Chinese MALE, HALE (+rotary, small, suicide, logistic, others) UAV/UCAV

D

dingyibvs

Senior Member
Another nice video, with 4 impressive unmanned systems!

1) Video of the stingray-like UUV, capable of autonomous navigation, utilizes solar charging to extend range/on station time, can act as an underwater detector note and also an underwater communications node as it can receive satellite communication and translate it into sonar signals. Uses a battery half the size of a small personal vehicle (maybe 10-15 KWh?), can move at full speed for 20+ hours for a couple hundred kms or surf the ocean for 1000+kms.

2) 5:42 First flight of the CH-7 UAV. Not sure if really the "first" flight as it doesn't have the vertical stabilizers we've seen on it in the past. I think the theory is that it first flew with the vertical stabilizers before they were taken off. We've had pictures of the first flight in the past, but I don't think videos yet.

3) 9:00 HD flight footage of GJ-11, including the flight with J-20 and J-16 we've seen in the past. Nice to see the much clearer video!

4) 11:05 A "PHEV" UAV using an ICE to charge a battery which powers 60KW class fans for flight. The main purpose seems to be to lower noise levels as when needed it can operate on battery only mode. The fans are shrouded as well to further lower noise. The video mentions that this may be used in vertical take off systems as well, which I think would probably be the primary use in the military.

 
superdog

superdog

Junior Member
dingyibvs said:
Here's a video of the first flight plus an interview with the chief designer. The chief designer sounds quite giddy about his accomplishment. He says that the the engines are ultra-safe with a 10^-12 failure rate. He also notes the unique control regimen with 5 control surfaces in the rear (besides the ones on the wings, of course) and that its flight control system allows it to fly even with 4 of them broken. The FCS team is also very young, average age in the 20's, and they used AI to help design the system. The structural components use ultra strong/light composite materials, and only comprise of 22% of the weight and does not require painting. The wings can also support another 3 tons of external payload, which could be utilized in the future (presumably with upgraded engines, landing gears, etc.)

Click to expand...
To me the tail design is the highlight of this aircraft, ">-<" config with J-20 like all-moving surfaces on a cargo plane, I don't recall seeing a similar design before. I can guesstimate several advantages (angled to avoid turbulent air, less surface area so less drag, simple and straightforward connection with the aft section, all 5 surfaces can act as large air brakes for STOL).

Using so many angled all-moving surfaces used to be a privilege enjoyed by just a few advanced fighters (it requires high performance actuator and complex flight control algorithm). Now they're using it on a flying cargo van? The trickle down of technology in China seems to be going rapidly.
 
S

SanWenYu

Major
Registered Member
dingyibvs said:
Here's a video of the first flight plus an interview with the chief designer. The chief designer sounds quite giddy about his accomplishment. He says that the the engines are ultra-safe with a 10^-12 failure rate. He also notes the unique control regimen with 5 control surfaces in the rear (besides the ones on the wings, of course) and that its flight control system allows it to fly even with 4 of them broken. The FCS team is also very young, average age in the 20's, and they used AI to help design the system. The structural components use ultra strong/light composite materials, and only comprise of 22% of the weight and does not require painting. The wings can also support another 3 tons of external payload, which could be utilized in the future (presumably with upgraded engines, landing gears, etc.)

Click to expand...
Was the chief designer implying military purposes possible in the future when talking about the plane's external payload? At the end in wrapping up he also used the famous catch line "使命必达".
 
T

Totoro

Major
VIP Professional
Well that seems fairly useless, as shown. Maybe against some guerillas, which lack even manpads... But any sort of even half organized, half capable opponent would shoot such a delivery system down in a good deal of missions. Certainly leading to unacceptably high long term operational losses. Edit: Ah. AI. that makes more sense. as bomb delivery just doesn't make sense.
 
P

pkj

Junior Member
Registered Member
F=XX Corsair said:
A Jiutian UAV model, along with an interior view of that Isomerism Hive Module which appears to house vertically stacked swarming loitering munitions.

View attachment 173061


This CG illustrates the module's function well.

https://imgur.com/a/3z4cJ3N
Click to expand...


Vertical deployment makes infinitely more sense than the very early speculation of side deployment.

The fuselage has to be dual hinged with the side bays opening upward for loading and also with payload bay openings at the bottom for in-flight deployment.


Untitled design.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top