Labor Shortage: China turns to robots & drones to supply its military!

06 November 2022 (12:28-UTC-07 Tango 06) 15 Aban 1401/11 Rabi ‘ath-Thani 1444/13 Xin-Hai 4720/06 ноября 2022 года

Just a sampling of the robots the People’s Republic of China is making.

So-called Swarm UAV launcher. PLA photo published 04NOV2022.

In November 2022, China showed-off its new lightweight version of its vehicle mounted ‘Swarm’ R/C drones (UAV, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) launcher. It is considered a weapon system, but can used for reconnaissance missions and communication relay.

One of the so-called Rainbow drones.

Also, a family of autonomous A-I UAVs, called Rainbow, was displayed. Their capabilities and configurations are designated by a number system. They can be either fixed wing or rotary wing. There are dozens of versions; long range, high altitude, high speed, heavy lift, naval versions, and stealth versions. The first Rainbow, CH-1, apparently flew in 2000. Several countries use a version of the Rainbow, including countries that are supposed to be allies of the United States.

In October, military units, local government agencies, and civilian (silly-vilian) contractors, took part in exercise Central Shandong Support-2022, in Zibo, Shandong Province.

Photo by Chen Maoxin, published 17OCT2022.

The exercise included the use of robots and UAVs to delivery anything from food to ammunition. One exercise involved delivering ‘non-staple’ food-stuffs to 5-thousand military personnel for seven days. At the same time, those robots and UAVs had to be protected from air attack: “This exercise serves to explore the ways of economic mobilization under the new situation, and has tested the capability of the professional support teams for national defense mobilization in Zibo City.”-Wang Peiquan, commander of the Zibo Military Sub-command

Use of human firefighters and robot firefighting vehicles. Photo by Chen Maoxin, published 17OCT2022.

Another exercise involved using A-I driven fire-fighting robots to respond to an enemy air attack on a civilian building.

Scorpion D UAV transport. Photo via Sichuan Tengden Sci-Tech Innovation.

Also in October 2022, China’s Sichuan Tengden Sci-Tech Innovation (aka Tengden) unveiled a four engined UAV transport aircraft called Scorpion D. It is based on earlier two engined transport drones. They claim it can carry a maximum of 1.5-metric tons.

The robot ‘Kylin Fighter’, developed by a research team from the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT). Photo by Liu Ruochen, publishe 16SEP2022.

In September 2022, a team from the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) took top prize at the Unmanned Ground Vehicles Competition, in Cairo, Egypt. The international contest is sponsored by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense. The winning robot is called Kylin Fighter, it can be remote controlled or operate independently. The PLA’s NUDT has been taking part in Egypt’s robot games since 2016, and has won four events.

PLA 80th Group Army video showing the use of robots during wargames, August 2022:

TP500

In June 2022, China’s AVIC First Aircraft Institute unveiled its UAV transport aircraft, known as TP500. Its first flight was 27 minutes long. They claim it can carry a 500-kilogram load as far as 500-kilometers. The designers say it can travel as far as 1800-Km, or carry heavier loads.

PLA video report, from 12APR2022, showing a UAV medical transporter, a robot loader and a robot pickup truck used to supply ammo, and other robot/A-I things for logistical supply: