China Builds a Slew of Advanced Weapons, America Cannot Escape

Beijing has been reported to possess a suite of AI-based weapons and related tools. A Georgetown University study suggests Beijing may be testing AI across a range of military domains. Researchers analysed thousands of procurement requests from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA); the documents reportedly include AI experiments in military AI. AI is being used by China in modernising its armed forces, in three interconnected phases: mechanisation; a digital platform, networks and sensors; and a third phase that is currently being pursued. The documents also reveal the military’s development of drone swarms for identification, tracking and coordinated attacks on targets. China is also developing dog-like robots and humanoids. There are also satellite warfare algorithms and small robots designed to attach to enemy satellites and disable them, according to Decoder, on Thursday, 5 March 2026. In addition, China is preparing autonomous vehicles and sensor networks aimed at tracking US submarines worldwide. There is also an AI-based decision-making system. Several procurement documents mention requests for deepfake technologies. The military says AI-generated images, videos and audio can be effective tools to shape public opinion and manipulate how adversaries respond to situations and make decisions during conflict. The researchers say China is not waiting for a breakthrough; it is conducting experiments with existing technology and gradually increasing capabilities. The reviewed documents note the development timeline, with the timeframes described as relatively short, including for rapid and inexpensive testing. China is offering subsidies, tax incentives and other benefits to encourage civilian technology firms to repurpose products for military use. Earlier, the US Army was reported to have used AI in its strikes on Iran. The Wall Street Journal and Axios reported that Claude AI, created by Anthropic, was used in a joint US-Israel bombing operation that began on Saturday, 28 February. The AI technology was used for intelligence, target selection and battlefield simulations. The deployment of these advanced weapons highlights how difficult it is for the US military to disengage from AI systems integrated into various operations, even as politically it has decided to end cooperation.