Recently, in the depths of the desert, on the runway of an airfield belonging to a certain air force unit, returning fighter planes slowly glided into the hangar. After completing their training, the pilots proceeded to a tactical analysis room to review their flight maneuvers.

In the seminar room, a clear diagram of the aerial combat situation just experienced was displayed on the large screen, accompanied by key points of commentary for each critical node. “With the ‘Digital Intelligence Partner,’ the efficiency of post-operation reviews has significantly improved,” said one pilot, lightly clicking the mouse. On the screen, every tactical node and communication coordination of this training session was clearly visible.

The “digital partner” referred to by the pilot is a set of flight training assistance systems developed in-house by the department.

“In the past, flight data was primarily interpreted manually. After completing their training, pilots had to quickly sort through the data, often working late into the night.” The department’s leader told me that sorting through the data took away time from pilots to study tactics. To free pilots from the tedious task of data processing, they decided to develop a digital system.

This task was assigned to a specific research and development team within the department. After receiving the task, the team members thoroughly studied the rules of air combat training, extensively invited pilots to complete questionnaires, and systematically identified the problems that the digital system needed to address. In order to pinpoint the technical approach, they conducted numerous research trips to scientific institutions and engaged in repeated discussions with experts in the field of digital technology, ultimately finalizing a preliminary plan.

“This system was developed in collaboration with our pilots.” Ji Xinyu, a team member, recalled that during the development phase, they deeply integrated themselves into the training process and worked alongside the pilots to review what had happened. “During that time, we conducted training sessions during the day to gather requirements, worked late into the night to optimize the algorithms, and tested the improvements in the training the next day. It was a continuous cycle of work.” Ji Xinyu said.

Once the system framework was set up, the team members continuously refined the software, addressing aspects ranging from the logic of the commentary system to the layout of the user interface, from the way data was presented to the methods of operation. Their hard work paid off, and after a year of intense effort, this flight training assistance system, built using digital and intelligent technologies, was finally put into use.

As we observed, prior to flight training, pilots only need to set the core parameters in advance, and the system will automatically establish the evaluation criteria. Once the flight is completed, a review report is generated immediately, complete with information on key points and precautions. Moreover, this system can help pilots promptly identify potential safety hazards and reduce the risks of flight.

Upon his transfer to the department, pilot Yu Zhe-hao faced the challenge of adapting to a new aircraft model. “In the past, adapting required a lot of time spent on data interpretation. Now, with this system, I can focus more on familiarizing myself with the aircraft and understanding tactics.” With the assistance of “Digital Intelligence Partner,” Yu Zhe-hao successfully completed his adaptation training, completing the process much faster than expected.

“In the past, the interpretation of flight parameters relied primarily on the experience of pilots. Now, the system transforms vague, subjective impressions into clear data information, making flight training more scientific and efficient.” According to the department’s leadership, this digital and intelligent system has been put into trial use by multiple aviation units and has been well-received by many frontline pilots and mission commanders. Moving forward, they will continue to expand the scope of system application and strive to better serve combat capability building through digital and intelligent technologies. (Looking into the New Era)