# joint operations

China’s Southern Army Rewires Air–Ground Tactics: Pilots Embedded with Ground Units, Data Links Close the Loop

A southern PLA brigade is deepening air–ground integration by embedding pilots in ground units, rotating ground commanders into flight training, and linking command systems to distribute fused sensors to cockpits and soldier terminals. The measures aim to speed target sharing and synchronise effects but increase dependence on resilient datalinks and rehearsed contingency habits under electromagnetic stress.