China’s PLA plots robot drones, 'James Bonds' for covert military operations

Christopher McFadden

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China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has made public its desire to develop robotic, artificial intelligence special operations agents by 2035, reports the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

If ever developed, such machines would replace human agents on dangerous missions that would put human agents in extreme danger. The use of machines would also limit the risk to military planners should such assets be found and captured.

Robo-James Bond

A branch of the People's Liberation Army has announced that it is collaborating with a team of scientists to develop drones that can replace humans in complicated overseas missions in the next decade. Envisaged as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the new drone should have the ability to fly long distances, dive deep underwater, and remain hidden for extended periods. Upon receiving a command, it can swiftly emerge from the water, move towards its target, and deliver a fatal strike before disappearing beneath the waves again.

The call for the robot-special ops machine came from the PLA's unit 78092, which recently published details of a hypothetical overseas special operations plan in the Fire Control & Command Control journal. They argued that disclosing this theoretical plan would assist Chinese companies, engineers, and scientists in researching and developing new UAVs better to comprehend the military's requirements and strategic objectives.

According to the scenario, in 2035, a minor conflict broke out between China and one of its neighboring countries. Both sides agreed to use only small arms, such as small boats, drones, and anti-aircraft guns, to keep the expenses low and prevent escalating. The scenario does not specify the other country's name but refers to a river that flows along the border between the two nations.

The river has an average depth of 98 feet (30 meters) and a maximum depth of 131 feet (40 meters). China shares multiple rivers with its neighboring countries that could meet this criteria, such as the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra River, which is vast and deep and runs from Tibet into India.

In this scenario, the Chinese military has been assigned a special mission. They must launch a swift, silent attack on vital installations deep behind enemy lines. The target is a crucial command and supply hub for the opposing forces. It is hidden along a river, around 25 miles (40km) from the front line.

The scenario demands the sole use of drones. They must be designed for special operations, operate alone or in swarms, navigate river depths, evade detection, and launch torpedoes at enemy boats. The PLA also suggests they require the drones to have advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems to hover over the battlefield, assess damage, and determine if further action is necessary after the initial attack.

If the enemy forces attempt to flee, the drones must also be capable of pursuing and eliminating them, ensuring complete victory before returning to Chinese territory—quite a shopping list.