China unveils Atlas attack drone swarm control and launch system

China has officially unveiled Atlas, a control-and-launch system for attack drone swarms that combines autonomous capabilities with an end-to-end operating process. Its public presentation demonstrated how the system coordinates drones on joint missions, using a structure designed to broaden the use of these platforms across different operational settings.

Atlas drone swarm system and its components

According to information released by the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV), Atlas consists of the Swarm-2 ground combat vehicle, a command vehicle and a support vehicle. Footage published by state media showed that the launch vehicle bears the logo of China Electronics Technology Group Corp., the state-owned corporation responsible for developing electronic systems.

The Swarm-2 vehicle made its debut at Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. Each unit can carry and launch 48 fixed-wing drones, while a command vehicle can control up to 96 drones at the same time. CCTV said that each drone can be fitted with different payloads, including electro-optical sensors, attack munitions and communications relay equipment, allowing multifunctional swarms to be organised according to mission requirements.

Coordinated reconnaissance and drone deployment

During a demonstration at a test range, three similar targets were positioned in the area designated for the exercise. According to the state-media report, the Atlas system carried out coordinated reconnaissance, autonomously determined which target was the command vehicle, opened its launcher and deployed drones that subsequently locked onto the target in flight and struck it accurately.

The report also stated that the Swarm-2 uses a mechanism that launches one drone every three seconds to ensure sufficient separation between aircraft. This interval helps maintain safe flight paths and lowers the risk of interference between units, particularly during high-density aerial operations.

The launch sequence and the type of drones can be configured to meet operational needs. Reconnaissance drones can move ahead to gather intelligence, while electronic warfare units can be deployed before attack drones to weaken enemy defences. According to official information, this modular capability makes it possible to tailor swarm deployment to a range of tactical scenarios.

Autonomous coordination of up to 96 drones

CCTV said a swarm of close to 100 units can rapidly form dense and precise configurations. The drones autonomously alter their trajectories in response to environmental factors, such as airflow disturbances, using algorithms that support internal communication, real-time position updates and coordinated collision avoidance during manoeuvres.

State media also highlighted that a single operator can control up to 96 drones in large-scale operations, a process compared with “one person flying nearly 100 kites with a single line”. The system can incorporate drones of varying sizes within the same swarm, enabling complementary functions for different operations.

A Chinese military expert said the system expands battlefield employment options through modular configurations. In his view, swarms can be used to saturate air defences, conduct precision strikes through persistent surveillance, or carry out deep low-altitude penetrations with small radar signatures. He added that these advances are underpinned by China’s development of artificial intelligence models intended to improve target recognition, task allocation and route planning in complex combat environments.

Image credits to the relevant parties.