the decisive edge may lie in who can best orchestrate the symphony of the swarm.
