Exercises Modernization

An Army Brigade: Intelligent Terminals Reach Directly to the Front Line, Flattened Command (扁平化指挥) Lifts Combat Eagles into the Sky

陆军某旅：智能终端直达一线，扁平化指挥托举战鹰升空

PLA Daily (解放军报) 29 July 2026

Summary

An unidentified Army aviation brigade has fielded a flight-support intelligent terminal system that links ground-support elements — fuel, firefighting, security — directly to the tower's flight support station via real-time GPS tracking, task assignment, and audio-video communication, replacing walkie-talkie coordination with what the brigade calls a 扁平化指挥网络 (flattened command network). The article documents a concrete step in the PLA's push to compress command layers at the tactical level: the system eliminates the intermediate verbal relay loop between tower commanders and individual support personnel, and the brigade reports measurable gains in sortie quality rates and response speed during simulated emergencies. What remains unknown is the brigade's designation, the aircraft types supported, and whether the system is a brigade-level prototype or part of a wider Army aviation rollout.

Translation

In the air, the engines of combat aircraft roar; on the ground, various support vehicles shuttle back and forth… In the height of summer, the airfield of an Army brigade presents a scene of bustling activity. Staff Sergeant Second Class Liu Yukun drives a refueling truck to the designated position, then taps the "Completed" button on the flight support intelligent terminal in his hand to submit the task. Simultaneously, on the screen at the tower's flight support station, the icon representing the refueling truck immediately updates its status.

From the driver receiving the support task on the terminal and completing refueling and positioning as prompted, to the commander using the terminal's positioning of the refueling truck to issue real-time instructions, to the driver clocking in with feedback after task completion — following Liu Yukun through the entire refueling support process, this reporter personally experienced how tightly each step is linked, eliminating a great deal of time previously spent on communication and confirmation.

"The intelligent terminal achieves precise, direct delivery of instructions — no more repeated back-and-forth over walkie-talkies. Support efficiency has improved considerably!" said Liu Yukun.

Browsing through the intelligent terminal, this reporter found that the device has a built-in flight support intelligent system that not only incorporates all support elements — including firefighting, fuel, and security — but can also synchronously display the real-time positions of each element on a map, and is connected to the master control terminal at the tower's flight support station.

"This system is like the 'smart brain' of flight support, achieving one-touch control of command and dispatch, information flow, and task monitoring, truly moving the support model from 'each fighting its own battle (各自为战)' to 'unified network control (一网调控)." Watching the real-time, constantly updating position markers and status information for each element on the screen, Staff Officer Tang, serving as the flight support commander, told this reporter that the system integrates functions including support command, communications liaison, task assignment, progress monitoring, and real-time positioning, building a flattened command network (扁平化指挥网络) that directly links support elements to the tower.

At the tower's flight support station, this reporter observed that with a light tap of the screen by the commander, the personnel positions, support task lists, and completion progress of each support element are visible at a glance. After tasks are issued, tower command personnel can also use the system to send text instructions or initiate audio-video calls to the intelligent terminals of each support element.

The effectiveness of the new system has become increasingly apparent in combat-realistic training (实战实训). During one flight training exercise, an unknown air situation was suddenly encountered over a certain sea area, and participating aircraft received orders to advance and investigate. Upon receiving the task notification, the brigade's flight support commander immediately ordered a switch in support mode through the flight support intelligent system. Instructions were issued in real time, each element responded rapidly, and solid support was provided for the aircraft's actions.

A cadre from the security and duty support company (警勤保障连) remarked with feeling: "Before, we relied entirely on verbal position reports, and when unexpected situations arose it was very difficult to rapidly deploy forces. Now the commander can 'see' us at any time, and the flexibility of force deployment has improved markedly!"

"The intelligent system has not only improved flight support efficiency, but has also brought about a profound transformation in support concepts and support models (保障理念和保障模式)." The brigade's leadership stated that through this system, they have effectively promoted the transformation of the support system toward intelligentization (智能化), consolidation (集约化), and high efficiency (高效化), driving a significant increase in the rate of high-quality flight support sorties (飞行保障优质场次率).

In an emergency support training exercise held not long ago, the brigade's officers and soldiers relied on the flight support intelligent system to respond rapidly and exercise precise control, successfully handling special situations (特情) including "helicopter forced landing" and "casualty evacuation," and received commendation from higher authorities.

Original Chinese

空中，战鹰引擎轰鸣；地面，各型保障车辆往来穿梭……盛夏，陆军某旅机场一派忙碌景象。二级上士刘瑜昆驾驶加油车抵达指定位置，随即在手中的飞行保障智能终端上轻点“已完成”按钮提交任务。与此同时，塔台飞行保障席的屏幕上，代表加油车的图标立刻更新状态。从驾驶员在终端接受保障任务，按提示完成加油并就位，到指挥员根据终端定位加油车位置，即时下达指令，再到驾驶员任务完成后打卡反馈……跟随刘瑜昆加油保障全程，记者亲身体验到，整个过程衔接紧密，省去了很多沟通确认时间。‌ “智能终端实现了指令精准直达，再也不用通过对讲机反复沟通，保障效率提高了不少！”刘瑜昆说。浏览智能终端，记者发现，这台设备内置飞行保障智能系统，不仅将消防、油料、警卫等全部保障要素纳入其中，还可以在地图上同步显示各要素的实时位置，并与塔台飞行保障席的总控制端相通。 “这套系统就像飞行保障的‘智慧大脑’，实现了指挥调度、信息流转、任务监控一键控制，让保障模式真正从‘各自为战’迈向‘一网调控’。”看着屏幕上实时跳动的各要素点位和状态信息，担任飞行保障指挥员的唐参谋告诉记者，该系统集纳了保障指挥、通信联络、任务派发、进度监控、实时定位等功能，构建起保障要素与塔台直联的扁平化指挥网络。记者在塔台飞行保障席看到，随着指挥员轻点屏幕，各保障要素的人员位置、保障任务列表及完成进度一目了然。任务下达后，塔台指挥人员还可以通过系统，向各保障要素智能终端发送文字指令或发起音视频通话。新系统的成效，在实战实训中日益显现。一次飞行训练中，某海域突遇不明空情，参训战机受领任务前出查证。接到任务通报，该旅飞行保障指挥员立即通过飞行保障智能系统下令转换保障模式。指令实时下达，各要素快速响应，为战机行动提供了坚实保障。警勤保障连一名干部感慨：“以前全靠口头报告位置，遇到突发情况很难快速调配力量，现在指挥员随时都能‘看见’我们，兵力部署的灵活性明显提高！”‌ “智能系统不仅提升了飞行保障效率，更带来了保障理念和保障模式的深刻变革。”该旅领导表示，通过这套系统，他们有效促进保障体系向智能化、集约化、高效化转型，推动飞行保障优质场次率大幅提升。前不久的一场应急保障训练中，该旅官兵依托飞行保障智能系统快速响应、精准调控，成功处置“直升机迫降”“伤员后送”等特情，获得上级肯定。