The report of the 20th CPC National Congress proposed to increase the proportion of new-domain and new-quality combat forces. In today’s world, the war situation is accelerating its evolution towards intelligence, and a large number of advanced technologies are widely used in the military field. New-domain and new-quality combat forces have become the commanding heights of strategic competition among major powers and the key force to win the future. Developing new-domain and new-quality combat forces has become a priority option for the world’s military powers. Understanding what is “new” about new-domain and new-quality combat forces is of great value in clarifying ideas, building scientifically, and improving quality and efficiency.
New developments in space
The space domain is the attribute embodiment of the environment that combat forces rely on and the scope of influence. With the expansion of the scope of human activities and the development of national interests, the current military struggle space has exceeded the traditional land, territorial waters and airspace, and has continuously expanded to the deep sea, space, electromagnetic and other fields, and new domains and new types of combat forces have also emerged.
The scope of action has entered social cognition. The scope of action of new-domain and new-quality combat forces has expanded from the traditional physical domain to the social domain and cognitive domain. In the era of intelligence, disruptive technologies represented by artificial intelligence are accelerating the expansion of the scope of influence of combat forces. The rapid application of technologies such as biological cross-fertilization, brain science, and human-computer interface has promoted the deep penetration and high integration of intelligent network systems and human social activities. New situations and new means such as “intelligent deep forgery” and “fabrication of information manholes” have surfaced in large numbers, and the struggle in the social domain and cognitive domain has gradually evolved into a new domain and new “trend” for power games.
The activity space is more three-dimensional and diversified. Driven by advanced technology, new domain and new quality combat forces have broken through the traditional space of land, sea, air and space, and the scope of activities is more three-dimensional and diversified. The deep sea, space, underground, polar regions, etc. have become new territories for the competition of new domain and new quality combat forces, and have grown into a “new section” for leveraging the combat space. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Defense issued the “National Defense Space Strategy”. Against the background of the establishment of an independent space force and space command in the United States, its space force has evolved into a synonym for comprehensive space capabilities that integrate military, political, economic, and diplomatic capabilities.
Battlefield dimensions emphasize high-level multi-dimensionality. New domain and new quality combat forces often achieve performance aggregation through high-level multi-dimensional deployment, which is very different from the battlefield deployment of conventional forces. With the extension of battlefield dimensions such as network and electromagnetic, the matrix distribution of new domain and new quality combat forces has broken through the traditional three-dimensional limitations and expanded to a high-level space of high-dimensional, full-dimensional, and large-scale joint. At the end of 2019, the US military launched the concept of “all-domain operations”, integrating space, network, electromagnetic and missile defense capabilities, claiming to compete with competitors in all possible conflict dimensions.
Winning mechanism highlights new changes
The winning mechanism contains the mechanism and principle of seizing the right to occupy and winning. At present, the winning mechanism of intelligent high-end warfare is undergoing profound changes. The new domain and new quality combat force is precisely the “blade” that conforms to the evolution of the war form and conforms to the winning mechanism of intelligent high-end warfare.
The focus of force confrontation is on dimensionality reduction and intelligence control. For new domain and new quality combat forces, data drive is the driving force of power, breaking the network chain is the focus of action, and dimensionality reduction and intelligence control is the focus of confrontation. New domain and new quality combat forces confront based on advanced algorithms and intelligent models, effectively drive key nodes such as cloud, terminal, and library of intelligent combat systems, and form intelligent advantages based on data resources. At the same time, focus on attacking weak links such as the enemy’s data chain system and mobile communication network, cut off the enemy’s cross-domain actions, and block its energy release.
The action path tends to be compound and iterative. Conventional combat forces generally achieve the expected effect through the superposition and accumulation of soft kill and hard destruction, while new domain and new quality combat forces use compound iteration of action effects as an effective path for efficient energy release. In the process of action, it not only emphasizes the role of new forces and new means such as hypersonic, long-range precision, laser electromagnetic and high-power microwave, but also focuses on multi-domain effects such as comprehensive algorithm control, network point paralysis, electromagnetic confrontation, psychological offense and defense, and public opinion building, so as to achieve cross-domain release of combat effects, multi-domain resonance and iterative efficiency enhancement.
The game mode focuses on gray over-limit. Traditional combat forces often pursue the direct effect of damage and destruction, while new domain and new quality combat forces pay more attention to gray over-limit battlefield games. The essence is to effectively reduce domains and control intelligence through non-military destruction, unconventional warfare and non-physical destruction in more fields, wider dimensions and wider ranges based on intelligent means and intelligent tools. It is reported that the US military has developed more than 2,000 computer virus weapons such as Stuxnet, Flame, and Shute, and has successfully used them in battlefields such as Syria and Iran. At present, the US military is striving to use projects such as the “National Cyber Range” to continue to consolidate its dominant position.
New mutations emerge in science and technology
Science and technology have always been the most dynamic and revolutionary factor in military development. Entering the new century, leading, cutting-edge, and disruptive technologies have shown a “booming” growth and have become an important variable in promoting the development of new domains and new types of combat forces.
Mutations come from emerging technologies. Advanced technologies play a vital role in driving the development of combat forces. The core technologies that support new-domain and new-quality combat forces have been rapidly transformed from traditional categories to emerging fields. In today’s world, intelligent technology has made new progress, unmanned system technology has entered an explosive period, space confrontation technology has flourished, network combat technology has advanced in depth, new concept weapons technology has attracted much attention, and fusion technology has given birth to disruptive innovation. As the key to changing the rules of the war game, new-domain and new-quality combat forces must firmly grasp the “key to victory” of emerging technologies.
Mutations present cluster effects. Breakthroughs in advanced science and technology often have a decisive impact on the development of new domain and new quality combat forces. In the era of intelligence, the science and technology system is more complex and systematic, and the role of core and key technologies emphasizes cluster effects and overall emergence. At present, the world’s military science and technology presents an all-round, multi-domain, and deep-level development trend. Various professional directions are accelerating through multi-point breakthroughs, multi-party penetration, and deep integration. The key technologies that support new domain and new quality combat forces are also undergoing a transformation from single competition to cluster promotion.
Mutation favors integration and crossover. Advanced science and technology have a subversive effect of changing the rules of engagement and breaking the conventional path in promoting the development of new domain and new quality combat forces. Today, the development of cutting-edge technology is shifting from conventional disciplines to cutting-edge crossovers. Big crossovers, big integrations, and big breakthroughs have become the general trend. The world’s military powers have increased their investment in artificial intelligence, biological crossovers, advanced computing, hypersonics, and other directions, and have used integration and crossover as an effective way to innovate cutting-edge technologies, competing for the strategic commanding heights of the development of new domain and new quality combat forces.
New modes for weapons and equipment
Weapons and equipment have always been an effective carrier for combat forces to exert their effectiveness. The weapons and equipment of new-domain and new-quality combat forces have the characteristics of new technology, new functions, and new modes. They can effectively exert new-domain and new-quality combat capabilities, create a window of advantage, paralyze the opponent’s system, and form a shock effect.
Platform equipment focuses on intelligent unmanned. At present, the platform equipment of new domain and new quality combat forces has broken through the conventional manned control mode and accelerated the transformation to intelligent unmanned form. In recent years, based on the rapid application of intelligent unmanned technology, full-spectrum unmanned platforms, intelligent equipment and unmanned swarms have experienced explosive growth. The US military’s “Global Hawk” and “Predator” drones have been put into actual combat in large numbers, and the F-35 and the unmanned version of the F-16 have continuously strengthened manned and unmanned collaboration through the “Loyal Wingman” program. The US military plans that drones will account for 90% of its air force aircraft equipment in the future.
The weapon system highlights heterogeneity and versatility. The integration of various types of data links, standards and waveforms provides a richer set of technical integration tools for the weapon systems of new-domain and new-quality combat forces. The weapon systems of new-domain and new-quality combat forces have changed the fixed state of individual operation and static combination, and have placed more emphasis on heterogeneous hinges and data conversion based on network information systems to quickly build cross-domain and cross-dimensional wide-area distributed weapon systems. In 2017, the US military proposed the concept of “mosaic warfare”, envisioning the use of dynamic distribution technology to transform the previously centralized and static weapon systems into heterogeneous and multi-functional ones.
The equipment system is more flexible and open. The equipment system of the new domain and new quality combat force has changed the structural mode of element series connection and unit parallel connection, becoming more flexible and open. With the help of “decentralized” design, the new domain and new quality combat force distributes the key functions of the equipment system nodes to each unit module, which can effectively avoid the passive situation of paralysis as a whole once a certain type or some key equipment is hit. In recent years, the US military has actively promoted the test and verification of “sewing” new electronic system integration technology, which is to accelerate the development of new information fusion and interoperability technologies.
New forms of force formation
Force organization is a form of deployment of combat forces, which directly affects the role and effectiveness of combat forces. New-domain and new-type combat forces have the characteristics of new force platforms, wide range of areas involved, innovative combat mechanisms, and sudden technological development. Force organization is significantly different from traditional forces.
The integration of elements emphasizes dynamic reconstruction. New-domain and new-quality combat forces have realized the dynamic reconstruction and cross-domain integration of combat elements, and promoted the transformation of combat elements from static matching to dynamic reconstruction. Based on the support of intelligent network information system, new-domain and new-quality combat forces can give full play to the derivative effectiveness of intelligent technology, and build a fusion iterative update mechanism of system elements based on autonomous and intelligent battlefield real-time command and control. Through heterogeneous functional elements and unit modules, iterative updates of system elements, reorganization and optimization of system structure, and evolutionary improvement of system capabilities can be achieved.
The unit architecture relies on cross-domain networking. The new domain and new quality combat force has achieved a leap from intra-domain combination to multi-domain aggregation of the unit architecture. Using advanced information network technology and based on mutually cooperative functional nodes, the new domain and new quality combat force can build a distributed “kill network” with good resilience to achieve wide-area configuration, cross-domain networking and multi-domain aggregation of combat units and basic modules. In the U.S. Army’s “Convergence Plan 2020” exercise, the “Firestorm” artificial intelligence-assisted decision-making system was able to achieve target input for the cutting-edge “Gray Eagle” drone within 20 seconds, and connect with attack weapons such as glide guided bombs, helicopters, and ground artillery.
The formation structure emphasizes human-machine hybrid. The new domain and new quality combat force has realized the transformation of the formation structure from manned to man-machine hybrid. The application of a large number of unmanned platforms and unmanned combat clusters enables the new domain and new quality combat force to rely on the intelligent combat system to form a heterogeneous and diverse open hybrid formation. Various unmanned system platforms are based on artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to autonomously build links and networks and generate multiple sets of combination plans. With the help of auxiliary decision-making tools, commanders can quickly select the best man-machine hybrid formation to achieve intelligent decision-making and unexpected victory.
Actively respond to the challenges of intelligent warfare
■Yin Junsong, Li Minghai, Li Shijiang, Gao Kai
introduction
In recent years, the wave of intelligence has surged and has been widely used in the military field. Major countries in the world attach great importance to the construction and application of military intelligence. Various unmanned combat platforms and intelligent weapons and equipment continue to appear and are equipped in the army for actual combat. In the face of the accelerated evolution of the intelligent form of war, only by seizing development opportunities, actively responding to challenges, accelerating the development of military intelligence, and accelerating the forging of intelligent combat capabilities can we seize the strategic initiative of intelligent warfare and win the future intelligent war.
Focusing on the creation of intelligent theory of war design
Military theory originates from combat practice and is used to guide combat practice. In the past, due to various restrictions, military theory research was mostly “looking back”, that is, summarizing combat cases to form combat guidance. With the rapid development of modern technology, especially disruptive technologies such as big data and cloud computing, combat theory research has broken away from the traditional follow-up and inductive reasoning mode and entered a new era of experimental warfare and designed warfare. New disruptive technologies in the field of intelligence have opened up new space for innovation in military theory. To this end, we should follow the idea of ”proposing concepts-demand analysis-innovative theories” to create the basic theory of intelligent warfare, and conduct in-depth research on the conceptual connotation, essential characteristics, war guidance, combat style, offensive and defensive actions, winning mechanism, characteristics and laws of intelligent warfare; innovate intelligent warfare methods and methods, give full play to the overall effectiveness of the intelligent combat system, strengthen the research on new intelligent combat methods and methods such as human-machine collaborative intelligent warfare, intelligent robot warfare, and intelligent unmanned cluster warfare, as well as the processes and methods of intelligent combat command and intelligent combat support; focus on effectively responding to intelligent combat threats and study strategies to defeat the enemy, such as intelligent blocking warfare and intelligent disruption warfare. These theories are the cornerstone of the intelligent warfare theory system. In the future, the war theory centered on strengthening “intellectual power” and competing for “algorithm-centric warfare” is very likely to replace the war theory centered on “network-centric warfare”.
Focusing on cross-domain interconnection and exploring intelligent forms
Military organization is the link between military technology and combat theory, and is the lever for exerting the overall combat effectiveness of the army. Modern combat emphasizes “elite combat under the support of a large system”, that is, with the support of the joint combat system, “elite front and strong back”, and organizes precise and multi-functional combat modules according to the idea of ”integrated design, modular organization, and combined use” to maximize the release of combat energy. The system organization of future intelligent warfare will form small, multi-functional, intelligent new joint combat forces of different types and purposes according to different levels of strategy, campaign, and tactics and different military arms, and emphasize the organization of “global” forces that can perform diversified combat tasks. Through intelligent combat networks, according to the requirements of reconfigurability, scalability and adaptability, single weapon platforms can be seamlessly linked and flexibly organized according to changes in the enemy situation, battlefield environment, etc., and then aggregate to form system advantages and form an integrated offensive and defensive combat module. The new intelligent combat force system is the comprehensive product of the development of artificial intelligence technology, the formation of new quality combat power and the evolution of war forms. It is the “trump card” to seize the initiative in the future all-domain combat space, the key to the construction of an integrated joint combat system, and a new growth point for the army’s combat effectiveness.
Focusing on the integration of man and machine to develop intelligent weapons
With the development of information technology and intelligent technology, whoever can win in the field of artificial intelligence will have the opportunity to take the initiative in future military confrontation. We should focus on the dual needs of intelligent war system operations and intelligent weapons and equipment system construction, do a good job in top-level design and overall coordination, compile a roadmap for the development of intelligent weapons and equipment systems, and develop intelligent unmanned combat equipment systems that match operations and support in a planned, focused, and step-by-step manner, covering land, sea, air, space, electricity, and network space fields, and establish a “human-led, machine-assisted, mixed formation, and joint action” manned-unmanned collaborative system to enhance the system integration of various military services and various intelligent weapons and equipment such as operations and support. Intelligent unmanned combat systems are a new trend in the development of future war equipment. Its core lies in aiming at the requirements of “zero casualties”, “full coverage”, and “fast response” in future wars, making full use of the development results of new theories, new materials, new processes, new energy, and new technologies, and continuously making breakthroughs in human-machine collaboration and autonomous action. We will build a three-level unmanned equipment system of strategy, campaign, and tactics, build a new type of intelligent unmanned division on a large scale, and realize the systematic collaborative operations of unmanned combat systems. At the same time, we should focus on the needs of unmanned and anti-unmanned, intelligent and anti-intelligent combat, and pay attention to the research and development of weapons and equipment systems for anti-enemy intelligent unmanned combat, to ensure that we can effectively engage in intelligent unmanned offensive and defensive confrontation with the enemy.
Focus on the ability to combine innovation and intelligent training
The professional division of modern warfare is becoming more and more detailed, and the entire combat system is becoming more and more complex, which promotes the transformation of combat from labor-intensive to technology-intensive. It requires that combatants must not only have good physical fitness, but also have good technical literacy and intellectual advantages to cope with the needs of different combat tasks, combat environments, and combat opponents. Military intelligence has put forward higher requirements on the quality of people. Correspondingly, intelligent military talents should have the characteristics of talent group, advanced skills, complex knowledge, innovative thinking, and intelligent decision-making. Intelligent warfare will be a war jointly implemented by man and machine, and combat forces with intelligent unmanned combat systems as the main body will play an increasingly important role. Only the effective combination of high-quality personnel and intelligent weapons can maximize the combat effectiveness. It is necessary to adapt to the new characteristics of the intelligent warfare force system, innovate and develop intelligent training concepts, and explore new models for the generation of intelligent warfare combat effectiveness. At present, artificial intelligence technology can create a more “real” weapon operation experience and battlefield environment, and can realistically interpret the combat process, assist decision-making and command, and evaluate combat concepts. To this end, we should adapt to the new characteristics of the intelligent war force system, focus on improving the self-command, self-control, and self-combat capabilities of the intelligent combat system, make full use of the characteristics of the intelligent system that can self-game and self-grow, form a training system, training environment, and training mechanism specifically for the intelligent combat system, strengthen the training of “people” to control the intelligent system, and explore a new training model with “machines” as the main object. In this way, the intelligent combat system can obtain a leap in combat capability through short-term autonomous intensive training to cope with the test of disorder, complexity, and uncertainty in the future combat environment.
Focus on improving the guarantee model with precision and efficiency
In the intelligent battlefield, the realization degree of comprehensive support for joint operations is an important factor that directly affects the generation of combat effectiveness of troops. The development of intelligent technology will inevitably trigger revolutionary changes in the construction of the joint combat support system and realize intelligent comprehensive support. Comprehensive support is the foundation of combat effectiveness and a bridge for transforming the country’s economic strength into the combat capability of troops. With the continuous maturity of Internet of Things technology, intelligent warfare places more emphasis on integrated support, precise support, and distribution support, that is, delivering to the required location at the required time according to the required quantity. Relying on the integrated support system, the dispersed support forces and resources will be organized according to functional modules such as supply, materials, maintenance, ammunition and management, so that they cover all areas of combat service support work. Relying on visualization technology, the current status of combat supply will be tracked and mastered throughout the process, and information control, reception and distribution of personnel and material flows will be carried out according to the real-time development of the battle situation, so as to achieve point-to-point direct support. By using technologies such as the Internet of Things, drones, smart cars, remote surgery, and 3D printing, we will upgrade and create an intelligent after-sales support system covering smart warehousing, smart delivery, smart maintenance, and smart medical care. This will enable automatic, rapid, and accurate replenishment of battlefield after-sales materials, rapid diagnosis and repair of equipment failures, and timely rescue of battlefield personnel. We will transform passive support into active service, and improve the overall efficiency and benefits of after-sales support.
Focusing on military and civilian dual-use to deepen intelligent integration
Breakthroughs in the core key technologies of artificial intelligence are the “national heavy weapons” to deal with the threats and challenges of intelligent warfare. The rapid development of intelligent technology has become an accelerator of military intelligence. In the information age, the boundaries between military and civilian technologies are becoming increasingly blurred, and their convertibility is becoming stronger and stronger. Actively establish a military-civilian collaborative innovation mechanism, continuously strengthen the driving force for the innovation and development of intelligent core technologies, build an open industry-university-research collaborative innovation system for the whole society, make forward-looking arrangements and support investments in core cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, give full play to the innovative power of the entire society, and promote the rapid and sustainable development of military intelligence. Accelerate the advancement of technological breakthroughs in key areas. We must focus on relevant key technology areas and break the technical bottlenecks that restrict the development of military intelligence. Strengthen research in the basic support areas of military intelligence, such as military big data and military Internet of Things; based on combat needs, strengthen research on intelligent application technologies in various combat elements, especially research on intelligent command decision-making, intelligent weapon platforms, intelligent battlefield perception, and intelligent confrontation technologies. The research and development of core key technologies of military intelligence should not only carry out cross-disciplinary and cross-domain collaborative innovation, but also make social intelligence and military intelligence development dock and track, learn from mature technologies and successful experiences in the development of social intelligence, and promote the rapid embedding of various artificial intelligence technologies into combat elements and combat processes. To accelerate the development of military intelligence, we should speed up the exploration of the training rules of relevant talents, make full use of military and local educational resources, increase the training of relevant talents, and provide solid intellectual support and talent guarantee for promoting the construction of military intelligence.
For some time, driven by technological progress and military needs, the world’s military powers have been actively developing and deploying various weapons autonomy projects to enable them to perceive, learn, and make decisions autonomously with the help of artificial intelligence.
In May this year, 2024, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall publicly tested an AI-controlled F-16 fighter jet (X-62A) at Edwards Air Force Base, which attracted widespread attention. Analysts believe that AI-enabled autonomous weapons will not only change the shape of future wars, but will also have a new impact on the current international security situation, and the risk of their loss of control will become a problem that human society cannot ignore.
Accelerate the development of war weapons
In the eyes of the US military, artificial intelligence, unlike the next generation of weapon platforms and advanced ammunition, has the potential to change almost all aspects of the battlefield, one of the important areas of which is to accelerate the autonomy of weapons. The US military has invested a lot of resources in this regard, and the X-62A that Kendall rode is a landmark achievement. During the approximately 1-hour flight, all the actions of the fighter were completed autonomously by artificial intelligence. In addition, the “collaborative combat aircraft” being developed by the US Air Force will be equipped with the “Sky Borg” unmanned autonomous core system, and will form a formation with manned fighters in combat, taking on multiple tasks such as surveillance, attack, electronic interference, and acting as bait, to maximize the safety and combat capability of the formation.
On the naval side, in the reports “Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Requirements in 2025” and “Future Fleet Platform Alternatives”, the United States plans to realize the concept of a distributed fleet by 2030, equipped with 183 medium-sized unmanned submarines and 48 large unmanned submarines that can be carried by nuclear submarines, capable of performing anti-submarine, reconnaissance, surveillance and other missions for tens of days in ports, international waters and major waterways.
Russia also started research on artificial intelligence early. The Russian Ministry of Defense established an artificial intelligence weapons research department in 2022 to strengthen the use of artificial intelligence technology and develop new special equipment. The “Depesha” and “Baji” multi-functional unmanned systems developed by the Russian State Technology Group can not only transport goods and wounded, but also strike enemy positions and manpower. It was previously reported that the Russian military’s “Lancet”-3 cruise missile uses a convolutional neural network, which can analyze the collected image and video data to achieve precise detection and strike.
Germany, Israel and other countries have also increased their research and development efforts in related fields. With the support of NATO, Germany’s ARX Robotics is developing a series of unmanned ground vehicles. With the help of artificial intelligence, these vehicles can operate autonomously on the battlefield and communicate with each other, and can also be remotely controlled when necessary. Analysts believe that this move means that NATO has started the process of “building an autonomous robot force.” The Israeli Army’s M-RCV unmanned combat vehicle has a high level of intelligence and can perform a variety of tasks such as highly autonomous frontier reconnaissance, firepower strikes, and transporting and recovering drones without human intervention.
The Coming Military Revolution
Autonomous weapons powered by artificial intelligence have already appeared in regional conflicts. In the 2020 Libyan military conflict, the Turkish-produced Kaguya-2 drone tracked and attacked the retreating “Libyan National Army” without relying on an operator. This may be the first recorded case in history of a drone attacking a person without human command. In the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Ukrainian army not only obtained a large number of drones powered by artificial intelligence from the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries, but also actively carried out related research. In this round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, artificial intelligence has also been applied. When Israel attacked Gaza, it used an artificial intelligence system called “Lavender” to help identify Hamas militants.
Autonomous weapons powered by artificial intelligence are changing the face of warfare. Last September, the X-62A successfully completed an aerial dogfight with an F-16 fighter jet piloted by a human pilot. This is considered a “transformative moment in the history of aerospace,” indicating that future operations will be partially or completely controlled by artificial intelligence. Unmanned system clusters, which are basically composed of unmanned combat units such as various types of drones, unmanned vehicles, unmanned boats and unmanned submarines, will account for an increasingly large proportion of future combat force systems, and may even reach a position of driving side by side with manned combat systems. With the improvement of autonomy and intelligence, unmanned system clusters will increasingly become the “protagonists” in war. Researchers believe that collaborative combat with manned systems is only the initial stage of autonomous combat for unmanned systems, and the ultimate goal is to achieve fully autonomous combat for unmanned systems.
Autonomous weapons empowered by artificial intelligence impact geopolitical stability. Geopolitical stability depends on the relative balance of regional military power. However, the large-scale use of unmanned autonomous weapons will inevitably impact the original pattern, leading to a new arms race. Taking individual hegemonic countries as an example, once autonomous weapons empowered by artificial intelligence are put into use on a large scale, their concerns about launching regional military interventions will be reduced, and the threshold for external military action will be lowered. The security and stability of the relevant regions will face great challenges. In addition, more and more non-state actors will master autonomous weapons technology and use it for lethal purposes, which will also have an impact on the regional situation.
The risk of abuse cannot be ignored
“Humanity is standing at a crossroads, and autonomous weapon systems will soon fill the world’s battlefields. This is the ‘Oppenheimer moment’ of our generation,” said Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg at the International Conference on Autonomous Weapons held in Vienna this year. Although artificial intelligence can help with precision strikes, differentiated operations, and reduced material losses, due to its inherent “black box mechanism” and “machine illusion”, future unmanned warfare will face unavoidable risks and challenges.
Risk of command disorder. Over-reliance on the autonomy of weapons can easily increase the risk of the command and control system losing control. In a simulated test by the US military, a drone that was performing an air defense suppression mission chose to “kill” the operator who prevented it from scoring in order to score points in the test. When it was “told” that it would lose points for killing the operator, it attacked the communication tower to cut off the operator’s contact with itself to seize autonomy. In the real battlefield of the future, the risk of autonomous weapons losing control cannot be completely ruled out, and the consequences will be even more difficult to control.
Risk of uncontrolled violence. The combination of artificial intelligence and weapons means that the difficulty of killing is significantly reduced, while the efficiency and intensity of killing are greatly increased, which can easily lead to the expansion and escalation of armed conflict. However, the machine learning algorithms that artificial intelligence relies on are inherently unpredictable, and there are still some unexplained parts of the internal mechanism. In extreme cases, humans may even completely lose control of autonomous weapons, and the resulting humanitarian disaster will be difficult to estimate. It is precisely in recognition of this problem that the United Nations is calling on various parties to formulate common norms and guidelines for autonomous weapon systems and to complete relevant negotiations as soon as possible.
Risk of ethical anomie. Lethal autonomous weapons automatically select and attack targets without human intervention, which means that the right to deprive natural people of their lives is handed over to cold-blooded robots. Some experts said that after the battlefield is handed over to autonomous weapons, human perception of the cruelty of war will drop sharply, resulting in the consequence of “game-like war”, which will lead to excessive use of force. This is not only a “lack of moral responsibility”, but also poses a serious challenge to international humanitarian law and international peace and security, which is “unbearable” for human beings.
The satellite navigation system, also known as the global satellite navigation system, is an air-based radio navigation and positioning system that can provide users with all-weather three-dimensional coordinates, speed and time information at any location on the earth’s surface or in near-Earth space.
The satellite navigation system is an important space infrastructure for mankind. It is an indispensable tool for a country’s national security and economic and social development. It has a profound impact on the form of war, combat style, and people’s production and lifestyle.
At present, there are four major global satellite navigation systems in the world, namely, the United States’ GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, Europe’s Galileo and China’s Beidou. Global competition in satellite navigation technology is becoming increasingly fierce.
Standing at a new starting point of profound changes in the world’s military, and looking at the future battlefield with a high degree of integration of informatization and intelligence, intelligent navigation systems will come into being and play an important role.
Satellite navigation becomes a “standard” element of the intelligent battlefield
The future intelligent battlefield will present the characteristics of high-tech warfare, which will comprehensively use intelligent weapons and means under information conditions, realize efficient command and control, and implement precise and flexible strikes. Satellite navigation technology can provide high-precision, all-weather, large-scale and multi-purpose positioning, navigation and timing services for various objects on land, sea, air and space.
Provide a unified time and space benchmark for systematic operations. For the intelligent battlefield, there are many linked elements and the situation changes rapidly, which requires accurate positioning of combat units to achieve intelligence reconnaissance, command and control, battlefield maneuvers, offensive and defensive operations, and support and guarantee under a unified time and space benchmark, ensuring that all elements of the entire battlefield form a coordinated organic whole.
The basic function of satellite navigation is to provide accurate time and space references for various combat elements. Without an accurate and unified time and space reference, the precise command of joint operations may be out of balance, combat operations may be out of control, and intelligence fusion and target identification cannot be achieved. If the time error is one hundredth of a second, a target locked by more than a dozen radars will become more than a dozen targets, and accurate defense and counterattack will not be possible.
Under a unified standard time and geographic coordinate system, satellite navigation provides precision guidance for various weapon platforms, fine frequency calibration for electronic warfare weapons, and all-weather positioning and navigation for individual combatants, significantly improving the coordination and strike effectiveness of joint firepower strikes.
Provide synchronous situation cognition for combat command and control. Accurately grasping the battlefield situation is the premise and basis for commanders to flexibly and accurately implement command and control. The satellite navigation system provides strong support for battlefield situation awareness.
Since the 1990s, the U.S. military has developed a “Blue Force Tracking” system based on GPS and satellite communications to build a precise command and control system. The “Blue Force Tracking” system has effectively supported the U.S. military in forming a networked information advantage on the ground battlefield and effectively solved the problem of “where are we, our friends, and our enemies?”
Relying on the two major services of navigation positioning and position reporting of the global satellite network, the military has realized battlefield situation monitoring and sharing, which has become an important means for the military to “know itself”. At the same time, it has optimized the combat operation process, realized the issuance of combat orders at the minute level, and accelerated the development of the military’s command and control mode towards “integration” and “flattening”.
Providing a tool to enhance the precision strike of weapons and ammunition. In the intelligent battlefield, precision-guided weapons have become the “trump card” that determines victory or defeat. Using the satellite navigation system, the flight process of the missile can be corrected throughout to ensure the accuracy of the hit. It can be said that the satellite navigation system is a tool to enhance the precision strike of weapon platforms.
In recent local wars, the proportion of GPS precision-guided weapons of the US military has continued to rise: 7.6% in the Gulf War in 1991, 35% in the Kosovo War in 1999, 60% in the Afghanistan War in 2001, 68.3% in the Iraq War in 2003, and 100% in the Syrian War in 2018.
Intelligent battlefield requires satellite navigation to have new “responsibilities”
As the core and cornerstone of the precise and unified space-time system, the modern satellite navigation system must take on new responsibilities in response to the development needs of future intelligent battlefields.
In the era of intelligence, new combat elements represented by “AI, cloud, network, group, and terminal” will reconstruct the battlefield ecology and completely change the winning mechanism of war. Satellite navigation services need to adapt to the characteristics of the intelligent battlefield with wider dimensions, higher precision, and stronger system.
Navigation positioning and timing have a wider range and higher accuracy. The current satellite navigation system has achieved coverage of the earth’s surface. However, on the intelligent battlefield, it needs to extend to deep space and under the sea. The combat time domain and air domain are wider, requiring the construction of a comprehensive service system covering land, sea, air and space, with unified standards, high efficiency and intelligence, to form time and space information coverage at all times and everywhere, and to achieve more powerful, safer and more reliable time and space service capabilities.
For example, in the intelligent battlefield, unmanned combat has become the basic form. Autonomous driving of unmanned vehicles, precision approach of drones, and measurement of intelligent missile positions all urgently need to be improved by an order of magnitude on the basis of existing navigation accuracy to ensure higher navigation integrity, faster first positioning time, and stronger cross-domain capabilities of land, sea, air, and space.
The military navigation confrontation system is more complete and more powerful. The means of navigation confrontation in the information age is a simple confrontation form based on signal energy enhancement and interference attack. Navigation in the intelligent era is intertwined with detection, perception, communication, command, and decision-making. It requires a navigation capability level with higher power and faster effectiveness in any region of the world, the ability to intelligently adjust navigation signals, and the development of multiple navigation means such as quantum navigation, pulsar navigation, and deep-sea navigation. It is necessary to integrate navigation methods with different principles, methods, and carriers to achieve navigation confrontation capabilities at the system level and system level.
The bandwidth of navigation information interaction is larger and the access is wider. In the intelligent era, the role of cyberspace in the combat system is gradually increasing, and it is integrated with the navigation space-time system. The navigation information and cyberspace system that provide space-time position will connect the scattered combat forces and combat elements into a whole, forming a networked and systematic combat capability. This requires support for ubiquitous perception, left-right collaboration, and reliable and reconfigurable navigation capabilities, support for highly reliable, highly anti-interference, and readily accessible signaling channels, and timely acquisition of required navigation auxiliary information such as geography, maps, and images. On this basis, the real integration of communication and navigation is realized, achieving the effect of “one domain combat, multi-domain support”.
Adapting to the needs of military intelligence development and promoting the construction of intelligent navigation system
Judging from the development trend of the world’s military powers, facing the future intelligent battlefield, intelligent navigation systems are gradually building a space-time reference network and navigation information service network that integrates the earth and the sky, with space-based, systematized, on-demand and cloud-based as the main characteristics, forming a comprehensive navigation, positioning and timing system with unified reference, seamless coverage, security and reliability, high efficiency and convenience, and strong practicality.
The core of the transformation from a basic navigation system to an intelligent navigation system is to upgrade from “positioning navigation service” to “intelligent navigation service”, and the focus is on achieving the following four aspects of transformation:
The space-time benchmark is shifting from relying on ground systems to autonomous space-time benchmark maintenance. The space-time benchmark maintenance equipment of the ground system will gradually be transferred to the satellite, and the satellite will be equipped with higher-precision optical clocks and astronomical measurement equipment to form a more stable and reliable space-based space benchmark through high-precision anchoring and laser intersatellite measurement. The use of intelligent navigation systems can make ordinary navigation positioning accuracy reach sub-meter level, the timing accuracy will be increased by about 5 times, and the precision positioning service can achieve fast convergence of centimeter-level accuracy. Intelligent navigation can fully support the cross-domain integration of combat platforms, the doubling of the effectiveness of distributed lethal weapons, and the precise navigation of the entire process of air-space integrated drones from cruising to precision approach.
The satellite power confrontation mode is transformed into a navigation system confrontation. In terms of navigation confrontation services, the traditional satellite power confrontation mode will no longer meet the needs of the intelligent battlefield. Navigation system confrontation is the only way for the development of intelligent equipment in order to enhance the ability of troops to quickly adapt to the battlefield environment. Specifically, it includes precise release of navigation performance, heterogeneous backup of constellations, and global hotspot mobility. The main features are intelligent navigation signals and flexible theater reinforcements. Based on controllable point beam energy enhancement technology, energy delivery in hotspot areas, enhanced area expansion, deception or blocking interference, and digital transmission service guarantee are realized. In a high-interference and blocking environment, ensure service continuity and accuracy, and gradually release strength as the war progresses.
The simple integration of communication and navigation will be transformed into integrated on-demand services. It will provide deeper and broader navigation information services, deeply integrate into the military information network, and provide high, medium and low-speed classified and hierarchical navigation information services to users on land, sea, air and space. Reuse the favorable conditions of global multiple continuous coverage of navigation satellites to meet users’ communication and navigation needs in a global range and in any posture, and realize high reliability and strong interference-resistant search and rescue, position reporting, and signaling transmission. The navigation satellite space-based network interacts with the ground network information to build inter-satellite and satellite-to-ground high-speed backbone networks. Through miniaturized laser terminals and enhanced space routers, a stable and reliable space network is formed, equipped with a complete and standardized protocol system to support the autonomous and intelligent operation of hybrid constellation networks.
The computing resources of payload modules are separated and transformed into cloud computing resources of constellation. It will provide more intelligent space-based cloud computing services and reliable space-based intelligent support for intelligent weapon platforms. The main features are virtualization of onboard hardware resources and balancing of task loads. Through the configuration of public onboard computing modules, large-capacity storage units, and high-speed bus networks on navigation satellites, a ubiquitous space network shared resource pool is formed. The powerful data processing capability can support the autonomous establishment and maintenance of space-based space-time benchmarks, intelligent maintenance of navigation signal quality, and autonomous management of space networks. At the same time, it can provide computing, push, and storage services for complex information such as spatial position for various high-end users in the sky, air, land, and sea.
(The author is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering)
Above: Schematic diagram of satellite navigation system supporting operations.
Defeating dozens of top Go players in a man-machine battle, defeating a retired US Air Force pilot in a simulated air combat… In recent years, artificial intelligence has been like an omnipotent “magician”, creating endless miracles, shocking many people and constantly refreshing people’s imagination.
As a technical science dedicated to simulating, extending and expanding human intelligence, artificial intelligence has long surpassed scientists’ initial imagination and entered a “booming period” of rapid development. It is profoundly changing the way of production and life of human beings, and promoting the social form to accelerate from digitalization and networking to intelligence. At the same time, the widespread use of artificial intelligence technology in the military field will fundamentally change the winning mechanism and combat methods of modern warfare, give birth to new combat means and combat ideas, and promote the war form to accelerate into the intelligent era.
In intelligent warfare, intelligent equipment, intelligent command, intelligent maintenance, and intelligent combat methods are all conceivable – “fake news” created by artificial intelligence is everywhere in the entire process of war preparation, conduct and conclusion, and it is “false and true”; the role of inanimate intelligent entities and robot fighters in intelligent warfare is prominent, and artificial intelligence combat forces such as “cloud brain”, “digital staff” and “virtual warehouse” used for information support, command and control, effect evaluation and logistics support will play an increasingly important role in future wars. Intelligent machines and intelligent weapons will become the main force on future battlefields; remote and precise Specific, miniaturized, and large-scale unmanned attacks will become the main form of attack. “Man-to-man” warfare will expand to “machine autonomous warfare” warfare; intelligent swarm attrition warfare, cross-domain mobile warfare, and cognitive control warfare will become basic combat types; decentralized deployment of humans and machines, autonomous coordination, and concentrated energy offensive and defensive operations will become the basic principles of cross-domain integration and global operations; the “observation-judgment-decision-action” link will be greatly shortened, the combat rhythm will be faster, the actions will be more precise, and the efficiency will be higher; upgrading and training artificial intelligence systems and various unmanned combat platforms through continuous confrontation exercises will become an important way to enhance combat effectiveness. Intelligence will surpass firepower, mobility, and information power and become the most critical factor in determining the outcome of a war. As a result, the meaning of battlefield control will need to be redefined, new topics will be added to international arms negotiations, and textbooks on intimidation theory will need to be rewritten.
The world’s military powers, represented by the United States, have foreseen the broad application prospects of artificial intelligence technology in the military field. They believe that future wars will be intelligent wars and future arms competitions will be intelligent competitions. They have also laid out a series of research plans in advance, hoping to seize the initiative in the military application of artificial intelligence and strive to open up a “generation gap” with potential opponents. In recent years, NASA, the Department of Defense and various military services have deployed a series of artificial intelligence technology research projects in the military field. The U.S. Department of Defense has also proposed the establishment of a “Joint Artificial Intelligence Center” to jointly promote artificial intelligence projects with the U.S. military and 17 intelligence agencies, and coordinate the planning and construction of an intelligent military system supported by military technology and military applications. Russia also sees artificial intelligence as the commanding heights of future military competition. The Russian military is stepping up the development of humanoid robots that can drive vehicles and build robot troops that can fight side by side with human soldiers. Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “Artificial intelligence is not only the future of Russia, but also the future of all mankind. It contains huge opportunities and threats that are difficult to predict today.” Countries such as the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and India are also increasingly paying attention to the development and application of artificial intelligence in the military field.
Today, the pace of military application of artificial intelligence may be difficult to stop. Faced with the new situation, we need to firmly grasp the major historical opportunities for the development of artificial intelligence, judge the general trend, take the initiative to plan, grasp the direction, seize the initiative, and effectively safeguard national security. At the same time, from the perspective of the future and destiny of mankind, the international community should establish a mechanism to prevent the excessive military application of artificial intelligence as soon as possible. After all, the power of human beings to create civilization should not become a tool to destroy civilization, and scientific and technological progress should be a blessing for the benefit of mankind, rather than a death knell that threatens human survival and development.
Through the smoke of war, we can see that today’s war has evolved from the bloody fights of ignorant barbarism and the battles of conquering cities to the precise beheadings dominated by information and the fierce competition on the battlefield of intelligence. This objective fact tells us that war, as a specific complex social phenomenon, will present different war forms and winning mechanisms in different historical periods. As American futurist Alvin Toffler pointed out, “artificial intelligence is like the missiles and satellites before. Whether you are prepared or not, it will enter the historical stage of human civilization war.” President Xi Jinping clearly pointed out: “If we do not understand the winning mechanism of modern warfare, we will only be able to see through a mirror and miss the point.” The winning mechanism of war refers to the way in which various factors of war play a role in order to win the war, as well as the laws and principles of their mutual connection and interaction. Compared with the traditional information warfare, the winning mechanism of future intelligent warfare has undergone significant changes.
The confrontation mode has changed from “system confrontation” to “algorithm game”, and the algorithm advantage dominates the war advantage
Algorithms are strategic mechanisms for solving problems. In fact, “algorithms” are a series of clear instructions for solving problems, and are clear steps to solve a certain type of problem according to certain rules. In future wars, the side that has the advantage of algorithms will be able to quickly and accurately predict battlefield situations, innovate the best combat methods, and achieve the war goal of “winning before fighting.”
Algorithms are the key to dominating intelligent warfare. First, algorithmic advantage dominates cognitive advantage. After big data is processed by high-performance and efficient algorithms, massive amounts of data are quickly converted into useful intelligence. Therefore, the party with algorithmic advantage can dispel the “battlefield fog” caused by the failure to process data in a timely manner, making cognition more profound. Second, algorithmic advantage dominates speed advantage. Compared with classical algorithms, quantum algorithms have achieved an exponential acceleration effect. In addition, quantum computers have increased from 1 quantum bit in 2003 to 1,000 quantum bits in 2015, and their computing efficiency is 100 million times faster than that of classical computers, making artificial intelligence a qualitative leap. Third, algorithmic advantage dominates decision-making advantage. With its high-speed and accurate calculations, the algorithm replaces human “deep thinking” and repeated exploration, thereby accelerating knowledge iteration. Mastering super-powerful algorithms can quickly propose flexible and diverse combat plans and countermeasures in response to changes in the enemy’s situation, constantly disrupting the enemy’s established intentions and deployments.
Algorithms are the core of the leap in war effectiveness. First, wars are more efficient. With the support of algorithms, the reaction speed of artificial intelligence is hundreds or thousands of times that of humans. In 2016, the “Alpha” intelligent software developed by the United States reacted 250 times faster than humans and controlled a third-generation aircraft to defeat a manned fourth-generation aircraft in a simulated air battle. Second, war endurance is stronger. Artificial intelligence is not limited by physiological functions and can continuously perform repetitive and mechanical tasks. In September 2016, an F-16 fighter jet reached 8 times the gravity overload during training, causing the pilot to lose consciousness. However, before the aircraft hit the ground, the onboard “automatic collision avoidance system” automatically pulled the aircraft up, avoiding the tragedy. Third, the war ends better. With the support of massive data and supercomputing capabilities, AI’s judgment and prediction results are more accurate. The US military’s search and killing of Osama bin Laden, which combined manned and unmanned equipment, is a successful example.
The elements of combat are changing from “information-led” to “machine-led”, and machine-led combat is reshaping the combat process.
In the future, intelligent technology will penetrate all elements and processes of war. The Internet of Things, the Internet of Intelligence and the Internet of Brains will become the foundation of war. The four domains of physical domain, information domain, cognitive domain and social domain will be deeply integrated, making the battlefield holographically transparent, with humans controlling the war and no humans fighting on the battlefield. Intelligent weapons and equipment will reshape the combat process from “sensor to shooter”.
Smart eyes “detect”. “Detection” means intelligent intelligence detection. It can virtualize collaborative networking, self-organized dynamic scheduling, automatic multi-source intelligence mining, and order-based on-demand use of multi-dimensional sensors such as land, sea, air, space, and electricity, to the greatest extent possible to dispel the “war fog” caused by insufficient or redundant information and open the “smart eyes” to see through intelligent warfare.
Loop “control”. “Control” refers to intelligent command and control. Focusing on the core of decision-making advantage, the “man-in-the-loop” human-machine collaborative technology is used. According to the autonomy of the machine, three decision-making and control methods are adopted: “man-in-the-loop”, “man-on-the-loop” and “man-out-of-the-loop”, to form a comprehensive advantage with superior decision-making quality and action speed.
Intelligent “fighting”. “Fighting” means intelligent offensive and defensive operations. Relying on the advantages of system structure and algorithm, it mobilizes multi-dimensional, manned and unmanned combat platforms in real time, quickly couples combat forces, builds combat systems on demand, focuses on targets, and independently implements “distributed” and “swarm” collaborative operations. After the battle, it quickly decouples and waits for battle, so that the troops are in a state of flux and gather and disperse at random. At the end of 2015, Russia deployed 6 tracked unmanned combat vehicles, 4 wheeled unmanned combat vehicles and 1 drone to support the Syrian government forces in their assault on the strongholds of Islamic extremist forces, and won the world’s first offensive battle dominated by unmanned combat vehicles. About 70 extremist militants were killed in the battle, while only 4 Syrian government forces were injured.
The decision-making method changes from “human brain decision-making” to “intelligent decision-making”, and intelligent decision-making optimizes combat operations
With the emergence of intelligent decision-making technology and “cloud brain”, “digital staff” and “virtual warehouse”, war decision-making has evolved from simple human brain decision-making to human-machine hybrid decision-making, cloud brain intelligent decision-making and neural network decision-making.
Human-machine hybrid decision-making. Reasonable division of labor and interactive collaboration between humans and machines is the best solution to explore and solve problems. The advantages of the human brain lie in creativity, flexibility, and initiative; the advantages of machines lie in speed, high precision, and fatigue resistance. High-level decision-making and other highly artistic tasks are handled by the human brain, while big data calculations are completed by machines. Human-machine interaction enables machines to “listen” to human language, “see” human movements and expressions, and “understand” human emotions and intentions, and present the calculation process and results in a way that is easy for people to understand.
Cloud brain intelligent decision-making. In the future intelligent warfare, there will be a metaphorical center of “brain”, and distributed combat units will be linked through the cloud brain. This cloud brain is not only a physical information, physiological information and psychological information center, but also a military command center. Cloud brain decision-making is based on the intelligent “network, cloud, terminal” system. “Network” is an intelligent combat infrastructure network that integrates intelligent battlefield perception, decision-making and weapon control systems. “Cloud” is built on the “network” and is based on the intelligent resource service layer. It is not only a “resource pool” that integrates various combat resources, but also an “intelligent cloud” that provides intelligent services for combat operations. Due to the coupling of multiple centers, networking and decision-making can be quickly established even if it is bombarded with information. “End” refers to the combat resource end. The discrete intelligence and networked intelligence in the combat process can not only make autonomous decisions, but also provide distributed intelligent resources for the war system, enabling the new war system to emerge with collective intelligence.
Neural network decision-making. In July 2018, Russia developed fully automatic artificial neural network software that can destroy as soon as it is found. The intelligent decision-making tool developed by the US military aims to shorten the decision-making cycle and improve decision-making efficiency. The application of neural networks was once limited to tactical-level calculations, and it was difficult to make qualitative analysis and decisions on macroscopic and complex strategic situations. “AlphaGo” has made a breakthrough in the field of Go by simulating the working mechanism of human brain neural networks. In the future, the super self-evolution and strategic decision-making capabilities of deep neural networks will realize the “man-out-of-the-loop” combat cycle.
The combat style has changed from “breaking the chain and destroying the body” to “extreme combat”, which subverts traditional combat methods.
Extreme warfare has broken through the boundaries of traditional warfare, overturned traditional combat patterns, greatly increased the effectiveness of warfare, and brought about truly all-weather, all-time, all-dimensional, and all-domain intelligent warfare.
Break through the limits of human physiology and thinking. First, the combat space and domain are greatly expanded. In the future, intelligent combat will be three-dimensional, full-dimensional, and full-domain combat. The combat space will expand from the traditional space domain to the extremes of the polar regions, deep sea, and space, especially to the cognitive domain and information domain. Penetrate and penetrate other domains, and the combat domain will become more blurred. Second, the combat process is greatly accelerated. Unmanned autonomous combat greatly compresses the “observation-judgment-decision-action” cycle, and develops from the “instant destruction” of information warfare to the “instant destruction” of intelligent warfare. The victory of intelligent warfare is achieved by advancing the warning time, shortening the decision-making time, and extending the combat actions forward, so as to achieve the effect of preemptive layout and preemptive strike. Third, combat actions are extremely flexible. In intelligent warfare, artificial intelligence can propose extremely rich combat plans, and unmanned combat platforms can quickly switch between different functional roles, making combat actions more bold and adventurous, and tactics more unexpected. Even if one of the combat elements loses its function, the “decentralized” function will ensure that the group function is not affected.
Subvert the traditional combat style. The first is invasive lone wolf combat. That is, a single unmanned system fights independently. The second is manned and unmanned collaborative system sabotage warfare. That is, based on intelligent unmanned systems, through mixed combat with manned and unmanned equipment, the combat objectives can be quickly achieved. The third is the independent combat of unmanned system formations. Multiple unmanned systems constitute combat units, which can perform complex tasks such as multi-target attacks. The fourth is mother ship swarm cluster combat. With the mother ship as the transport carrier and command center, a manned and unmanned mixed cluster combat style is formed.
It has the combat effectiveness of “nuclear power”. Intelligent warfare has brought the characteristics and potential of intelligent robots to the extreme, resulting in combat effectiveness close to the limit. First, the target is small and difficult to detect. For example, miniaturized stealth robots are difficult to detect by radar and sound. The hybrid drone embedded with the “optical electrode” chip in the “Dragonfly” by the United States is smaller, lighter and more stealthy, with a flight time of up to several months. Second, it is difficult to confront and the cost is high. For example, a beetle-sized micro-drone can directly crash into the target’s head as long as it scans the human face, and the ammunition it carries is enough to penetrate the brain. Third, the cost is low and the damage is great. In the future, the use of intelligent weapons in extreme combat will have the power of nuclear weapons, especially the extremely large-scale intelligent weapon equipment, extremely low-cost robot automatic production, and extremely flexible robot swarm combat, which may surpass the maximization of nuclear weapon explosion power.
Modern war presents the explosive growth of battlefield information and new combat style. With the continuous emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and edge computing, a new generation of command information system is coming. Based on the international fourth generation command information system, this paper imagines the overall architecture of the fifth generation command information system, expounds the technical characteristics of its knowledge center, intelligent enabling, cloud edge integration, independent evolution and resilience adaptation, analyze its key technologies, continuously improves the battlefield information advantage, and transforms to the battlefield cognitive advantage, decision-making advantage and action advantage.
Abstract
Modern war presents the explosive growth of battlefield information and new combat style. With the continuous emergence of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and edge computing, a new generation of command information system is coming. Based on the international fourth generation command information system, this paper imagines the overall architecture of the fifth generation command information system, expounds the technical characteristics of its knowledge center, intelligent enabling, cloud edge integration, independent evolution and resilience adaptation, analyze its key technologies, continuously improves the battlefield information advantage, and transforms to the battlefield cognitive advantage, decision-making advantage and action advantage.
Download CitationsZHANG Zhi-hua , WANG Fan . The Fifth Generation Command Information System and Its Intelligent Technology. Command Control and Simulation . 2021, 43(5): 1-7 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1673-3819.2021.05.001
Previous Article Next Article In his report to the 19th CPC National Congress, President Xi Jinping clearly pointed out that “we should accelerate the development of military intelligence and improve the joint combat capability and all-domain combat capability based on network information systems”
[ 1 ] . This statement indicates that future wars will be based on networked and intelligent system operations. The fifth-generation command information system will focus on intelligence, strengthen battlefield information advantages, and strive for battlefield cognitive advantages, decision-making advantages, and action advantages. According to relevant reports, the international command information system has gone through four stages of development
[ 2 ] and is evolving towards the fifth-generation command information system. The system architecture is developing towards intelligence, knowledge, cloud edge, and service. The fourth-generation system in the world mainly uses networking, service, and cloud to build an overall coordinated command information system
[ 2 ] , which meets the needs of coordinated operations to a certain extent and achieves information advantages. However, with the explosive growth of battlefield information, it is difficult to transform the system information advantage into the commander’s cognitive and decision-making advantages. With the emergence of new combat styles such as unmanned combat and cyber warfare, in order to adapt to the complexity and nonlinear characteristics of combat command, the command information system must break through cognitive technology and provide accurate battlefield situation cognition and planning and decision-making capabilities. The fifth-generation command information system is envisioned to be centered on artificial intelligence, edge computing, and cloud brain technology to enhance battlefield cognitive advantages, decision-making advantages, and action advantages, support combat command to move from the information domain to the cognitive domain, and realize capabilities such as information knowledge, intelligent decision-making, agile command and control, multi-domain collaboration, and edge services.
1 New Concept of Command and Control
1.1 Intelligent command and control
Intelligent command and control is to use artificial intelligence methods to achieve the transformation from “information-based, network-centric” to “intelligent, knowledge-centric”, and assist commanders in solving perception, understanding, and cognitive problems in the command field. The system architecture and technical architecture of the command information system will change. The system will apply corresponding intelligent technologies around functional domains such as situation, command, control, and support to improve the cognitive and decision-making efficiency of combat command. Foreign militaries pay great attention to the intelligent application of combat command. Since 2007, the US DARPA has published three white papers on national and military development strategies for artificial intelligence, and has launched plans such as “Deep Green”
[ 3 ⇓ – 5 ] , “The High-Tech Holy Grail of the Third Offset Strategy”, and “Commander’s Virtual Staff”. In the field of intelligence perception and tactical decision-making, it has launched artificial intelligence projects such as “Insight”, “Xdata”, “Deep Learning”, “Deep Text Search and Filtering”, “Distributed Battlefield Management”, “Human-Machine Collaboration”, “Mind’s Eye”, “Trace”, “Human-Machine Collaboration”, “X-Plan”, “Cognitive Electronic Warfare”, and “AlphaAI Air Combat”, realizing the ability to deeply understand battlefield intelligence, predict situation cognition, and automatically generate and deduce tactical plans. Since then, the U.S. military has also set up projects such as “Autonomous Negotiation Formation”, “Big Dog”, and “Hummingbird” to improve the manned and unmanned collaborative control capabilities. Overall, the U.S. military currently has the world’s leading level of intelligent combat command. In addition, Germany, France, Russia and other countries have also conducted extensive research in intelligent information perception and processing, intelligent autonomous unmanned combat platforms, etc., and have achieved fruitful research results
With the development of military technology, traditional large-scale cluster combat methods are gradually transformed into small-scale asymmetric combat. Combat activities at the tactical edge will play an important role in war. The tactical edge is also known as the “first tactical mile”
[ 9 ] . It is far away from the command center and has limited communication, computing, and service resources. It is usually composed of combat platforms, tactical units, and special forces. In order to gain information and decision-making advantages, command units at all levels use ubiquitous networks, micro-clouds, and other technologies to achieve information and resource sharing. Mobile computing devices at the tactical edge use fog computing methods to integrate into larger combat units and form micro-clouds under self-organizing networks. The large amount of situation information obtained by the tactical edge is calculated, stored, and shared in the tactical micro-cloud, which simplifies the scale of interaction with the command center, improves the timeliness of information interaction, and solves the problem of insufficient service capabilities at the tactical frontier in the past.
1.3 Multi-Domain Battle Command and Control
In 2016, the U.S. Army proposed the concept of “multi-domain warfare”
[ 10 ] , taking “synchronous cross-domain firepower” and “all-domain mobility” as core elements, promoting the high integration of combat elements, enhancing all-domain strike capabilities, and attempting to eliminate the “anti-access/area denial” capabilities of China, Russia and other countries. It mainly has the following three characteristics
[ 10 ] . First, the combat domain is expanded in multiple dimensions, enabling the U.S. Army to deploy forces from the ground to multiple combat domains such as sea, air, electricity, and the Internet, and has the ability to integrate with other services. Second, the combat elements are highly integrated, and the various services and combat functional domains can share information, coordinate tactics, and synchronize actions, which promotes the transformation of joint services to the integration of combat capability elements. Third, the command chain is developing in a flat direction, and the command mechanism is efficient and flexible. It is necessary to have centralized planning and decentralized execution, and to share information and instructions with various command nodes and individual soldiers, extend the tactical command chain, and realize rapid, multi-line, and multi-domain combat command.
1.4 Mosaic Combat Command and Control
In 2017, DARPA proposed the concept of “mosaic warfare”
[ 11-12 ] , which takes into account both ” threat-based” and “capability-based” equipment construction methods, and flexibly combines sensors, command and control nodes, combat platforms, and cooperative manned and unmanned systems in multiple combat domains on demand to form a mission system. System integration uses a building block approach to dynamically link dispersed fine-grained systems together to form a combat system similar to a “mosaic block”. “Mosaic warfare” uses intelligent decision-making tools to provide distributed situational awareness and adaptive planning and control, assist in combat mission planning, and implement distributed combat management. “Mosaic warfare” requires the replacement of fixed combat force composition with adaptive system reorganization, and the combat command has a resilient and adaptable information system that can customize physically dispersed mixed combat units on demand and meet various dynamic and collaborative combat requirements
2. Transformation of the Characteristics of the Fifth Generation Command Information System
1) The system shifts from network-centric to knowledge-centric. The network-centric approach brings battlefield information advantage, which is then transformed into cognitive advantage and decision-making advantage. The information sharing between systems shifts to knowledge-centric intelligence sharing, which promotes the transformation of the entire command system into decision-making and action advantage.2) The cloud architecture is transformed into cloud-edge-end integration. Expand the original cloud resource sharing capabilities
[ 2 ] and extend them to the platforms, teams, and individual soldiers at the tactical edge, realize the integrated hybrid service capabilities of the battlefield center cloud, mobile cloud, and edge micro-cloud in a mobile environment, and enhance the tactical frontier resource service capabilities.3) Transformation from scheduled integration to resilient adaptability. Currently, the system is deployed and operated according to preset rules. When the mission changes, it must be regulated according to the pre-planned plan. In the future, battlefield systems are vulnerable to attacks and paralysis, requiring the system to have the ability to self-reconstruct, resilient and adaptable when disturbances occur to ensure that the core mission is uninterrupted
[ 13-14 ] .4) Transformation from computational intelligence to cognitive intelligence. Intelligence is manifested in computational intelligence, perceptual intelligence, and cognitive intelligence. Currently, computational intelligence provides a tactical deterministic solution method. In the future battlefield, intelligent technology must be used to improve the accuracy and real-time degree of cognition in terms of massive intelligence processing, situational awareness, and decision-making reasoning.5) Performance changes from fixed fixed to autonomous learning evolution. The system’s algorithm and performance are generally determined and fixed during the design period, and performance improvement is achieved through upgrading and transformation. Intelligent systems have the ability of self-learning and self-evolution, and can learn algorithms for situational awareness and intelligent decision-making online to improve system performance.6) Construction shifts from capability-based to knowledge-based. Command information systems are generally constructed based on capability elements, and system integration is integrated based on capability elements. Intelligent systems pay more attention to the intellectual construction of the system, focusing on the construction of system knowledge, rules, algorithms, and data.7) The interaction mode will shift to human-machine fusion intelligent interaction. Human-machine fusion intelligent perception, anthropomorphic interaction, intention-oriented intelligent human-machine interface interaction, wearable human-machine fusion computing, and fusion and linkage interaction will become the main interaction mode of future systems, and the human-machine control system will progress towards human-machine fusion.8) The separation of combat and training has shifted to the integration of combat, training, exercise and research. The fifth-generation command information system tightly couples combat command and tactical training, and has parallel simulation and reasoning capabilities. It can not only update intelligent algorithms, but also conduct combat and tactics confrontation research, obtain tactical data, and promote algorithm learning. Exercise training has developed from war game simulation to battlefield virtual game.
3 Overall Architecture Concept
The overall architecture of the future fifth-generation command information system should be a command information system that is knowledge-centric, human-machine integrated, intelligently empowered, cloud-edge integrated, autonomously evolving, and resilient and adaptable. The following article mainly describes the overall system from the perspectives of system architecture, service architecture, and technical architecture
[ 15 ] . The system architecture mainly refers to the composition of the system’s logical elements and their relationships, the service architecture describes the integration model of information and computing resources between systems, and the technical architecture describes the system’s technical reference model.
3.1 System Architecture Concept
The system is changing from “information-based, network-centric” to “intelligent, knowledge-centric”, while extending to the tactical edge. Based on the original system integration, the system integrates knowledge and algorithms, applies intelligent technology in functional domains such as situation, command, control, and support, and improves the cognition and decision-making efficiency of combat command. The system architecture is envisioned as follows:
Figure 1 Conceptualization of the fifth-generation command information system architecture
第五代指揮資訊系統架構概念
The fifth-generation system expands the functional domain of parallel deduction and learning training on the basis of functional elements such as situational awareness, command decision-making, action control, support and guarantee, and information services to meet the needs of combat branch evaluation and algorithm learning. In terms of situational awareness, it covers computational intelligence, perceptual intelligence, and cognitive intelligence, mainly completing battlefield intelligence processing and target identification, understanding and predicting the situation, having state and momentum, and improving information advantage; in terms of command decision-making, it is mainly based on cognitive intelligence, which can machine tactical reasoning, generate plans and plans, and improve decision-making level; in terms of action control, it is mainly based on computational intelligence and cognitive intelligence, completing task monitoring and temporary tactical control, and providing action optimization strategies based on knowledge reasoning, such as command guidance, firepower coordination, and unmanned cluster intelligent control; in terms of comprehensive guarantee, it is mainly based on computational intelligence, completing the optimal allocation of battlefield resources under prior knowledge and rules; in terms of parallel deduction and learning training, it combines command and control with simulation training, trains personnel and algorithms in peacetime, and conducts parallel plan deduction in wartime.In addition, the fifth-generation system has an autonomous evolving learning mechanism: first, autonomous learning within the node to optimize the algorithm and knowledge base; second, the nodes share intelligent algorithms and knowledge through the command cloud to collaboratively complete the evolution. Each node can upload the learned algorithms and knowledge to the command cloud to update the algorithms and knowledge of the knowledge center; third, the system issues instructions to tactical nodes, weapon nodes, detection nodes, and combat support nodes, and collects execution feedback. These feedback results can be used to learn and evolve the algorithm.Between the fifth-generation systems, based on the original comprehensive integration based on the cloud/end architecture, an integrated sharing method for knowledge and intelligent algorithms has been added. Each command information system uploads intelligent algorithms and knowledge rules to the knowledge center for plug-and-play sharing by heterogeneous nodes such as battlefield detection, command, and weapons. The command information system can obtain existing intelligent knowledge from the knowledge center and conduct secondary learning and training in combination with its own battlefield data to improve algorithm capabilities. The command cloud will eventually form an intelligent knowledge center for the battlefield, and a battlefield knowledge network will be formed between the intelligent command information systems.
3.2 Concept of cloud-edge-device service architecture
In the future, ubiquitous network connections will extend from command units to various squads, individual soldiers, and platforms at the tactical edge. The fifth-generation command information system will use fog computing and distributed computing technologies to build tactical mobile clouds, squad micro-clouds (Cloudlet), and individual task group pico-clouds (Pico-Cloud) based on cloud architecture technology
[ 9 , 16 ] , forming tactical frontier mobile cloud service capabilities, realizing the hybrid service capabilities of battlefield centralized combat clouds, mobile tactical clouds, and edge micro-clouds and pico-clouds, forming an integrated resource service structure of “cloud, edge, and end”, and quickly building command chains and strike chains.
Concept of cloud-edge-end service architecture of the fifth-generation command information system
第五代指揮資訊系統雲端端服務架構構想
The cloud-edge-end integrated service capability supports the fifth-generation system to achieve dynamic aggregation and release of combat resources through “cloud deployment, cloud aggregation, cloud attack, and cloud dissipation”, thereby improving the combat effectiveness of the entire system
[ 17 ] . The centralized combat cloud is deployed in the command center in a fixed cloud manner
[ 16 ] to provide services for various combat nodes; air, land, and sea tactical clouds provide information, algorithms, computing, and storage services under mobile conditions for aircraft, ships, armored forces, and other forces at the tactical frontier, thereby improving the resource sharing level at the tactical frontier
[ 9 , 16 , 18-19 ] ; in tactical edge military operations, micro-clouds and pico – clouds are constructed. Micro-clouds are deployed in fog computing on vehicles, aircraft, and boats within one hop of the communication distance of the frontier contact unit, expanding the tactical information processing and sharing capabilities of the frontier unit personnel. When individual soldiers and units cannot access micro-clouds, mobile ad hoc networks and distributed computing technologies can be used to construct pico-clouds to support dynamic information aggregation and resource sharing end-to-end under weak connections at the tactical edge, thereby extending the command chain.
3.3 Technical Architecture Concept
The fifth-generation command information system will extend the war from the physical domain and information domain to the cognitive domain, and will change the way of command and control. Its technical architecture is as follows:
Technical architecture of the fifth-generation command information system
第五代指揮資訊系統技術架構
The fifth generation command information system adds tactical edge services and intelligent computing environments based on the networked computing environment of the fourth generation command information system, which is compatible with the system architecture and meets the intelligent requirements of the system. The tactical edge service computing environment provides micro-cloud and pico-cloud basic computing, storage, and information service platforms for weakly connected terminals; the intelligent computing environment provides intelligent services for situation, decision-making, control, and human-computer interaction.The intelligent technology environment layer includes the following five parts. The intelligent computing hardware platform is equipped with AI acceleration processors such as GPU, FPGA, and TPU to adapt to the computing power required by deep learning. Some algorithms use brain-like chips with neuron processing mechanisms or solidified dedicated intelligent computing chips; the intelligent data management platform mainly manages data, samples, cases, models, and knowledge; the deep learning framework integrates the runtime library and basic algorithm library of deep learning and reinforcement learning; the traditional artificial intelligence computing framework includes traditional algorithm support libraries such as spark and bigflow for search and solution, data mining, and parallel processing; intelligent services include application-oriented intelligent algorithm service libraries, such as intelligent interactive recognition, valuation network calculation, and strategy network calculation services, which provide solution interfaces for application development.The intelligent application layer mainly provides functional elements such as intelligent situational awareness, planning and decision-making, action control and information services, human-computer interaction, learning and training. It is the system’s main functional interface for users and the core problem that intelligence needs to solve.The fifth-generation system technology architecture model mentioned above mainly uses cloud computing and intelligent technology support services to achieve the sharing of situations, instructions, algorithms and knowledge between systems, and supports system autonomous evolution, algorithm upgrades and knowledge updates. System intelligence can be divided into levels 0 to 4
[ 20 ] . Level 0: full manual control; Level 1: computing intelligence, deterministic complex tactical calculations and information automation processing; Level 2: having certain perceptual intelligence, able to understand, evaluate and predict battlefield situations; Level 3: having cognitive intelligence, able to provide machine decision-making and decision-making deduction capabilities; Level 4: having human-machine integration and symbiosis capabilities, and the core algorithm can self-learn and self-evolve. At present, the intelligence level of the fourth-generation system is generally at level 1, and situation understanding and command decisions are still controlled by humans. The intelligence of the fifth-generation system can reach the fourth level through three stages. The first stage is to realize the ability to perceive, understand and evaluate the battlefield situation; the second stage is to build a knowledge base of tactics and enable machine decision-making based on rules, knowledge and algorithms; the third stage is to realize machine self-learning and self-evolution of core tasks, and have the function of autonomous decision-making, reaching a highly intelligent level of human-machine integration
4 Key technologies of the system and its intelligent concept
The key technologies of the fifth-generation command information system mainly solve the above – mentioned problems of intelligence, cloud – edge-end integration, and system resilience and adaptability. The key technologies of the system and its intelligent concept is the following
Key technologies of the system and its intelligent concept
系統關鍵技術及智慧化理念
The key technologies of the fifth-generation command information system cover all aspects of the command and control OODA loop, and can support the system’s intelligence, resilience, and edge command and control requirements in terms of detection, decision-making, control, and strike, thereby building a precise perception chain, rapid control chain, precise strike chain, and agile service chain, extending to the tactical edge and improving command effectiveness.
1) Situational Awareness Machine Analysis TechnologyIntelligence compilation and analysis technology.
Use big data, deep learning, knowledge graphs and other technologies to perform intelligent information correlation matching, text semantics intelligent analysis, and public opinion intelligent search and extraction to obtain valuable intelligence from massive, multi-source, and heterogeneous battlefield information.
Multiple target rapid recognition technology. Using deep learning methods, a multi-layer CNN convolutional neural network is constructed, and sample feature parameter learning is used to complete feature extraction and rapid target recognition of optical, infrared, electromagnetic, and acoustic information.Situation recognition and understanding technology. Analyze the enemy’s combat intentions and combat capabilities, use the reinforcement learning valuation network technology to simulate the commander’s situation recognition process, and combine the CNN nonlinear battlefield situation fitting ability to establish a mapping from situation images to situation understanding
Situation machine prediction and assessment technology. Based on situation understanding, the enemy’s tactical behavior is estimated. First, the strategy network is used to obtain the enemy’s activity rules, and then the parallel deduction method is used to perform multi-branch situation deduction. Finally, a prediction network is constructed to predict the situation.
Combat mission space and strategy modeling technology. Modeling the state and action strategy of the combat mission space and determining the description method of the mission state, strategy, and feedback are the basis for deep reinforcement learning to make decisions.Mission planning machine decision-making technology. Use operations optimization to complete target analysis and task allocation. Use deep reinforcement learning and swarm intelligence algorithms to machine plan force composition, firepower configuration, and collaborative paths. Tactical planning tends to be rule-based reasoning and easy to break through; campaign planning tends to be knowledge-based reasoning based on experience, involving the art of command, and is more difficult to break through.
Parallel simulation technology for combat plans. With reference to the parallel simulation technology of the “deep green” system the Monte Carlo search tree and game test method are used to simulate enemy combat behavior, rehearse and evaluate the action process, and accumulate feedback reward and punishment functions for learning, training, and decision optimization.
Intelligent generation technology of combat plans. Using intelligent perception algorithms such as natural language understanding, voice command recognition, and sketch recognition, combined with the extraction of elements from the task model, the knowledge graph is used to automatically extract the plan to generate combat plans and command sequences .
Rapid decision-making technology on the spot. Based on the current situation, using the learning data accumulated by the game platform, automatically matching the most appropriate plan adjustment, making dynamic decisions on the plan based on Monte Carlo tree search and transfer learning algorithms, reverse reinforcement learning, and enhancing the generalization ability of the plan.3) Intelligent motion control technologySituation-based improvisation control technology. According to the effects and deviations of combat operations, the resources, paths, and coordination modes of the mission are dynamically adjusted, and parallel simulation multi-branch deduction and reinforcement learning technology are used to correct the deviations, thus realizing tactical “feedforward” control .
Swarm intelligence collaborative control technology. Promote the maximization of the overall effectiveness of battlefield intelligent bodies in collaborative operations, use ant colony and bee colony control algorithms and deep reinforcement learning methods to build a global tactical value network, establish an effect feedback model, and perform strategic control based on the value network.Firepower collaborative control technology. Improve the speed and accuracy of friend-or-foe identification, firepower allocation, and collaborative dispatch, use swarm intelligence and deep reinforcement learning algorithms to automatically plan, coordinate and optimize the strike chain, and have a certain degree of autonomous decision-making ability.
Multi-domain cluster system autonomous collaborative machine planning technology. Use branch search solution, knowledge reasoning, and deep reinforcement learning to plan and allocate collaborative tasks for manned/unmanned systems, and use swarm intelligence optimization algorithms to plan collaborative trajectories for unmanned and manned platforms.Multi-domain cluster system autonomous collaborative command and control technology. It monitors the missions of unmanned clusters and provides autonomous collaborative command and guidance. It uses swarm intelligence algorithms to detect conflicts and avoid collisions among multiple unmanned platforms, and coordinates grouping, routing, and load.
5) Intelligent information service technology.
Intelligent battlefield information sharing technology uses reinforcement learning and semantic association technology to analyze users’ information needs and preferences, generate information needs based on users’ differentiated characteristics, and intelligently push tactical information to users.
Human-computer fusion intelligent perception interaction technology. Construct multi-channel human-computer interaction methods including sketches, spoken language, gestures, head postures, expressions, eye movements, etc., and provide natural, sensitive, accurate and anthropomorphic interaction strategies . Intention-oriented intelligent human-computer interface technology. Using FCM fuzzy cognitive interactive reasoning technology, infer the user’s interactive intention, and organize the interactive interface output by integrating different means such as spoken language, gestures, sketches, and natural language according to the user’s interface needs and interaction preferences.Smart wearable human-machine fusion technology. It uses edge computing technology and new human-machine interaction methods such as voice, gestures, eye movements, brain-computer interfaces, and augmented reality to provide soldiers with smart wearable devices that have a collaborative, integrated, and linked human-machine interaction mode.
7) Virtual gaming and training evaluation technology.
The combat virtual game technology builds a game confrontation test platform, conducts combat knowledge modeling, and uses parallel simulation, branch decision, differential confrontation and other technologies to conduct red-blue confrontation, which not only trains tactics and methods, but also collects tactical data.Machine training and evaluation technology uses the data accumulated by the game platform and the experience of personnel to model, adopts small sample transfer learning technology to train and optimize the algorithm, replays the real data afterwards, performs transfer learning optimization on the decision model, and updates the decision plan.
8) System resilience adaptive reconstruction technology.
Environmental perception and autonomous fault detection technology. Under soft and hard damage, it can detect the main faults and analyze abnormal correlations, predict the occurrence of faults that affect task execution, evaluate the impact of faults on tasks, and realize active perception and rapid location of system resources and faults.System self-healing and reconstruction intelligent technology. When key nodes of the system fail, an adaptive mechanism is used to reallocate resources, achieve capacity regeneration, and continuously ensure the completion of core tasks. The system changes from a fault repair method with preset rules and manual participation to an intelligent system reconstruction method.
9) Tactical edge computing technology.
Mobile micro-cloud service platform technology. Deployed in fog computing mode on vehicles, aircraft, and boats within one hop of the enemy, it provides shared processing capabilities for combat teams and expands the tactical information processing capabilities of team members.Pi-cloud resource sharing technology under weak connection ad hoc network. Based on the individual soldier ad hoc network, the Pi-cloud is constructed using distributed computing technology to support end-to-end autonomous collaborative information sharing and resource sharing between individual soldier mobile devices under weak connection to meet tactical edge needs.
5 Development ideas and ideas
1) Gradually progress in stages, starting with the easy and then moving on to the difficult. In the first stage, image, voice, gesture, face recognition, and natural language understanding are applied to intelligence analysis; in the second stage, deep learning and reinforcement learning are applied to situational awareness and command decision-making; in the third stage, cloud computing is used to realize a knowledge-centered, intelligently empowered system.
2) Select intelligent algorithms for application. Focusing on the application of deep learning in situation and deep reinforcement learning in planning and decision-making, select appropriate tactical backgrounds to verify intelligent algorithms. Tactical-level planning of paths, firepower, tasks, etc. can be used as breakthroughs.
3) Strengthen the construction of knowledge engineering in the field of combat command. Expert rules, military regulations, and actual combat data are the basis of intelligent command. The existing combat rules should be modeled and represented in a knowledge-based manner, and the input and output mapping relationship between knowledge representation and deep learning should be established. The research on knowledge learning and knowledge reasoning methods should be strengthened .
4) Establish a virtual confrontation game platform to accumulate data. Intelligent algorithms require a large number of learning samples. The ways to accumulate samples are: Establish a confrontation game platform to conduct war games, human-machine confrontation, and red-blue confrontation to accumulate data; Collect tactical data from actual combat exercises and build models as training samples.
6 Conclusion
This paper proposes the overall and intelligent concept of the fifth-generation command information system, constructs a new generation of command information system architecture with “intelligent empowerment, human-machine integration, cloud-edge integration, autonomous evolution, cloud-intelligence sharing, and resilience and adaptability”, analyzes its key technologies and capability characteristics, and attempts to achieve cognitive advantages, decision-making advantages, and action advantages based on the fourth-generation system in the world .
There are not many technical verifications for the fifth-generation system in the world, so we should not rush for quick success and still need to conduct sufficient research.
Establishing normative guidelines for the management of military information dissemination on the Internet
——Interpretation of the three highlights of the “Internet Military Information Dissemination Management Measures”
Strengthening the management of Internet military information dissemination is related to the overall situation of national defense and military construction, and to the image and reputation of the people’s army. The promulgation of the “Internet Military Information Dissemination Management Measures” (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”) has established normative guidelines for the management of Internet military information dissemination. Its implementation will surely provide a strong legal guarantee for promoting the rule of law in cyberspace, regulating the order of Internet military information dissemination, and better promoting the healthy development of Internet military media. The “Measures” not only aims to solve the practical problems of Internet military information dissemination in recent years, but also looks forward to the future trend of military information dissemination. Overall, there are three highlights:
Improved the opening standards of platforms and columns
Once military-related, confidential or negative information is disseminated, it will inevitably damage national security and the image of the military. The key to managing this kind of network chaos is to correct the source and effectively regulate the source of information dissemination. The Measures clearly regulate the opening of military website platforms, military columns on website platforms, military accounts, etc. First, Internet military information service providers must obtain licenses and perform filing procedures in accordance with the law to ensure the authenticity of their identities. Second, Internet military information service providers are encouraged and supported to establish or clearly be responsible for editing agencies for military information services, and to be equipped with full-time editors and content reviewers appropriate to the scale of services to ensure the professionalism of their capabilities. Such standardization can further improve the effectiveness of Internet military information dissemination management and effectively enhance the quality and level of Internet military media.
List of positive and negative aspects of the content being spread
In the digital age, online public opinion has become an important force in shaping social concepts and behaviors, with both the supply and dissemination of positive information and the spread of illegal and negative information. The Measures aim to turn the Internet, the biggest variable, into the biggest increment in promoting the development of the cause of strengthening the military, and refine and clarify the positive list of Internet military information dissemination content, mainly involving 11 aspects of information, including the promotion of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, the promotion of the nature, purpose, glorious history, fine traditions and style of the People’s Army, and the reflection of the achievements of national defense and military modernization. At the same time, the Measures also detailed and clarified a list of 12 negative aspects, including harmful information that endangers national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and undermines the absolute leadership of the Party over the military and the responsibility system of the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Through these regulations, Internet military information service providers and users can be effectively guided to maintain a good military-related public opinion environment, maintain a good image of the People’s Army, and safeguard national security and military interests.
Standardized the supervision chain of military accounts
Military information is highly sensitive, professional, and confidential, and must be handled by professionals. In response to the current problems of low registration thresholds for a large number of military accounts, arbitrary release of military information that disrupts the order of communication, the Measures regulate the conditions for identifying military accounts, and clarify the verification and reporting of military accounts. These requirements are in line with the national policy requirements for doing a good job in the classification and filing of mobile Internet accounts, which is conducive to further clarifying the responsibilities of website platforms and improving the pertinence and accuracy of military account supervision.
Transformation from two-dimensional combat to three-dimensional attack and defense
●From “able to fly” to “good at fighting”
The Army’s air assault force is showing its strength
PLA Daily reporter Kang Zizhan and special correspondent Zhang Shengtao reported: 10 years ago, Liu Zhenhua, as a pilot of the Army Aviation Force, was rated as an excellent pilot mainly for his excellent personal flying skills; now, as a pilot of the Army Air Assault Force, his compulsory training courses have added ground force combat formation, tactics and tactics application, etc. In the past 10 years, the upgrade of the “capability baseline” of Liu Zhenhua, a pilot of an Army Air Assault Brigade, is the result of the Army’s low-altitude combat force’s leap from “able to fly” to “good at fighting”.
On the eve of August 1, 2016, President Xi Jinping emphasized during his inspection of the newly established Army Headquarters that we must accelerate the transformation of the Army from a new starting point in accordance with the strategic requirements of mobile operations and three-dimensional offense and defense, and strive to build a strong, modernized new Army.
A year later, the military parade to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army was held at the Zhurihe Joint Training Base. The Chinese Army Air Assault Brigade made its debut in a new combat formation and was reviewed by President Xi.
Air assault, surging. Since its establishment, the Army Air Assault Force has conducted military exercises in all areas, covering mountains, dense forests, deserts, and grasslands. Iron wings are flying, eagles are lined up, ground forces and air forces are integrated within the organization, and energy is released within the system, giving the military exercise field a new look.
In the heart of the Central Plains, air-ground coordination has given birth to a new landscape. In the staff competition, the pilot won the championship; in the flight planning, the infantry squad leader served as the staff. Snipers “train in the air” and pilots “learn on the ground”. The air and ground subjects are integrated into the training, and the air and ground forces are truly combined and fight together.
When the pilots found the “enemy” target on the prairie, they did not choose to attack it head-on, but used the information system to send coordinates in the air and call for support from the ground advance forces to attack the “enemy” target. From the ground calling for air support to the air calling for ground support, the “call change” witnessed the expansion of the officers and soldiers’ battlefield vision.
In the northwest desert, an air assault brigade of the Army was ordered to carry out cross-domain maneuvers, flying and fighting along the way, and taking turns to use a series of new tactics such as surpassing attack operations, leapfrog assault operations, and key point control operations, showing the sharp edge of the Army’s new air assault combat force…
Following the footsteps of the Army’s airborne assault troops’ military exercises, one new battle scene after another comes into view: “One Tree High” is no longer “riding alone”, but a “synthetic eagle group” composed of multiple aircraft types, with modules organized and each performing its own duties; approaching the front line, firepower strikes are no longer the first choice, and the “electronic iron fist” is the first to be swung; commanders sit in the “air command post” to plan air-ground coordinated operations… The changes in the low-altitude battlefield highlight the strong battlefield adaptability and combat effectiveness of the air assault force.
At the beginning of the new year of 2022, President Xi signed the Central Military Commission’s Order No. 1 of 2022, issuing a mobilization order to the entire army to start training, requiring all levels of the army to vigorously promote system training. As a symbolic force in the army’s transformation from two-dimensional combat to three-dimensional offense and defense, the air assault force has shown many new changes in system training.
An airborne assault brigade of the Army joined hands with an Air Force unit to study the subject of assault infantry guiding Air Force fighters to carry out fire strikes; cooperated with multiple forces of the Joint Logistics Support Force to explore an integrated peacetime and wartime support model; and conducted joint training with a unit of the Strategic Support Force to enhance the unit’s electromagnetic interference and anti-interference capabilities… The airborne assault force system has more and more “close partners” in training, the “circle of friends” of new combat forces is getting bigger and bigger, and the unit’s actual combat capabilities continue to improve.
New forces contain new mechanisms, and new mechanisms give birth to new forces. President Xi stressed the need to strengthen the construction of new combat forces and increase the proportion of new quality combat power. During the adjustment and reform, the Army’s air assault force came into being, eliminating the geographical separation between air and ground, blurring the spatial concepts of frontier and depth, and updating the combat concepts of air and ground arms. The Chinese military’s land warfare pattern is being reshaped.
From looking at the battlefield head-on to looking down on the battlefield, and then to three-dimensionally perceiving the battlefield, the air assault force has demonstrated the huge potential of a new type of combat force, and the Army is accelerating into the era of three-dimensional combat.
“This is an unprecedented opportunity, but also an unprecedented challenge.” Tang Hongyi, the battalion commander of an air assault brigade of the army, led the officers and soldiers to transform from mountain infantry to air assault infantry. On the journey of reforming and strengthening the army, he dared not slack off for a moment, “Each generation has its own mission and responsibility. We must run the ‘first leg’ of air assault force construction and run the ‘our leg’ of the army’s transformation and development well.”
Short review
Accelerate transformation and molting to take off
■Kang Zizhan
Fly far and molt. The new army badge has a pair of “wings of soaring” on both sides, implying that the new army is “flying”. From the Army Aviation Corps to the Air Assault Corps, the transformation and reshaping of the army’s low-altitude forces is the result of the new world military revolution, and ahead is the strategic direction of the Chinese Army’s accelerated transformation.
President Xi has repeatedly stressed the need to strive to build a strong, modern, and new army. In today’s world, military technology is changing with each passing day, and the forms of war and winning mechanisms are constantly changing. The rise of the Army’s air assault force tells us that the system combat effectiveness of a force does not only come from the external system structure, but more depends on whether multiple forces can be effectively integrated; it is not difficult for new equipment to form combat effectiveness, but it is difficult to create a new “sword method” that adapts to the system. The new combat force should have a new charging posture, be brave to take the lead, forge ahead, and accelerate on the road of transformation.
Extraordinary achievements require extraordinary people. President Xi pointed out: “Now, the responsibility of strengthening the military has historically fallen on our shoulders. To shoulder this burden, we must dare to take on the responsibility. This is not only the expectation of the Party and the people, but also the political character that contemporary revolutionary soldiers should have.” In the new era of reforming and strengthening the military, the new army will take off and will surely write new glory on the journey of strengthening the military.
In mid-July 2021 World Internet of Things Expo held a press conference and revealed that the expo is scheduled to be held in Wuxi in early September. At that time, the expo will be themed “Intelligently Connecting Everything and Leading the Future with Digital”, focusing on showcasing the latest achievements in the global Internet of Things field.
The Internet of Things is changing people’s daily lives, quietly changing the form of modern warfare, and promoting the development of intelligent warfare.
Professor Chen Yingwen from the National University of Defense Technology tells you about the military Internet of Things——
Everything is connected, winning thousands of miles away
■Feng Zijian, Qu Shenghui, Qi Xucong
Schematic diagram of military Internet of Things technology simulation.
A “bridge” connecting the virtual world and the real world
The so-called Internet of Things can be simply understood as an Internet that connects everything. If the Internet is a “dialogue” in the virtual world, then the Internet of Things is a “bridge” connecting the virtual world and the real world.
The application of the Internet of Things had already appeared in wars under the name of “sensor networks” more than half a century before it attracted people’s attention.
In the 1960s, the “Ho Chi Minh Trail” on the Vietnam battlefield was covered with tens of thousands of “tropical tree” vibration sensors. These sensors are like a dense “spider web”, waiting for the “prey” to arrive. Whenever a person or vehicle passes by, the sensor detects the vibration generated by the target and records data such as its direction and speed.
At this time, tens of thousands of kilometers away, in an infiltration surveillance center code-named “Task Force Alpha”, US military technicians were receiving and processing relevant information sent back by the “sensor network”. Once a Vietnamese military convoy was discovered passing by, the command center would send instructions to the US troops stationed in Vietnam, instructing fighter planes to fly over the target and carry out bombing.
Due to the limited technology at the time, the sensors could only work for a few weeks. The “spider web” carefully built by the US military ultimately failed to prevent the Vietnamese army from transporting troops and supplies.
Although this “cooperative” combat method between humans and objects did not achieve any good results in history, it has prompted Western countries led by the United States to conduct in-depth research on Internet technology and continuously explore the interconnection between humans and objects, and objects and objects. Its highly informationized advantages are highlighted in many areas of military applications.
After decades of development, some military powers have successively developed a series of military sensor network systems, including the “Smart Dust” system for collecting battlefield information, the “Lumbas” system for remotely monitoring the battlefield environment, the “Sand Straight Line” system for monitoring the movement of weapon platforms, and the “Wolf Pack” system specifically for detecting electromagnetic signals.
Among them, the detection element of the “smart dust” system is only the size of a grain of sand, but it can realize all functions such as information collection, processing and sending, thereby enhancing the ability to control information during combat.
No combat entity will become an “island”
In the world of the Internet of Things, every grain of “sand” will have its network address. For the military Internet of Things, no operational entity will become an “island”.
During the first Gulf War, many weapons and equipment transported by the US military could not be found, resulting in a large waste of war resources. The reason is that the containers transporting weapons and equipment were not clearly marked, and personnel were unable to track the location of the transported weapons and equipment, which led to the loss of a large number of weapons and equipment.
Twelve years later, during the Iraq War, the US military installed radio frequency microchips on every container shipped to the Gulf region, and placed readers and writers according to transportation and storage needs, thereby achieving full tracking of personnel, equipment, and materials, greatly improving the effectiveness of military logistics support.
Foreign research data revealed that compared with the Gulf War, the Iraq War’s sea transport volume decreased by 87%, air transport volume decreased by 88.6%, combat equipment reserves decreased by 75%, and strategic support equipment mobilization decreased by 89%.
In fact, from the moment the electronic tags are attached and the sensing systems are installed, the originally silent equipment becomes like an organic life form that can sense and communicate with each other. Through the transformation of the Internet of Things technology, each combat entity such as combat personnel and combat equipment has become a “network node”. Through perception and communication with each other, the battlefield situation is clearer and combat operations are more efficient.
Take the personnel assessment network established by the Australian Department of Defense as an example: during combat, commanders can assess the physical functions and conditions of soldiers through sensors worn by soldiers, and then combine them with satellite positioning information to obtain the physical function status of all personnel. Commanders can use this as a basis for allocating troops, which can greatly improve the efficiency of battlefield decision-making.
Military IoT technology will play a big role in future battlefields
In today’s world, there are more and more similar military news——
In June 2016, the US military launched an airstrike using drones, killing 16 Taliban members; in September of the same year, Turkish security forces killed 6 terrorists under the guidance of their domestically produced drones.
In the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the Middle East in 2020, a video released by Azerbaijan made many people feel the power of networked and intelligent weapons: after the drone discovered the enemy tank, it aimed and fired…
From sensing the battlefield situation to locking onto the target and then launching an attack on the target, the reason behind unmanned equipment becoming the main offensive entity is the huge support of military Internet of Things technology. This huge intelligent information network is like the “clairvoyance” and “super hearing” on the battlefield, allowing combat personnel to sit firmly in the “central military camp” and win the battle thousands of miles away.
“Everything is connected, and victory can be won thousands of miles away.” This is the development trend of military Internet of Things technology and an important feature of future intelligent warfare. In the era of the Internet of Everything, the military Internet of Things will connect several individual combat entities into intelligent combat groups and generate a smart combat system. In the future, it will only be necessary to give the smart combat system clear combat objectives, and military combat personnel will not have to participate in its execution process.
At present, the development of military Internet of Things technology still has a long way to go before it can realize the Internet of Everything, but we should be aware that when smart nodes reach a certain scale, the military Internet of Things will achieve a qualitative leap.
In future battlefields, military Internet of Things technology will surely play a big role in achieving victory through “connection”.
