China Advances Military AI Integration: Cutting-Edge Technologies on the Frontlines of Modern Defense
In the contemporary landscape of global security, China is making significant strides in the development of military technologies, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.
According to an investigation by Reuters, the country is actively working on integrating DeepSeek systems into its military hardware and AI-enabled drones.
The state-owned defense giant Norinco has already showcased a combat vehicle capable of executing autonomous missions at speeds up to 50 km/h.
The core element of this vehicle is the DeepSeek model — one of the most powerful AI systems developed in China.
Although the scale of deployment remains classified, evidence suggests Beijing aims to gain an advantage in rapid target recognition and real-time decision-making, similar to approaches used by the United States.
Research reveals that many patents and tenders related to Chinese military projects involve Nvidia chips, which the U.S.
has restricted for sale to Chinese tech companies.
It remains uncertain whether these processors were acquired before or after the restrictions.
Nvidia states that it cannot track resale of older models and that their military use without official support is unfeasible.
U.S.
officials warn that DeepSeek supports Chinese military and intelligence operations, and the U.S.
government is pursuing cooperation strategies with trusted partners to prevent advanced AI technologies from reaching potential adversaries.
Data indicates that China has a substantial opportunity to outstrip the U.S.
in this field, especially with the domestic deployment of Huawei chips to replace Western components.
According to the Jamestown Foundation, military procurement related to DeepSeek has surged notably this year, while Alibaba’s Qwen models are less frequently mentioned.
The U.S.
Department of State asserts that DeepSeek enhances military and intelligence operations and will likely continue to do so.
Additionally, Chinese researchers are working on autonomous robotic dogs and drone swarms for reconnaissance and mine detection, with tenders issued for these projects in late 2024.
These autonomous units already undergo testing in military exercises.
Further developments include systems based on DeepSeek for rapid satellite imagery analysis to facilitate coordination among drones, radar stations, and aircraft.
Experts estimate that DeepSeek can analyze 10,000 combat scenarios within 48 seconds, drastically reducing decision-making time.
Patents also indicate integration of AI into drones capable of autonomous target recognition, tracking, and attack.
The University of Beihang is working on improving drone swarms’ efficiency against low, slow, and small targets such as light aircraft and UAVs.
Western officials express concern that ongoing AI military advancements might escalate tensions between Beijing and Washington, with the U.S.
planning to deploy thousands of autonomous drones by 2025, while China continues using Nvidia components despite export restrictions.