Composable and distributed systems group
Mon, 23 June 2025
Sharing our experimental call summaries: Al-generated digests for weekly Yak Collective live study groups. A step forward in exploration of human-machine collaborative cognition and Yak Oracle and Yak Memory systems for collective intelligence capabilities.
The C4ISR Architecture Behind China’s Autonomous Airpower
Reading:
Key architectural differences:
US approach: Modular and open standards-based
Multiple open standards and MS systems
Enables civilian contribution and rapid adaptation
Focuses on long-range power projection (>10,000 miles)
Heavier drones with greater fuel/battery capacity
Emphasis on vertical integration of AI stacks
Chinese approach:
More centralized command and control
Focuses on shorter range (few hundred miles from coast)
Employs spread spectrum frequency hopping
Doctrine still evolving, soldiers not fully bought in
The Datalinks, Hardware, and Algorithms Enabling the PLA’s Autonomous Kill Web and How They Compare to U.S. Efforts
Communication challenges:
Radio interference remains a major constraint
Solutions emerging:
Fiber optic cables (2kg payload) for unjammable control
Sound-based communication potential (unexplored)
Local cell coordination vs. broader battlefield integration
Optical line of sight communication
AI and autonomy developments:
Deep learning replacing traditional AI approaches
Pre-trained alignment becoming crucial
Local decision-making capabilities increasing
Need for robust swarming strategies at local level
Trade-off between communication needs and autonomy
Historical Context and Current Applications
Key historical examples:
Millennium War Games (2000)
Van Rp’s red team success using radio silence
Motorcycle messengers between mosques
Mass fishing boat attacks on US Navy
Current Iran-US tensions mirror historical scenarios
Small, fast torpedo boats
Strait of Hormuz concerns
Ukraine conflict lessons:
FPV drones with fiber optic control
Individual/small group drone operations
Focus on tank hunting and area denial
Demonstrates limitations of air power alone
Future Implications and Considerations
Strategic considerations:
Need for ground forces remains crucial
Environmental conditions affect tactical advantages
Balance between disposable and reusable assets
Monoculture risks in swarm strategies
Potential for targeted assassination at scale
Trade-off between sophisticated systems and simple, effective tactics
Technical evolution:
Battery power constraints
Communication limitations driving local compute
Modular architecture benefits
Integration with existing military doctrine
Need for mixed capability forces
Human factors:
Doctrine adaptation requirements
Training implications
Balance between autonomous and human-controlled systems
Integration with civilian infrastructure
Role of amateur drone development
Yak Collective Discord chat:
https://discord.com/channels/692111190851059762/1386380718640463933/1386381092256354355