Chinese UAV/UCAV development
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SinoSoldier
Colonel
Given the calligraphy on the body, this is very likely just a model. However, the implication is that this project is, or at least at some point was, a legitimate project!
It looks like a mock up. The background looks like an exhibition hall. Besides, I don't think they would put those decals on the real plane. The full size mockup with such detail compared to the previous toy sized models implies this project is alive and progressing like the J-31 program.
by78
General
A slightly larger and clearer photo.
1) Notice the Avic logo on the fuselage, along with the names of the institutes involved in the project. I can't make out the characters clearly, but the second line on the left might say Beijing (?) Aviation something and the third line seems to say Shenyang (?) Aviation. Maybe?
2) To me, the people in the photograph seem legit aviation people (i.e. engineers and administrators). They don't look like military fans or sales reps from a company that does mockups for theme parks.
3) Lower right corner, note the landing gear door (?) and the serration. What's that yellow bit on the fuselage?
4) So what's the context? Is this a mockup? It sure looks like a mockup to me, and if so, is this done to scale?
5) Where was this photograph taken? Notice the cross brace on the wall, which might indicate some kind of industrial facility. Funnily enough, it reminds me of the recent photo of Shenyang's stealth bomber mockup, which also features cross braces on the wall.
1) Notice the Avic logo on the fuselage, along with the names of the institutes involved in the project. I can't make out the characters clearly, but the second line on the left might say Beijing (?) Aviation something and the third line seems to say Shenyang (?) Aviation. Maybe?
2) To me, the people in the photograph seem legit aviation people (i.e. engineers and administrators). They don't look like military fans or sales reps from a company that does mockups for theme parks.
3) Lower right corner, note the landing gear door (?) and the serration. What's that yellow bit on the fuselage?
4) So what's the context? Is this a mockup? It sure looks like a mockup to me, and if so, is this done to scale?
5) Where was this photograph taken? Notice the cross brace on the wall, which might indicate some kind of industrial facility. Funnily enough, it reminds me of the recent photo of Shenyang's stealth bomber mockup, which also features cross braces on the wall.
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by78
General
More updates on the Tengoen TB001...
It has successfully participated in a forestry firefighting exercise in western Sichuan.
Some high-resolution photos of the event:
It has successfully participated in a forestry firefighting exercise in western Sichuan.
Some high-resolution photos of the event:
A slightly larger and clearer photo.
1) Notice the Avic logo on the fuselage, along with the names of the institutes involved in the project. I can't make out the characters clearly, but the second line on the left might say Beijing (?) Aviation something and the third line seems to say Shenyang (?) Aviation. Maybe?
2) To me, the people in the photograph seem legit aviation people (i.e. engineers and administrators). They don't look like military fans or sales reps from a company that does mockups for theme parks.
3) Lower right corner, note the landing gear door (?) and the serration. What's that yellow bit on the fuselage?
4) So what's the context? Is this a mockup? It sure looks like a mockup to me, and if so, is this done to scale?
5) Where was this photograph taken? Notice the cross brace on the wall, which might indicate some kind of industrial facility. Funnily enough, it reminds me of the recent photo of Shenyang's stealth bomber mockup, which also features cross braces on the wall.
It's a full scale mock up of Anjian/Dark Sword -- a concept air to air UCAV that made the rounds in the mid/late 2000s quite a bit, but then disappeared. Certainly had the most badass name and look of any concept back then I think.
I'm surprised it's re-emerged and they made what looks like a full scale mock up.
The idea of an air to air UCAV back in the late 2000s seemed a bit too outlandish, but considering developments in autonomous drones and swarming and datalinks over the last five years, as well as the emerging role of forward flying, stealthy and distributed ISR, as well as semi autonomous shooters, I gotta say the idea of an air to air UCAV isn't quite as sci fi as it once was ten years ago...
Question is why build a full size Dark Sword mock up? And of course, where was the photo taken (SAC? Dark Sword was said to be their concept), and who are the people standing in front...
SinoSoldier
Colonel
So far nobody has entertained the possibility that this might merely be a model for museum/historical purposes. Nothing concrete suggests that the Dark Sword project is still alive and the lack of rumors seem to detract from that possibility as well.
It's entertain-able, but as I wrote over on CDF, some questions to ask about that is why would they choose to make a full size model for a concept that was never pursued or built to our knowledge?
It's definitely the most likely answer to the photo, but it's also a bit too obvious that it's almost too easy to settle without asking harder questions like where it was taken, who are the people in the photo etc.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
My bad, I didn't see your CDF post until after I wrote that comment.
But yeah, the most pressing questions would be the identities of the individuals standing in front and also when & where this photo was taken.
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