Chinese UAV/UCAV development

[Totoro]

Definitely not large missiles for gj11. 4 meters long at most.

 

[Nobonita Barua]

I actually disagree with this approach of large stealth UCAVs, geometry and material science may make a large aircraft slightly more stealthy. But the RCS is still going to be massive. Cost goes up because you need bigger engines, hacks to make a large object stealthy, more complex geometry, more complex fly by wire systems, etc.

THE future is not large UAV platforms. It will be small missile carrying micro done operating in a swarm.

Design philosophy should to be making UAVs smaller not bigger. Kind of like MIRV warheads on a ICBM. Multiple small warheads is impossible to intercept compared to one large warhead.

Ditto

 

[banjex]

Except a micro drone can't carry a super/hypersonic long range missile.

 

[free_6ix9ine]

Except a micro drone can't carry a super/hypersonic long range missile.

Doesn't matter. The main point is you have to get a warhead from point a to point b, without getting intercepted.

Hypersonic missile is one way. Micro drone is one way. ICBM is one way. Manned strike aircraft is another.

My opinion microdones can be slower but is as hard to intercept as a hypersonic missile, but much cheaper because it's reusable.

As long as you successfully get the warhead from point A to Point B. It doesn't matter what the delivery system is.

 

[free_6ix9ine]

WW2 analogy

Large UCAVs/manned aircraft= battleship
Micro done = aircraft carrier

Before WW2, everyone was planning for major battleship vs battleship war. No one gave second thought to aircraft carriers and every Navy was playing the whose battleship is bigger game. But when WW2 happened, aircraft carriers were the assassins mace weapon that totally destroyed battleships.

 

[kriss]

Large UCAVs/manned aircraft= battleship
Micro done = aircraft carrier

Except aircraft carrier outrange battleship just like large UAV outrange mini drone. Btw that's also how those turkish drone outranged and destroyed by large wing loong 2 despite outnumber them.

 

[free_6ix9ine]

Except aircraft carrier outrange battleship just like large UAV outrange mini drone. Btw that's also how those turkish drone outranged and destroyed by large wing loong 2 despite outnumber them.

Well, TB-2 is not a micro done. I'm thinking more on the line of an Israeli Harop or Harpy. But that carries one missile. Essentially a loitering reusable cruise missile that flies in a. swarm

Micro drones can have the same range as large drones. It's more about building a very efficient engine that can compensate for less fuel carried. Maybe a ultra efficient and light weight miniture turboprop or turbine electric engine or if battery tech improves, an efficient electric motor.

Body of the drone can be made using composite materials and as little as metal as possible. The missile doesn't even have to be powered. It can have little wings which allows it to glide to the target. Once the drone drops its only missile, it flies back to base automatically to be rearmed.

Try to reduce as much as possible metal parts in the missile as well. The body can be made out of plastic. The only metal parts will probably b the electronics and the shaped charge.

 

[by78]

I actually disagree with this approach of large stealth UCAVs, geometry and material science may make a large aircraft slightly more stealthy. But the RCS is still going to be massive.

What's your definition of "large" UCAVs?

THE future is not large UAV platforms. It will be small missile carrying micro done operating in a swarm.

Laughable over-simplifications.

 

[free_6ix9ine]

What's your definition of "large" UCAVs?



Laughable over-simplifications.

My definition of a large UAV is something similar to the GJ-11 or X-47 or Reaper or Predator. They are trying to replicate the capabilities of a manned jet just without a pilot. I am proposing something that is not trying to replicate a manned aircraft, but rather a cruise missile. That can loiter and is reusable. but only carries one warhead or gliding bomb.

 

[free_6ix9ine]

S-400 or future radars could probably shoot down a stealth drone like the X-47. But could S-400 shoot down a drone swarm of 500 microdones? probably not. Drones are cheap, missiles are not. It's easy to increase the size of your drone swarm but it's not easy or cheap to set up more S-400s.