Chinese armoured units conducts high-altitude drills with unmanned systems

[Zulfiqar]

China has carried out several days of exercises involving armoured units working alongside robotic and autonomous systems (RAS), it has emerged.

The exercise, which took place on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in August 2019 and has only recently come to the attention of Jane's , was reported by China Central Television (CCTV) as the first military exercise involving Chinese armour and RAS in altitudes of up to 4,200 m.

Various tactics were exercised by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force's (PLAGF's) 76th Synthetic Brigade (formerly 21st Group) while training to engage in realistic combat conditions in a snow-laden landscape, according to the CCTV report. Exercise phases explored included Type 99A main battle tanks (MBTs) launching attacks on identified targets, remote ground clearance operations, manned/unmanned teaming (MUM-T), various live fire drills, and the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in swarms.

After the initial artillery fire was completed, remotely operated mine-clearing robots moved in to open up routes through minefields, even as surrounding fire continued. The mine-clearing robots transmitted images and data back to a control centre installed within a Type 99A MBT, followed by any required detonation of mines, CCTV noted, adding that the Type 99A used all the information gained from the various platforms' sensors to exchange data with combat UGVs to obtain a complete common operating picture.

An offensive swarm of quadcopter mini-UAVs then descended on the fictitious opponent to conduct reconnaissance. Some of the swarm carried bombs and explosives to co-ordinate attacks with ground forces in order to strike enemy personnel and ground fortifications.


https://www.janes.com/article/93956...ts-high-altitude-drills-with-unmanned-systems


What are the chances of PA doing the same in future i.e using swarm drone tech in offensive strikes?

@HRK @Gryphon @Signalian @Ipcha Mistabra


@LKJ86 what is synthetic brigade?

 

[dBSPL]

@LKJ86 what is synthetic brigade?

Combined Arms Brigade ?

 

[ARMalik]

I am not surprised at all. In another thread, I wrote that Chinese Military plan is to transform the Military into an AI based military by 2035, which is 15 years from now. The Chinese military plans to have minimum Soldiers in the war theater meaning they plan to rely on Autonomous UAVs, Vehicles, Robots, etc.

 

[HRK]

What are the chances of PA doing the same in future i.e using swarm drone tech in offensive strikes?

No idea about the future but as you must be aware about those few videos and pictures which were made public last year or previous to last years, showing some very basic level of robotic weapons system were under testing and was performing very basic tasks, therefore we can't say that we may see their use in operational use soon or within next 5 years but some initial interest is there, so we might see something in a decade time.

 

[Zulfiqar]

No idea about the future but as you must be aware about those few videos and pictures which were made public last year or previous to last years, showing some very basic level of robotic weapons system were under testing and was performing very basic tasks, therefore we can't say that we may see their use in operational use soon or within next 5 years but some initial interest is there, so we might see something in a decade time.

Yes, I had received the videos of the same and shared here (as did others).

I hope we see more of the same interest in PA so that we can add more force multipliers in the formations (in order to compensate for numerical advantage of IA).

Personally, I would like to see some systems like these in our mechanized formations/LAT units as force supplements apart from swarm drones for recon and unmanned de-mining vehicles for our sappers (russians have used them in syria as well).

https://www.armyrecognition.com/rus...d_combat_vehicle_technical_data_10910163.html

https://www.armyrecognition.com/rus...t_specifications_pictures_video_10901163.html

However, survivability of small drones in heavy jamming would be an issue.

Combined Arms Brigade ?

Possibly translation error by janes to describe combined arms BCTs.

 

[HRK]

However, survivability of small drones in heavy jamming would be an issue.

AI intelligence is the answer to this issue, autonomous drones which could perform the given task independently could be threat to any armed force in future battlefield

I hope we see more of the same interest in PA so that we can add more force multipliers in the formations (in order to compensate for numerical advantage of IA).

exactly this is the field which negate numeric superiority and increase the firepower and provide the level playing field to numerically less forces ..... this is one field which I truly want Pakistani forces to pursue with the same zeal they pursued nuclear program in past

 

[Brainsucker]

what is synthetic brigade?

Synthetic is synthetic. It means robot.

 

[lcloo]

Another problem of translation on Chinese to English.

合成团 = Combined Brigade, "synthetic brigade" is rather bad translation.

合成 can mean compose/ composition --- meaning combining many different elements into one. Thus a Combined Brigade is one that is composed of several units like mechanised armoured units (tanks, IFV, APC), air defence (SAMs and AA guns), Fire support (Rockets launchers, self-propelled guns), low level air support (helicopters - gunships, recon and transport) etc.

Using Google translate 合成 is synthetic. But meaning of 合成 is more than just " synthetic". Just like English word "Interest" (money gained or feeling of wanting to know or benefits), or "Drill" (making a hole or exercise/practice/training).

合成 is translated to synthetic when referring to chemicals like medicines and polymers (plastics) etc.

 

[Zulfiqar]

AI intelligence is the answer to this issue, autonomous drones which could perform the given task independently could be threat to any armed force in future battlefield

exactly this is the field which negate numeric superiority and increase the firepower and provide the level playing field to numerically less forces ..... this is one field which I truly want Pakistani forces to pursue with the same zeal they pursued nuclear program in past

Agreed.