25 January 2026

One operator, 200 drones: China showcases AI war tech

Senjo M R

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has released fresh details of its tests of AI-enabled drone swarm warfare, saying a single soldier can control a swarm of more than 200 drones. In a defence news programme aired on Tuesday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released details of a drone swarm test conducted by the PLA-affiliated National University of Defence Technology.

Drone swarm warfare relies on artificial intelligence and data links to launch hundreds of drones in a short time. These drones could fly in precise formations and divide tasks via autonomous algorithms, allowing them to simultaneously conduct multi-target reconnaissance and strike operations, the report said. The CCTV reported that through extensive offline training using both simulators and actual flights, the drone swarm developed strong autonomous intelligence, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Friday.

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