A drone swarm control system was demonstrated in China

China has demonstrated a swarm-based system for reconnaissance and attack drones. A single operator is required to control 96 drones.

China has demonstrated for the first time a full operational demonstration of its Atlas drone swarm control system.

Experts noted that the system not only demonstrates the expanding capabilities of drone swarms on the battlefield but also reflects the rapid development of algorithmic technologies that are transforming modern warfare, enabling autonomous coordination, precision attacks, and systems-level combat.

The system, developed in China, includes the Swarm-2 ground combat vehicle, a command vehicle, and a support vehicle. The released footage shows the launcher bearing the logo of China Electronics Technology Group.

The Swarm-2 ground combat vehicle was first unveiled at Airshow China 2024, held in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, southern China. One such vehicle can carry and launch up to 48 fixed-wing UAVs, while one command vehicle can simultaneously control a swarm of 96 drones. Each UAV can be equipped with various payloads—from optical and electronic reconnaissance to strike assets and communications relays—and flexibly combine into various task forces, forming multifunctional swarms capable of performing complex missions. According to the latest report, three visually similar targets were positioned within the kill zone at the training ground. The Atlas system quickly conducted coordinated reconnaissance, autonomously identified the command vehicle among the targets, opened the launcher, and launched the drones. Once airborne, the UAVs quickly acquired the target and delivered a precise strike. The Swarm-2 vehicle uses a three-second launch interval, releasing one drone every three seconds, ensuring a safe distance and flight path for each unit, the report states. Furthermore, the type and sequence of drone launches can be flexibly configured depending on the operational objectives. Reconnaissance drones can be launched first to collect data, followed by electronic warfare systems to suppress the enemy, and then attack drones, allowing for tailored operations to various combat scenarios. Thanks to "swarm intelligence" technologies, nearly a hundred high-speed drones can quickly form dense and precise formations during missions. They can also independently account for environmental influences, such as air turbulence, to avoid mid-air collisions. Swarm control algorithms effectively imbue each drone with an "intellectual brain," allowing them to exchange information, maintain communication, and adjust their position in real time to maintain a coordinated formation. It is noted that such a large-scale air operation can be managed by a single operator controlling up to 96 drones—similar to how one person controls nearly a hundred kites using a single string. The system also allows for the use of drones of varying sizes, providing multi-layered and complementary capabilities within the swarm.