Those words were recorded by CCTV2's interview.
Chinese UAV/UCAV development
- Thread starter AssassinsMace
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Maybe, but IMO, Fu's words cannot be treated as rumors. He's a member of the PLAAF Civilian Staff, the Associate Senior Editor of PLAAF Aviation Magazine, PLAAF's PR in CCTV, and a former PLAAF mechanic officer. He would say a rumor only if PLAAF wants him to do so.
vesicles
Colonel
Well, before the photo of the mock-up, I would agree with you completely.
With the reappearance of the Dark Sword mock-up, which looks almost identical to the concept shown 12 years ago, it is almost certain that they have been working on the exact same design all these years. Thus, the original program has not canceled or changed.
Whatever those old rumors were, they were most likely baseless guesses. All of them were made because there was no information on it. Now with the appearance of the mock-up, everything is changed. None of the old rumors mean anything any more.
At this point, in my opinion, we have a pretty good idea as to what’s going on. The Dark Sword concept was picked up by the PLA and worked on in secrecy until they became confident enough to let the world know.
My rationale? The current mock-up is almost exactly the same as the original concept. This would have not happened if the original project was canceled or changed in any way. No one would keep a flawed design when it is bad enough to be canceled or changed.
Just an aside --- 紧锣密鼓 was also the phrase PLAAF He Weirong used to describe J-20's development in 2009.
I think this is a keeper folks.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
I don't think a mockup is necessarily indicative of an ongoing project, suffice it to say that it definitely proves that the program was at least considered at some point. We've seen SAC build a mockup of a stealthy fighter-bomber that fzgfzy implied was cancelled and later resurrected by XAC. If this is a mockup meant for a museum or exhibition, then it definitely not indicative of an active program, for example.
I'll treat Fu's and pb19980515's words separately from the model, since those sources have actually have substance, but I'm maintaining my position that a mere photo of a wooden mockup doesn't tell us anything regarding the program's current status. I'd be happy to see it come to fruition, though.
vesicles
Colonel
Why would they build a museum exhibit for a failed project? Hall of failed projects?
While I agree one photo of one model doesn’t tell a whole lot, I am a glass-half-full kinda guy...
SinoSoldier
Colonel
SAC has a history of building these mockups, including that of the allegedly-dropped JH-XX proposal (the cockpit portion at least), the FC-31 v1.0 (which we know is being superseded by the v2.0), and a few others if I recall correctly. Revealing full-scale mockups of an ongoing sensitive project before the maiden flight is also very unorthodox for China's aviation & military industry.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
Its logic, IMO. I think that probably, this is just a mockup for exhibition.
The full scale mock-up is not a “reveal”. It’s a leak. They weren’t exhibiting the full scale mock-up in a public venue.
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