China Leverages DeepSeek AI to Redefine Modern Warfare Tactics
China is pre-tracking its military modernisation, with artificial intelligence now at the heart of its strategy.
State-run defence giant Norinco has unveiled new AI-powered systems, most especially featuring the DeepSeek model, signalling a shift in how the nation approaches warfare in the 21st century.
This move forms part of Beijing’s wider ambition: to outpace the United States in advanced defence technologies and assert greater control over its “algorithmic sovereignty.”
Earlier this year, Norinco rolled out a groundbreaking autonomous military vehicle. The machine, powered by the DeepSeek AI model, can navigate battle zones at speeds of up to 50 km/h without human command.
Military insiders describe the system as a “combat-support workhorse”, one capable of analysing terrain, identifying threats, and executing tactical manoeuvres in real time.
Chinese defence procurement documents show a rapid expansion in the use of DeepSeek within People’s Liberation Army (PLA) projects.
China is conducting research using DeepSeek and AI to catch up in its arms race with the United States. The Chinese military is exploring technologies such as autonomous drone swarms and robot dogs. pic.twitter.com/A0cKCS7sTR
— Srbija Evropa (@srbija_eu) October 27, 2025
By 2025, tenders will punctuate the model’s growing influence in charge planning, drone operations, and decision-support systems.
Experts suggest this drive aims to lessen reliance on Western AI structure and create China’s own flexible tech ecosystem.
“The emphasis on this technology reflects China’s efforts toward achieving ‘algorithmic sovereignty’, aiming to decrease dependence on Western technologies.”
The U.S. ban on exports of advanced NVIDIA A100 and H100 chips, assessed in 2022, was designed to circumscribe China’s access to top-league AI processors. Still, the impact has been mixed.
Recent military contracts reveal a sharp increase in the use of Huawei-made AI chips, indicating China’s nimble adaptation to warrants.
While the U.S. restrictions have slowed progress in some areas, Beijing’s pivot toward domestic alternatives and home-grown solutions such as DeepSeek has mitigated much of the damage.
The PLA’s research network continues to experiment with autonomous systems that push the boundaries of military AI.
Among the most striking developments are: Robot dogs are designed for surveillance and threat detection.
Drone swarms are capable of locating and engaging targets without human oversight. AI-driven command centres that simulate battlefield conditions within seconds.
Studies from Xi’an Technological University show that DeepSeek-powered systems can assess complex combat environments almost instantaneously, a breakthrough that could redefine the speed of military decision-making.
“AI systems powered by DeepSeek could analyse multiple battlefield scenarios in mere seconds, drastically reducing the time for military planners.”
New patents hint at China’s ambition to make drones smarter and deadlier. The rearmost designs feature independent low-altitude discovery capabilities, allowing drones to identify and neutralise hazards with minimal human control.
This marks a major step towards completely independent armament platforms, a controversial development that is probably to spark global debate over AI ethics and warfare governance.
China’s accelerating investment in AI, and particularly in DeepSeek, reveals further than a technological race; it signals a strategic rebalancing of military power.
As Beijing doubles down on innovation, Western defence analysts warn that the next major shift in global warfare may not be fought with soldiers, but with algorithms.
