China is rapidly expanding its AI-driven drone warfare network with systems like Atlas Swarm-2 and the Jiu Tian drone mothership, raising concerns about the future of warfare in the Pacific. Reports say the PLA’s “intelligentized warfare” strategy relies on autonomous swarms capable of sharing targeting data and coordinating attacks at machine speed. The Jiu Tian UAV can reportedly deploy up to 150 sub-drones, while reconnaissance platforms like the WZ-8 and WZ-7 are designed to track U.S. carrier groups and support anti-ship missile strikes. Analysts warn massive drone swarms could overwhelm U.S. naval defenses and reshape the balance of power across the Taiwan Strait and Pacific region.
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