China’s Advancing Edge in UAV Swarm and MUM T Capabilities
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is making rapid and coordinated progress in integrating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into its broader force structure. This effort follows a structured approach to autonomy and manned unmanned teaming (MUM T), with a clear progression from human in the loop operations to systems that rely increasingly on machine decision making and minimal human intervention. These developments align with the PLA’s vision of intelligentized warfare, where military advantage is achieved through the integration of artificial intelligence, autonomy, and real time adaptive command systems.
To support this transition, the PLA employs a range of command and control architectures. These include both traditional centralized models and more decentralized approaches that emphasize swarm like behavior based on consensus and emergent coordination. This structural flexibility enables UAVs to conduct dynamic mission planning and operate cohesively in complex and contested environments. Reports indicate that operational testing of MUM T capabilities has taken place at specialized facilities, including Unit 95861, involving platforms such as the J16 fighter in combination with various UAVs. These activities reflect a growing operational maturity and confidence in unmanned systems as force multipliers.
China’s progress in MUM T and swarm capabilities is supported by a robust network of military research universities, civilian institutions, and defense industry organizations. Key players include the National University of Defense Technology, Northwest Polytechnic University, and the 28th Research Institute of the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation. These institutions are conducting advanced research in areas such as autonomous swarm coordination, resilience against electronic warfare, and distributed decision making. Field testing has confirmed several of these innovations, including UAVs launched from tubes and artificial intelligence enabled tactical algorithms.
Chinese defense firms have also begun to reveal next generation MUM T platforms. The FH 97A, often described as a loyal wingman, appears intended to match similar Western developments such as the XQ 58 Valkyrie. Another prominent example is the Sky Hawk UAV, developed by Hiwing Aviation under the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. This stealth capable platform is specifically designed to work alongside manned aircraft. Both systems reflect a deliberate effort to integrate intelligent unmanned assets into future air combat formations.
Software innovation is playing a critical role in advancing MUM T concepts. The 28th Research Institute of the China Electronics Technology Group has created a flight simulation environment that uses deep reinforcement learning and genetic algorithms. This system is capable of evaluating tactical threats and recommending optimal responses, helping reduce the cognitive load on manned pilots and enhancing decision making through offboard processing.
China has also demonstrated its capacity to conduct large scale drone operations. A notable example is the 200 drone swarm launched by the China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology. This demonstration highlights China’s increasing ability to conduct distributed aerial operations at scale. Coupled with progress in artificial intelligence and sensor integration, these capabilities place China among the global leaders in next generation military aviation.
In conclusion, China’s pursuit of swarm tactics and MUM T technologies is part of a well aligned national strategy. Rather than a series of isolated initiatives, these efforts reflect a comprehensive push to modernize air combat through intelligent autonomy, massed coordination, and flexible operational design. By combining institutional research, advanced platforms, and state directed innovation, China is preparing for a new era of warfare that values adaptability, scale, and machine driven precision in the battle spaces.