China Claims ‘World’s First’ Military 5G Can Connect 10,000 Robots In Any Terrain

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has made a technological advancement with the introduction of its highly secretive 31567 Unit’s mobile 5G base station. This new technology is set to play a critical role in the PLA’s plan to integrate drones and unmanned combat platforms into its military force.

The PLA’s new 5G base station is designed with military needs in mind, offering exceptional data exchange capabilities. The system is capable of providing a total throughput of 10 gigabits per second and maintaining a low latency of less than 15 milliseconds, ensuring near-instantaneous communication between military assets. The mobile 5G station can support up to 10,000 users—primarily military drones and robots—within a 1.8-mile (3 km) radius. This level of performance is essential for the PLA’s ambitious plans to use unmanned vehicles and robots in combat.

The station’s rugged design allows it to operate in challenging terrains such as mountains and urban environments while being highly resistant to electromagnetic interference, a common issue in combat zones. This makes the system an invaluable asset for advancing PLA units in difficult and remote areas, where traditional communication methods might struggle.

China’s long-term military strategy includes a dramatic shift toward intelligent war machines, with an emphasis on drones and robotic platforms. In fact, the PLA envisions a future where drones outnumber human soldiers. This vision necessitates a highly reliable communication infrastructure capable of supporting thousands of unmanned systems simultaneously. The new mobile 5G station has been designed to meet this exact need, ensuring that PLA drones can operate efficiently and securely, even in the most remote and hostile regions.

What makes this technology especially innovative is its adaptability. The mobile 5G station can be mounted on any military vehicle, making it versatile and easily deployable. The system incorporates three to four 5G antenna drones that can take off and land alternately, maintaining continuous coverage. These drones are fully autonomous, allowing them to recharge or replace each other in mid-flight, ensuring constant and uninterrupted service. This design allows the PLA to maintain secure communication networks in areas without traditional ground stations or satellite coverage.

One of the major challenges the PLA faces with unmanned systems is maintaining uninterrupted communication in the face of potential electronic interference. To tackle this, the new mobile 5G system is equipped with advanced countermeasures that allow it to function even in the presence of hostile or friendly electromagnetic suppression. The system is capable of transmitting data at up to 400 megawatts when subjected to electronic jamming, ensuring that communication remains stable even in a combat scenario.

Additionally, the system can autonomously integrate with China’s vast network of civilian 4.2 million base stations. This gives the PLA the ability to “piggyback” on existing infrastructure and extend coverage rapidly and efficiently. The automation tools built into the system allow for tasks like data loading and network configuration to be completed autonomously, reducing the need for manual intervention and speeding up deployment.

The PLA’s mobile 5G technology marks a step forward in military communication and the development of unmanned combat systems. The new 5G base station will help the PLA stay ahead of potential adversaries by enabling it to deploy large numbers of autonomous systems, all while maintaining reliable and fast communication links.