China Advances Military AI With DeepSeek-Powered Weapons

BEIJING: China is rapidly developing artificial intelligence for military use, leveraging its state-owned defense firm Norinco and domestic AI company DeepSeek. In February, Norinco unveiled the P60, a military vehicle capable of conducting combat-support operations autonomously at speeds of 50 kilometers per hour. Officials highlighted the vehicle as a showcase of China’s AI-powered defense capabilities.

Documents reviewed by Reuters, including patents, research papers, and procurement records, show Beijing’s systematic effort to integrate AI into military planning and autonomous systems. While exact details remain classified, evidence points to AI applications in autonomous drones, robot scout dogs, battlefield decision-making, and satellite imagery analysis.

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China continues to rely on a mix of domestic chips, like Huawei’s Ascend, and U.S.-made Nvidia chips, despite export restrictions. AI models such as DeepSeek are widely cited in procurement notices, reflecting China’s push for “algorithmic sovereignty” to reduce dependence on foreign technology.

AI systems are reportedly enabling rapid target recognition and scenario analysis. Researchers claim that tasks that once took 48 hours for human planners can now be performed in under a minute with AI support. Additionally, autonomous drones and robotic systems are being developed to operate with minimal human intervention, though Chinese officials emphasize that human control will be maintained over weapons systems.

Experts note that China’s advances mirror U.S. efforts to integrate AI into military operations. Beijing’s move toward domestically produced AI hardware is part of a broader strategy to maintain technological independence while expanding military capabilities.

The developments highlight the increasing role of AI in modern warfare and the ongoing technological competition between China and the United States.