Modernization Doctrine

On the "Multiplier Effect" of Manned-Unmanned Collaborative Operations

论有人无人协同作战的“倍增效应”

PLA Daily (解放军报) 12 May 2026

Summary

A PLA-affiliated analyst writing under the byline Kan Lidong argues in this doctrinal article that manned-unmanned collaborative operations (有人无人协同作战) constitute a structural transformation of the combat system rather than a technical add-on, identifying four compounding effects: multiplied information advantage, decision-making speed, combat effectiveness, and survivability through distributed networked architecture. The piece is useful as a window into how PLA theorists are framing the operational logic of human-machine integration ahead of force development decisions, particularly the emphasis on mission-type command (任务式指挥) and autonomous unmanned swarm action as mechanisms for compressing the OODA loop and reducing dependence on centralized command nodes. Taken alongside PLA exercises and procurement trends, the article signals that manned-unmanned teaming is being institutionalized as a core operational concept rather than treated as an experimental capability.

Translation

On the "Multiplier Effect" of Manned-Unmanned Collaborative Operations

■ Kan Lidong

The latest round of military revolution is accelerating across today's world, with technologies such as artificial intelligence and unmanned systems profoundly transforming the character of warfare. Manned-unmanned collaborative operations are becoming an important operational mode of intelligentized warfare (智能化战争). This is not a simple technical overlay or platform interconnection, but rather the integrated grouping of manned and unmanned combat forces, precise control of actions, and complementary enhancement of capabilities, driving a qualitative leap in the combat system as a whole.

Information Advantage Multiplied

Control of the information domain (制信息权) is an important prerequisite for seizing battlefield initiative and winning wars. Manned and unmanned combat platforms, relying on advanced data links and interconnected information networks, achieve direct connectivity, rapid flow, and interactive sharing of battlefield information among all combat platforms within a formation, constructing an all-around information advantage.

Full-domain situational awareness. Unmanned platforms, by virtue of their strong concealment, long endurance, and ability to penetrate high-risk areas, function like countless "nerve endings" extended into the battlefield, constructing a full-domain, three-dimensional reconnaissance network covering land, sea, air, space, and the electromagnetic spectrum. Long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles conduct wide-area battlefield surveillance; tactical unmanned aerial vehicles confirm target details; unmanned underwater vehicles probe the subsurface situation; unmanned ground sensors monitor electromagnetic signals... This all-around, multi-layered sensing capability greatly expands the visible range of the battlefield and effectively disperses the fog of war.

Intelligent data processing. The manned-unmanned combat system, relying on powerful back-end data processing centers and advanced data fusion technology, employs big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and modeling and simulation to conduct rapid and precise analysis and judgment of multi-source battlefield information. Through processing procedures such as feature extraction and correlation analysis, fragmented information is integrated into an intuitive battlefield situational picture, effectively overcoming the limitations of single sensors, significantly improving target identification probability, and shifting battlefield situational awareness from "being able to see" to "being able to recognize."

Real-time information interaction. Manned and unmanned platforms connect to networks quickly, with low network latency and large transmission bandwidth, enabling real-time exchange of battlefield data through an integrated command information network. For example, soldiers can use real-time imagery transmitted by unmanned aerial vehicles to observe enemy conditions on the battlefield, and artillery can conduct precision strikes based on target parameters designated by unmanned ground vehicles. The unimpeded flow of information makes every combat unit an information node empowered by the system, seizing time windows in dynamic confrontation and achieving "using speed to overcome slowness" (以快制慢), greatly enhancing overall combat responsiveness.

Decision-Making Advantage Multiplied

The key to manned-unmanned collaborative operations is human-machine intelligent integration (人机智能融合). By reconstructing the command and decision-making process and reshaping the paradigm of combat action, the system fully releases the potential of the combat system, greatly compresses the OODA loop cycle, effectively improves the scientific soundness and timeliness of command and decision-making, and achieves the kill chain closure of "detect and destroy."

Intelligent algorithm empowerment. Under intelligentized conditions, operational command shifts from "centered on human experience" to "centered on data and models." Intelligent algorithms within the collaborative system can complete analysis and processing of massive data and target matching within milliseconds, providing precise decision-making support for efficient command. For example, in air defense and anti-missile operations, the system automatically assigns threatening targets to appropriate intercept units, and the commander need only perform final confirmation, compressing the decision cycle to the extreme.

Autonomous collaborative energy concentration. Human-machine integration is manifested as autonomous collaboration, with manned and unmanned combat platforms relying on shared battlefield situational awareness to achieve autonomous dynamic cooperative coordination. For example, when a manned aircraft leads unmanned aircraft in air combat, the unmanned aircraft can autonomously provide cover based on the manned aircraft's maneuvers. This tacit coordination based on common situational awareness aggregates combat capabilities, improves combat coordination efficiency, and ensures that all types of combat units are always in an optimal state of coordination.

Mission command energy release. The command mode for manned-unmanned collaborative operations shifts toward mission-type command (任务式指挥), where commanders need only issue combat intent and mission objectives, and unmanned combat platforms can complete tactical actions within the scope of authorization. For example, in assault operations, after the commander specifies the direction of breakthrough and the final objective, an unmanned aerial vehicle swarm can autonomously plan reconnaissance routes, select strike timing, and assess combat effects. This mission-type command grants combat platforms greater autonomy, achieving maximum release of command effectiveness.

Combat Effectiveness Multiplied

Manned-unmanned collaborative operations are not a simple accumulation of firepower quantity, but a profound transformation in the combination of combat units and force structure. This transformation gives rise to a new mode of force employment characterized by elastic grouping (弹性编组), dynamic aggregation, and functional coupling, achieving combat effectiveness multiplication at the root level.

Functional module standardization. Standardization is the prerequisite for manned-unmanned collaborative operations. Through common interfaces and standardized design, the problems of non-universality and incompatibility arising from the functional overlay of manned and unmanned combat platforms are resolved, thereby achieving full-chain connectivity across the intelligence chain, command chain, strike chain, and support chain, and constructing an interconnected, interoperable, and integrated force grouping system.

Dynamic aggregation of combat groupings. Manned-unmanned collaborative operations break the traditional fixed grouping model, forming an elastic structure of "key nodes plus functional modules." Different types and functions of manned and unmanned combat platforms can be flexibly combined according to battlefield situation and mission requirements, dynamically adjusting the composition of combat forces, constructing dedicated groupings adapted to diverse combat scenarios, generating multiple mission grouping options for selection, and automatically dissolving groupings and returning to the resource pool upon mission completion, significantly improving the adaptability and flexibility of the combat system.

Emergent amplification of combat effectiveness. Within the collaborative system, manned platforms and unmanned platforms are no longer independent pieces of equipment but an organic whole with deeply coupled functions. Manned platforms serve as the brain and backbone, providing intelligent decision-making, system resilience, and high-level command; unmanned platforms serve as the senses and arms, extending the range of action, improving strike precision, and undertaking high-risk missions. The two mutually compensate for each other's shortcomings and leverage their respective advantages, enabling the overall combat effectiveness of the combat system to break through the capability limits of individual platforms and achieve the emergent effect (涌现效应) of "1+1>2."

Survivability and Damage Resistance Multiplied

The essence of manned-unmanned collaborative operations is the reconstruction of a "decentralized" combat system. Through dynamic reorganization and dispersed deployment, it forms a distributed networked combat system, achieving a simultaneous leap in system resilience and damage resistance.

Dispersed damage resistance. Manned-unmanned collaborative operations decompose functions integrated in a single platform across a large number of distributed nodes, forming a networked system that is "multi-node and self-healing." When individual or partial nodes are destroyed, the system can rapidly restore key functions through path reconstruction, task reallocation, and other means, sustaining the entire combat system in the continuous execution of combat missions and endowing the combat system with powerful damage resistance.

Risk transfer. The forward positioning and advance action of unmanned platforms effectively reduces casualties among manned combat forces, transferring risk from manned platforms to unmanned platforms. For example, in air combat, unmanned aerial vehicles advance to lure the enemy, consuming the adversary's expensive surface-to-air missiles and protecting friendly manned platforms to the maximum extent. This active gaming strategy of "substituting unmanned for manned, substituting low cost for high value" fundamentally changes the composition of battlefield risk costs, forcing the adversary into the cost-effectiveness dilemma of "using a sledgehammer to crack a nut" (高射炮打蚊子), and improving the survivability and sustained combat capability of the entire combat system.

Dynamic deception. Through multi-domain deployment and rapid maneuver of intelligent unmanned aerial vehicle swarms, a complex battlefield environment is constructed, creating a "second layer of fog"; by using unmanned platforms to simulate the signal characteristics of manned platforms and generate false electromagnetic spectra, multi-dimensional deception and protection is implemented, effectively confusing and deceiving the adversary, increasing their decision-making difficulty, delaying their speed of action, and helping one's own side form reconnaissance advantage, decision-making advantage, and strike advantage, thereby enhancing battlefield survivability.

Original Chinese

论有人无人协同作战的“倍增效应” ■阚立东当今世界新一轮军事革命加速演进，人工智能、无人系统等技术深刻改变战争形态，有人无人协同作战正成为智能化战争的重要作战样式。这不是简单的技术叠加和平台互联，而是将有人与无人作战力量融合编组、行动精准控制、能力互补增效，推动作战体系实现质的飞跃。信息优势倍增制信息权是夺取战场主动、赢得战争胜利的重要前提。有人无人作战平台依托先进数据链和互联信息网络，实现编组内各作战平台间战场信息的直接联通、快速流转、交互共享，构建起全方位的信息优势。态势全域感知。无人平台凭借其隐蔽性强、续航时间长、可深入高危区域等优势，如同伸向战场的无数“神经末梢”，构建起一个覆盖陆海空天电网的全域立体侦察网络。长航时无人机负责广域战场监视，战术无人机进行目标细节确认，无人潜航器窥探水下态势，无人地面传感器监测电磁信号……这种全方位、多层次的感知能力，极大拓展了战场可视范围，有效驱散了战场迷雾。数据智能处理。有人无人作战体系依据后台强大数据处理中心和先进数据融合技术，运用大数据、云计算、人工智能和建模仿真，对多源战场信息进行快速精准研判。通过特征提取、关联分析等处理流程，将碎片化信息整合为直观的战场态势图，有效克服单一传感器的局限性，显著提升目标识别概率，使战场态势感知从“看得见”向“认得清”转变。信息实时交互。有人无人平台入网速度快、网络延时小、传输带宽大，可通过一体化指挥信息网络实时交互战场数据。比如，士兵可以借助无人机传回的实时画面洞察战场敌情，炮兵可以根据无人车标定的目标参数实施精准打击。信息流的畅通无阻，使每个作战单元都成为体系赋能的信息节点，在动态对抗中抢占时间窗口，实现“以快制慢”，大幅增强整体作战灵敏性。决策优势倍增有人无人协同作战的关键是人机智能融合，通过重构指挥决策流程、重塑作战行动范式，充分释放体系潜能，极大压缩“OODA”循环周期，有效提升指挥决策科学性和时效性，实现“发现即摧毁”的杀伤闭环。智能算法赋能。智能化条件下，作战指挥由“以人的经验为中心”转变为“以数据和模型为中心”。协同体系中的智能算法可以在毫秒级内完成海量数据的分析处理、目标匹配，为高效指挥提供精准决策依据。比如，在防空反导作战中，系统自动将具备威胁的目标分配给合适的拦截单元，指挥员只需进行最终确认，决策周期被压缩到极致。自主协同聚能。人机融合体现为自主协同，有人无人作战平台依托共享战场态势，实现自主动态协作配合。比如，当有人机带领无人机进行空战时，无人机能够根据有人机的动作自主进行掩护等，这种基于共同态势感知的默契配合，聚合了作战能力，提升了作战协同效率，确保了各类作战单元始终处于最佳配合状态。任务指挥释能。有人无人协同作战指挥模式向任务式指挥转变，指挥员只需下达作战意图和任务目标，无人作战平台即可在授权范围内完成战术动作。比如，在突击作战中，指挥员明确突破方向和最终目标后，无人机群可自主规划侦察路线、选择打击时机、评估作战效果。这种任务式指挥赋予了作战平台更大自主性，实现了指挥效能的最大化释放。作战效能倍增有人无人协同作战不是单纯火力数量叠加，而是作战单元组合方式与力量结构的深刻变革。这种变革催生了弹性编组、动态聚合、功能耦合的新型力量运用模式，从根源上实现了作战效能倍增。功能模块标准化。标准化是有人无人协同作战的前提。通过通用化接口和标准化设计，解决有人无人作战平台功能叠加后不通用、不兼容的问题，进而实现情报链、指挥链、打击链、保障链全链路贯通，构建起互联、互通、互融的力量编组体系。作战编组动态聚合。有人无人协同作战打破了传统的固定编组模式，形成了“关键节点+功能模块”的弹性结构，可以根据战场态势、任务需要灵活组合不同类型、不同功能的有人无人作战平台，动态调整作战力量构成，构建适配多样化作战场景的专属编组，生成多种任务编组方案供选择，并在任务完成后自动解散编组回归资源池，显著提升了作战体系的自适应性和灵活性。作战效能涌现放大。在协同体系中，有人平台与无人平台不再是独立的装备，而是功能深度耦合的有机整体。有人平台作为大脑和骨干，提供智慧决策、体系韧性和高层指挥；无人平台作为感官和臂膀，延伸作用范围、提升打击精度、承担高危任务。二者互相弥补短板、发挥特点优势，使作战系统整体作战效能突破单个平台能力限制，达成“1+1>2”的涌现效应。抗毁韧性倍增有人无人协同作战本质是“去中心化”的作战体系重构，其通过动态重组、分散部署，形成分布式网络化作战体系，实现了体系弹性和抗毁韧性的同步跃升。散置抗毁。有人无人协同作战将集成于单一平台的功能分解到大量分布式节点上，形成“多节点、可自愈”的网络化体系。当单个或部分节点被摧毁时，系统能够通过路径重构、任务再分配等方式，快速恢复关键功能，支撑整个作战体系持续遂行作战任务，赋予作战体系强大的抗毁伤能力。风险转移。无人平台靠前配置、先行行动有效减少了有人作战力量伤亡，实现了风险从有人平台向无人平台的转移。比如，在空中作战中，无人机前出诱敌，消耗敌方昂贵的地空导弹，最大限度保护己方有人平台。这种“以无人换有人、以低成本换高价值”的主动博弈策略，从根本上改变了战场风险成本构成，迫使敌方陷入“高射炮打蚊子”的效费比困境，提升了整个作战体系的生存安全性和持续作战能力。动态诱骗。通过智能无人机群的多域部署和快速机动，构建复杂战场环境，制造“二次迷雾”；运用无人平台模拟有人平台信号特征、制造虚假电磁频谱等方式，实施多维度诱骗防护，有效迷惑诱骗敌方，增加其决策难度，延迟其行动速度，助力己方形成侦察优势、决策优势、打击优势，进而增强战场生存能力。