China's leading artificial intelligence platform, DeepSeek, is being utilized to assist in the research and development of the country’s most advanced military aircraft, according to reports from Chinese state media.

Wang Yongqing, chief design engineer at the Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, confirmed in an interview with Chinanews that his team has begun integrating DeepSeek's AI capabilities into its design processes. The move marks a significant step in China's effort to leverage artificial intelligence in military aviation technology.

“This technology has already shown promising application potential, providing new ideas and approaches for future aviation research and development,” Wang stated, as cited by the South China Morning Post.

Wang also noted that the design team is conducting in-depth research on the potential of large language models (LLMs) to solve complex problems in practical military design settings. These LLMs are the core of AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and China’s own DeepSeek platform.

The Shenyang Aircraft Design Institute, under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), is known for its contributions to China’s next-generation fighter jets. These include the J-15 Flying Shark and the J-35 stealth fighter, both manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.

The integration of AI tools such as DeepSeek into China's military-industrial base signals a growing emphasis on high-tech innovation in national defense, raising concerns among Western observers. In the U.S., some policymakers—led by President Donald Trump—have reportedly considered restricting DeepSeek’s access to American-developed technologies, citing national security risks.

As global powers race to militarize artificial intelligence, China’s use of domestic AI platforms in weapons development is expected to play a critical role in shaping the balance of future air combat capabilities.