Recently, a Chinese company called Damo DazhiKong has developed an impressive automatic drone swarm container system. It is said that by simply pressing a button, the system can quickly release and retrieve thousands of small, four-rotor drones.

This system was initially intended for use in the entertainment industry to create drone light shows. With it, setting up becomes much easier. Moreover, through this system, the company has broken several Guinness World Records, such as once simultaneously launching 11,198 remote-controlled multi-rotor drones into the sky. Although its civilian purpose is clear, this technology highlights the potential threats of swarm drones in the military field, which may have a profound impact on the global strategic landscape. The U.S. "The Drive" column was shocked by the military application prospects of this technology.

Damo DazhiKong has been engaged in large-scale drone light show business for nearly ten years, and this container system is the latest result of its technological accumulation. The system consists of at least 12 flat racks, each rack can carry 54 quadcopters, with a total capacity of 648 drones. Through telescopic rails, the racks can be unfolded from the container with one touch, achieving synchronized takeoff and precise landing. After the performance, the drones can automatically return and be stored back in the container, facilitating rapid transportation and reuse.

The company emphasizes that the system reduces the need for operators, accelerates setup time, and supports quick deployment at multiple sites. For example, containers mounted on trucks can transform any location into a "drone swarm stage" within minutes. Video demonstrations show that one operator can complete the entire process using a handheld controller and a laptop, ensuring seamless and safe operation. This not only improves the efficiency of entertainment performances but also demonstrates the advantages of containerized design in modularity and mobility.

Although Damo DazhiKong's system is currently positioned for civil entertainment, it has a particularly key technology — the device that can rapidly launch and recover drones like a container. This has already made military experts around the world start to feel anxious. Now, the development of swarm drone technology is progressing rapidly, integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, allowing drones to handle many complex tasks on their own, such as surveillance, electronic interference operations, or even direct attacks. If this technology is used in warfare, the threat it brings will be no small matter.

Take, for example, the early part of this year when the Ukrainian army conducted a "Spider Net Operation," which is a typical example. Ukraine used concealed launchers similar to container-shaped fences (mounted on the back of trucks) to conduct secret attacks on multiple Russian airbases. These small kamikaze drones were launched from unassuming civilian vehicles, destroying or damaging at least 10 Russian strategic bombers, as well as other aircraft and facilities. The operation lasted for several months, demonstrating the power of the container system in infiltration behind enemy lines and near-field strikes. A single container can carry hundreds of drones, causing devastating damage to airports, radars, or exposed targets.

In addition, Israel also used close-range drone attacks against targets inside Iran during the initial phase of its conflict with Iran, further proving the practical value of this technology. Global defense contractors, including Chinese and American companies, are actively developing similar container launchers to enhance the autonomy and operational range of drones.

The containerized design gives weapon systems unique strategic advantages, making them the "invisible killers" of modern warfare. Here are its key value points:

Firstly, rapid mobility and integration: Container standard dimensions facilitate fast transportation via roads, railways, or maritime routes, and seamlessly integrate into merchant ships. There is no need for specialized military platforms; a regular truck or cargo ship can carry hundreds of drones, enabling global mobility deployment. This greatly reduces logistics requirements and provides immediate response capabilities in crises.

Secondly, both decentralized deployment and independent operations: The system supports a decentralized layout, with multiple vehicles fanning out to cover a broad battlefield area. Each container can operate independently, even in environments where communication is interrupted, executing pre-set tasks. This distributed combat mode enhances survivability and strike effectiveness, avoiding the weakness of being a single target easily destroyed.

Finally, secret mobility and surprise attack potential: Containers look like commercial cargo, making it hard to distinguish between real and fake, facilitating secret delivery to sensitive locations. For example, they can be disguised and deployed in enemy coastal areas or urban environments for sudden attacks. Combined with short-range drones, the system can penetrate behind enemy lines, conducting saturation attacks on high-value targets such as airports or command centers, similar to the effect of "cluster munitions."

China has the potential to fully expand this technology in the future, developing swarm drone systems based on containers, air defense systems, anti-ship missile systems, and even long-range rocket and ballistic missile systems. These systems can be injected with a high degree of autonomy, networking to perform complex tasks, such as searching and destroying enemy assets or electronic interference. Imagine a seemingly ordinary merchant ship suddenly releasing thousands of armed drones to launch a swarm-style attack on an enemy fleet or island base, which would completely change the rules of naval warfare.

China can certainly develop various combat units based on such systems in the future, including: Swarm Drone Systems: used for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and saturation attacks; Air Defense Systems: deploying medium and long-range air defense missile systems, enhancing the depth of defense through highly integrated systems. Anti-Ship Missile Systems: secretly installed on merchant ships, forming a "naval guerrilla warfare" capability; Long-range Rocket and Ballistic Missile Systems: achieving rapid deployment and sudden strikes.

In addition, countries such as the United States are also actively developing similar systems, such as container-based artillery, further verifying the strategic value of this technology.

It is worth noting that the United States is also actively following similar technologies. For example, the U.S. military has developed a container-based artillery system aimed at improving the mobility and concealment of land-based firepower. The concept of the Hero family of loitering munition container launch system from Germany's Rheinmetall also shows the Western approach in this field. Global competition is accelerating, pushing container weapons from concepts to practical applications.

When facing the threat of swarm drones, the traditional air defense measures we used before, such as missiles and artillery, find it difficult to cope with a large number of drones attacking simultaneously. Electronic warfare measures and high-power microwave weapons can help a bit, but their reach is limited, and they are not very effective against drones that can self-judge and fly on their own.

Speaking of it, the container drone system developed by Damo DazhiKong was originally for the entertainment industry, but it has also shown us that there might be major changes in the military field. Chinese enterprises have made good innovations in this area, not only raising the level of civilian technology, but also providing many good ideas for national defense modernization. Now that the geopolitical situation is so tense, these weapon systems that bring major changes must be studied carefully and considered how to deploy them.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7559589816598331904/

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