---
title: "Chinese Military Truck Launches Killer Drones Like Artillery"
description: "A new truck built for the Chinese military is capable of launching up to 12 drones, sort of like a smart, precision artillery strike."
date: "2019-05-14"
modified: "2019-05-14"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/chinese-military-drones-artillery"
categories:
  - "Drones"
  - "Military"
  - "Robotics"
  - "Robots and Machines"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "china"
  - "drones"
  - "military"
  - "the digest"
---

# Chinese Military Truck Launches Killer Drones Like Artillery

![A new truck built for the Chinese military is capable of launching up to 12 drones, sort of like a smart, precision artillery strike.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/chinese-military-drones-artillery.png>)
*\<em\>Image: U.S. Air Force/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Smart-illery

A new Chinese military truck can drive into battle, armed to the teeth with 12 drones that turn the off-road vehicle into a comprehensive mothership of destruction.

The truck was on display at the Beijing Civil-Military Integration Expo last week, [according to *C4ISRNET*](<https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2019/05/14/this-chinese-truck-can-launch-a-salvo-of-drones/>). While it looks inconspicuous at first, the truck houses launch tubes that fire off drones like artillery fire. The all-in-one unit may change the nature of [drone warfare](<https://futurism.com/uk-autonomous-killer-robots>) by giving China the ability to drive in, find and kill targets, and quickly evacuate the scene.

## Measure Twice

The truck has four launch tubes for surveillance drones and eight for explosive kamikaze drones equipped with four pounds of explosives that can reach 110 mph.

A mobile unit capable of scouting and leveling a battlefield stands to be an impressive vehicle of destruction, but questions remain about how the drones [choose their targets](<https://futurism.com/scientists-ban-ai-killer-robots>).

## Cut Once

*C4ISRNET* suspects, based on the truck's design, that it will rapid-fire drones like any other artillery strike — meaning operators may not be able to divert the drones after they launch.

Details on its targeting system are scarce, but *C4ISRNET* suspects that the Chinese military could run into problems if civilians enter the area after the flying robots take off, or if a false positive is detected after the fact.

**READ MORE:** [This Chinese truck can launch a salvo of drones](<https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2019/05/14/this-chinese-truck-can-launch-a-salvo-of-drones/>) \[*C4ISRNET*\]

**More on military tech:** *[“Biobots” Will Serve Alongside South Korean Soldiers by 2024](<https://futurism.com/military-robots-biobots-south-korea-2024>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)