politics
US Intelligence Assesses Chinese Satellite Imagery Aids Iranian Targeting of US Bases
US intelligence indicates that AI-enhanced satellite images of US military bases in the Middle East, published by Chinese company MizarVision, are being used by Iranian forces to identify targets. The imagery, which includes tagging of military assets, was released before and during the conflict with Iran.
Apr 5, 2:42 PM·2m read1 source
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US intelligence has assessed that satellite imagery of US military bases in the Middle East, published by the Chinese company MizarVision, is assisting Iranian forces in identifying targets. MizarVision, in which the Chinese government holds a small ownership stake, has released detailed images with AI-generated tagging data of multiple US sites in the lead-up to and during the conflict with Iran.
The imagery demonstrates an AI tool capable of identifying and tagging military forces over large areas.
According to a source within the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Pentagon believes the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is utilizing this AI-enhanced imagery for targeting purposes. The source, who briefed ABC News, stated that the images are obtained from open-source channels but provide detailed analysis of military capabilities, including specific types of aircraft, navy ship locations, air defense systems, and radar deployments.
“This is an example of a Chinese company, we believe maliciously, providing intelligence on an open-source platform that informs missile and unmanned aerial vehicle [drone] targeting protocols," the DIA source told ABC News. "This puts the lives of Americans, and by extension our allies, at risk.”
The bipartisan Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party in the US Congress described Chinese intelligence as a threat to American forces in the conflict. In a statement last month, the committee noted that companies tied to the Chinese Communist Party are developing AI as a surveillance tool. An Australian-based US government source separately confirmed the classified assessment.
In the week before the conflict began, MizarVision published images on its Weibo account of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia at least half a dozen times. On February 24, the company released imagery showing the location of Patriot air defense systems at the base. Further images on February 27 depicted the positions of dozens of aircraft there, the day before the war started.
