Soldiers assigned to a reconnaissance element of an airborne brigade advance in ghillie suits while keeping on alert in a combat training exercise on November 11, 2022. Photo:China Military

An army brigade of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently held a series of urban warfare exercises in which troops integrated drones and robots for reconnaissance, combat support and logistics support tasks, with experts saying on Monday that the use of unmanned equipment could significantly enhance combat effectiveness and lower casualties.

The drills, carried out by the Linfen Brigade of the PLA 71st Group Army recently at an urban offense and defense training ground, featured troops-unmanned equipment integrated zone contests, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday.

During the drills, the troops were guided by reconnaissance data from drones as they took advantageous positions, after which aerial drones and robot vehicles led the charge entering target buildings with foot soldiers following, CCTV reported.

Small rotor wing drones and tracked robot vehicles not only conducted reconnaissance, but also transported munitions and other support materials, with large, unmanned engineering vehicles also deployed to break through obstacles in the way, the report shows.

Over the past years, this brigade has enhanced its troops-unmanned equipment integration capabilities, conducted research on computer-assisted decision making, and widely deployed unmanned equipment in reconnaissance, combat support and logistics support, which effectively enhanced combat efficiency in urban warfare, Major Lin Jianyuan of the brigade told CCTV.

The brigade also uses a 3D simulation training system for urban warfare, which looks not unlike a video game, to train the troops, according to the report.

Nearly 100 simulations were carried out with this system, practicing detailed coordination between each individual soldier and large weapon, said Lieutenant Colonel Xu Peixian.

Urban warfare is one of the most challenging forms of combat in modern warfare that could cause heavy casualties. Integrating unmanned equipment and conducting simulated exercises are good ways to enhance troop combat capabilities and lower casualties, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Monday.

Under the PLA Eastern Theater Command, the 71st Group Army faces the real combat need of urban warfare in a possible scenario of reunification-by-force of the island of Taiwan following amphibious landing, and that is why preparations must be made, the expert said.

The Linfen Brigade got its name from the Linfen Campaign during the War of Liberation (1946-49), in which the brigade seized the city of Linfen in North China from Kuomintang forces, leading Mao Zedong to say the campaign "set a successful example for urban offensive combat," the PLA Daily reported.