From "Able to Fly" to "Able to Fight": A Direct Look at the First Batch of Female Drone Operators in the Air Force's Combat Training

Not long ago, reporters visited a drone unit of the Air Force and met the first batch of female drone operators trained independently by the Air Force. They are pioneers in the unmanned field, exploring new tactics for unmanned combat.

From "solo flight" to "collaboration," from "able to fly" to "able to strike."

The briefing was calm and competent, and the responses were steady and substantial. In the drone ground control room, the operators Shi Xiaoran and Fu Ting, both born after 1995, were steadily controlling the aircraft and conducting dual-drone coordinated target searches. They graduated from the National University of Defense Technology with top scores in their respective majors and proactively applied to join this Air Force unit, becoming the first female drone operators in the Air Force.

Air Force Unit, Shi Xiaoran: I am a 100% outsider when it comes to flying. I previously worked in image processing, and the drone field is a completely cross-disciplinary challenge for me. I enjoy challenges.

At the beginning of the unit's formation, transitioning from the unknown to practical flying, they started from "zero."

Air Force Unit, Shi Xiaoran: During my first flight, there was a highly energetic cloud ahead, but I had no concept of the energy of that cloud; I had never taken a systematic meteorology course. The more I flew, the more I realized my lack of situational awareness in the air and my overall understanding of flying. I could only explore and fill in the gaps myself, forming my own knowledge framework in the process.

"Control the enemy in their cabin, strike from a thousand miles away." Systematic operations require collaboration across multiple fields, including flight control, mission payload, and link monitoring. To achieve "man-machine integration" and "mind and spirit connected," one must master dozens of specialized knowledge areas.

Air Force Unit, Fu Ting: The principles of flight, aerodynamics, and the functions of various aircraft systems and mission payloads are all essential knowledge to master.

From being "outsiders" in the drone field to operating with ease, they completed their training in just five months. During their first live-fire attack mission with the "Attack-11," Shi Xiaoran, Fu Ting, and their comrades closely coordinated and achieved a successful first hit.

Air Force Unit, Shi Xiaoran: That day, there was a significant amount of cloud cover, and I thought the missile might not launch and that I would have to land with the missile. Fortunately, after circling back, I finally found the target and successfully pressed the launch button, hitting the target and letting out a sigh of relief.

From "solo flight" to "collaboration," from "able to fly" to "able to strike," deeply positioned at the forefront of new combat capabilities, they need to think ahead and act ahead.

Air Force Unit, Shi Xiaoran: What I think about more is how I can use this aircraft, how to use it well, and how to maximize its combat effectiveness. I have a love-hate relationship with these drones. The "love" comes from the sense of achievement they give me; the "hate" comes from feeling that I have not yet explored the operational boundaries of this aircraft. I always feel there should be broader usage scenarios.

Air Force Unit, Fu Ting: I want to further explore its applications, how to maximize its functions, and design reasonable tactics to achieve our combat objectives.

Drones can only achieve a multiplier effect in combat when integrated into the operational system.

Air Force Unit, Shi Xiaoran: Once integrated into the system, they become the system's first pair of eyes, always the sharpest sword. Otherwise, in many cases, they are just a camera that can take off. The more dangerous the mission, the more it should be entrusted to drones. It can be said that drones do not play the role of a "hero"; they serve as a "tool" to better ensure the combat effectiveness of manned aircraft.

In actual combat, drones can act as the eyes of manned aircraft, conducting reconnaissance of enemy air defense systems; they can also serve as decoys, attracting enemy fire to expose targets; or even directly act as weapon platforms, launching guided weapons under the guidance of manned aircraft.

Air Force Unit, Shi Xiaoran: The first type of aircraft I learned is more for reconnaissance, while the second modified drone plays a "breaching" role. I find the iteration of drones to be beyond imagination; many scenes that appear in science fiction films are already being attempted in real-world applications. In the future battlefield, drones will require more intelligent brains, situational awareness of the battlefield, and precise control of equipment.

Control the enemy in their cabin, strike from a thousand miles away.

The entire flight of the drone is controlled by the operator in the cabin, issuing various commands to control it. Follow the reporters to observe the operator's practical training.

Air Force Unit, Shi Xiaoran: Depending on the mission requirements, we usually have sessions lasting over six hours, sometimes even counting in days. The cabin is mainly for our mobile deployment, bringing the battle into the room. In summer, with temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius, I feel like I'm drying out like a raisin; the temperature on the runway is generally above 60 degrees Celsius.

Air Force Unit, Fu Ting: In winter, standing outside for a while can completely numb your feet, no matter how many clothes you wear.

For many people, the vast Northwest Gobi Desert seems lonely and desolate. But in Shi Xiaoran's eyes, it offers clear conditions unmatched by bustling cities.

Air Force Unit, Shi Xiaoran: This place can be said to be rarely visited by people, but it is vast and better suited for testing our advanced equipment. When I first flew through day and night, I felt like I was chasing the sunset. Sometimes I think flying is a very romantic career.

Now, drones have been integrated into system operations, patrolling borders, crossing canyons, flying over oceans, and venturing into the open sea. Training tactical methods in unfamiliar airspace and complex electromagnetic environments, striving to seize the initiative and gain the upper hand in the informationized and unmanned future battlefield, with a posture of "integrated reconnaissance and strike, both offense and defense," they aim to create victorious flight paths across vast skies.