China’s state-of-the-art warplane development is getting a major technological boost from artificial intelligence, with the powerful DeepSeek language model now being used in the design of advanced military aircraft, according to a top aerospace engineer.
Wang Yongqing, lead designer at the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute — a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China — confirmed in an interview with state-run Chinanews.com that his team is incorporating the DeepSeek AI platform into its research and development pipeline. The institute has been responsible for several of China’s frontline fighter jets, including the J-15 Flying Shark and the fifth-generation J-35 stealth fighter.
“The technology has already shown promising potential for application, providing new ideas and approaches for future aerospace research and development,” Wang said, referring to large language models (LLMs) like DeepSeek, the same type of AI underlying tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Wang said the institute has carried out in-depth studies of how large language models can be leveraged to analyze and solve complex design problems, particularly those tied to practical operational needs. He noted that AI has started to relieve researchers of time-consuming review tasks, allowing them to focus on more critical areas of innovation — a shift he called “an important step” for the aerospace sector.
His remarks come amid growing reports of progress in China’s sixth-generation fighter jet program, with prototypes such as the J-36 and J-50 appearing more frequently on social media in recent months. Wang also confirmed that development of multipurpose variants of the J-35, including air-sea dual-capable models, is “progressing steadily according to our plans.”
The involvement of DeepSeek in military research marks a significant milestone in the integration of AI into China’s defense sector. Developed by Hangzhou-based DeepSeek AI Lab, the language model has quickly gained traction across Chinese industries since its launch earlier this year, drawing global attention for its cost-efficiency and competitiveness with American tech giants, including Nvidia.
As China embraces an AI-driven transformation across sectors — from healthcare and education to government and defense — the use of DeepSeek in military aircraft design is being viewed as a sign of how seriously Beijing is investing in next-generation warfighting capabilities powered by artificial intelligence.
Analysts say the development may signal not just a strategic technological leap, but also a direct challenge to U.S. dominance in both AI and advanced aerospace — areas traditionally led by companies such as Lockheed Martin and Nvidia.
