China recently announced the successful development of the world’s first military 5G mobile communication system capable of navigating complex terrains, with plans already underway for deployment in combat scenarios. The system claims to connect at least 10,000 military robots within a 3-kilometer radius simultaneously, paving the way for the realization of intelligent warfare.
According to media reports, this system was jointly developed by China Mobile Communications Group and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Hou Jie (name transliterated), a senior engineer from the PLA Unit 31567 leading the project, recently published a peer-reviewed paper in the journal Telecommunication Science, detailing the technology. The paper states that the system can maintain stable transmission with a delay of no more than 15 milliseconds, even when PLA units are traveling at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour in mountainous or urban terrains while encountering electromagnetic interference.
The military 5G system overcomes the limitations of existing communication technologies by maintaining stable connections even without ground base stations or satellite signals. To address signal coverage challenges caused by antenna height constraints, the system features a platform installable on military vehicles that accommodates three to four drones serving as aerial base stations. These drones can autonomously swap batteries and operate continuously.
Hou Jie’s team stated that the system has undergone multiple tests, effectively addressing issues such as connection loss and slow speeds, ensuring safety, reliability, and rapid deployment. The paper also highlights that one major threat to military 5G technology is electromagnetic interference. However, the team has addressed this through innovative technologies and equipment upgrades, enabling small communication terminals to transmit data under ultra-high power of up to 400 megawatts while operating long-term with low energy consumption.
Reports indicate that this technology could make it possible for China to establish the world’s largest military robot force. In the future, automated combat platforms, including drones and robotic dogs, could outnumber human soldiers on the battlefield.
In contrast, the United States has made slower progress in military 5G development. Reports mention that U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin and telecommunications company Verizon have jointly developed a similar system. However, tests revealed that even at a distance of 100 meters between two Humvees, data transmission delays reached 30 milliseconds, far below the PLA’s technical standards. Another published paper notes that this technological breakthrough marks a new milestone in China’s smart military technology and could reshape the technological landscape of future warfare.
