China mulls artificial intelligence for new cruise missiles

“We plan to adopt a ‘plug and play’ approach in the development of new cruise missiles, which will enable our military commanders to tailor-make missiles in accordance with combat conditions,” Wang Changqing of the China Aerospace and Industry Corp told a newspaper. “Moreover, our future cruise missiles will have a very high level of artificial intelligence and automation,” Wang added. “They will allow commanders to control them in real time manner, or to use a fire-and-forget mode, or even to add more tasks to in-flight missiles.” 

China is already a global leader in the field of using artificial intelligence in missiles, Wang added, without elaborating. President Xi Jinping is overseeing an ambitious military modernisation programme, including developing stealth fighters and building aircraft carriers. Meanwhile, China’s navy has carried out drills in the Sea of Japan, the Chinese military’s official newspaper said today, describing the exercises as routine and done in accordance with international law and practice. The Chinese navy has increasingly been exercising in waters far from home as it seeks to hone its operational abilities. Last year, five Chinese ships carried out exercises in international waters in the Bering Sea off Alaska.