China's 'AI Plus' push targets electromagnetic warfare dominance
Synopsis
Chinese defence researchers led by senior engineer Li Fukai have published a framework arguing that fusing AI with radio wave physics could give China dominance in electromagnetic warfare — a domain where even the US F-35 has reportedly shown exploitable weaknesses.
Key Takeaways
Li Fukai of the China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology led a paper published on April 29 in Command Control and Simulation outlining China's 'AI Plus' electronic warfare vision.
The research argues AI fused with radio wave propagation physics can make military communications and radars faster, smarter, and more resilient than current systems.
Traditional electronic warfare methods are described as increasingly inadequate against drone swarms and hypersonic missile environments.
The Pentagon has reportedly deployed AI in strikes against Iranian targets, but F-35 stealth fighters have reportedly suffered losses due to exploitable weaknesses in US electronic warfare systems.
Publication in a PLA -linked defence journal signals the framework is intended to influence military procurement and operational doctrine.
China is accelerating an 'AI Plus' revolution in electronic warfare, with defence researchers arguing the fusion of artificial intelligence and radio wave physics could deliver a decisive edge in what they call a 'new form of war'. The assessment, published on April 29 in the Chinese journal Command Control and Simulation, contends that AI-enhanced communications and radar systems could outpace anything currently deployed by rival militaries.
Who Is Behind the Research
The paper is led by senior engineer Li Fukai of the China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology and the National Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Wave Propagation — top-tier defence research and development institutes directly involved in national strategic programmes. The team argues that fusing AI with the physics of radio wave propagation would make communications and radars faster, smarter, and far more resilient than existing systems.Why It Matters
For decades, electronic warfare has centred on jamming, spoofing, and intercepting signals. However, the rise of drone swarms and hypersonic missiles has exposed the limits of traditional methods, which struggle to cope with dynamic, unpredictable signal environments. The researchers contend that AI-driven systems can adapt in real time to these chaotic conditions, fundamentally shifting the balance of electromagnetic spectrum dominance.The Competitive Backdrop
The Pentagon has reportedly deployed AI during strikes against Iranian targets, signalling that AI-assisted electronic warfare is already operational for US forces. Yet even advanced platforms such as the F-35 stealth fighter have reportedly suffered losses, as Iranian air defences managed to exploit weaknesses in US electronic warfare systems — a real-world demonstration that no system is invulnerable and that the electromagnetic domain remains fiercely contested.What the Research Claims
According to the paper, the 'AI Plus' framework would allow military systems to autonomously reconfigure signal parameters, anticipate adversary jamming patterns, and maintain communications integrity under heavy electronic attack. The researchers describe this as a shift from reactive to predictive electronic warfare — a qualitative leap rather than an incremental upgrade.What's Next
The publication in a People's Liberation Army-linked journal suggests the research is intended to inform procurement and doctrine, not merely academic debate. As both China and the US accelerate AI integration into military platforms, the electromagnetic spectrum is emerging as a critical — and increasingly contested — front. Analysts will be watching whether these theoretical frameworks translate into fielded capabilities and how they shape next-generation radar and communications procurement across the Indo-Pacific.Point of View
A dual-use structure that accelerates capability transfer far faster than Western procurement cycles allow. The reported F-35 losses to Iranian air defences — if accurate — will only intensify US urgency to close what is shaping up as an AI-in-EW gap, mirroring the chip-war dynamic where technological leads are measured in months, not years. The real watch item is whether China's theoretical 'AI Plus' framework produces fielded systems before US counter-jamming architectures can adapt.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is China's 'AI Plus' electronic warfare strategy?
China's 'AI Plus' electronic warfare strategy involves fusing artificial intelligence with radio wave propagation physics to create communications and radar systems that can adapt autonomously to jamming, spoofing, and unpredictable signal environments. According to a paper published on April 29 in Command Control and Simulation , the approach shifts electronic warfare from reactive to predictive, aiming to outpace rival military systems.
Who authored the Chinese AI electronic warfare paper?
The paper was led by senior engineer Li Fukai , affiliated with the China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology and the National Key Laboratory of Electromagnetic Wave Propagation — both top-tier defence research institutes directly involved in China's national strategic programmes.
Has the US already used AI in electronic warfare?
The Pentagon has reportedly deployed AI during strikes against Iranian targets, indicating AI-assisted electronic warfare is already operational for US forces. However, even advanced platforms such as the F-35 stealth fighter have reportedly suffered losses after Iranian air defences exploited weaknesses in US electronic warfare systems.
Why are traditional electronic warfare methods becoming obsolete?
Traditional electronic warfare — centred on jamming, spoofing, and signal interception — is struggling to cope with the fast-moving, unpredictable signal environments created by drone swarms and hypersonic missiles. The Chinese research argues that only AI-driven systems capable of real-time autonomous reconfiguration can keep pace with these modern battlefield conditions.
What does this mean for the Indo-Pacific military balance?
If China successfully fields AI-enhanced electromagnetic systems, it could significantly complicate US and allied operations in the Indo-Pacific , where spectrum dominance is critical for coordinating naval and air assets. The research's publication in a PLA-linked journal suggests it is intended to drive procurement decisions, making the translation from theory to deployed capability the key metric to watch.
