China’s AI Jet Boost: DeepSeek Takes Flight

AI Takes the Cockpit in Fighter Jet Design

China’s military-industrial complex is rapidly embracing AI, with DeepSeek, a powerful large language model (LLM), now assisting in the development of next-generation fighter jets. According to a senior aircraft designer involved in military aviation, DeepSeek has already begun streamlining parts of the engineering and design workflow for China’s latest warplanes. The model is reportedly capable of generating complex design documents in seconds, replacing what used to take entire teams hours or even days. By integrating AI into the defense sector’s R&D pipeline, China aims to cut both material waste and development timelines while enhancing precision.

From Coding to Combat: DeepSeek’s Expanding Toolbox

While initially designed for general-purpose tasks like summarization and programming, DeepSeek is now being trained for more specialized military functions, particularly in computational aerospace engineering. Engineers are pairing the LLM with simulation environments to rapidly iterate concepts, potentially accelerating everything from fuselage design to radar integration. As China races to compete with Western military tech, tools like DeepSeek may give it a strategic edge—not just in production speed, but in how quickly new technologies can be imagined, tested, and deployed. However, some experts warn of the ethical and geopolitical ramifications of militarizing AI at scale.