Chinese Loyal Wingman (sensor, A2A and A2G) UAV/UCAV thread

[ACuriousPLAFan]

WZ-8 can take off by using rocket boosters.

GJ-11 is literally hanged next to it.
View attachment 112198View attachment 112199

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And I really thought that @大包CG is merely fooling around (which he does sometimes) when I saw his CGI of a WZ-8 strapped with two rocket boosters. Turns out this is true...





Looks like the WZ-8 will jettison the rocket booster pair soon after takeoff/during climb?

Crude, but effective.

Seriously though, it's time for China to work on a counterpart to the American SR-72. Having to jettison those rocket boosters into the ocean/marshes every time a WZ-8 is self-launched is a big waste of time, space and material involved.

 

[Deino]

But do we know it is…

1. … legit or a fan made configuration?
2. … indeed part of the regular operational procedure?
3. … really a „self-launch“ option or not more likely the regular launch configuration or an option for extended range or whatever?

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

But do we know it is…

1. … legit or a fan made configuration?
2. … indeed part of the regular operational procedure?
3. … really a „self-launch“ option or not more likely the regular launch configuration or an option for extended range or whatever?

1 - The photos were taken during an exhibition at the Chinese Aviation Museum in Beijing, so I do believe that the model is indeed legit.

2 & 3 - No idea, unfortunately.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Related to the WZ-8 strapped with rocket boosters posted above.

Firstly, this one shows what the WZ-8 with rocket boosters strapped underneath while carried by a H-6 could look like. Illustrated by @钢铁机机 on Weibo.

Looks like the WZ-8 with rocket boosters has enough ground clearence, whether for it to take off on its own or carried by H-6 and launched afterwards.

Then, there's this from 2012 or later by @angadow on Weibo.


Note the highlighted section and the two circled phrases.

Translation of the two circled phrases:

boost(er assisting?) climb, boost(er) separation

 

[Deino]

Related to the WZ-8 strapped with rocket boosters posted above.

Firstly, this one shows what the WZ-8 with rocket boosters strapped underneath while carried by a H-6 could look like. Illustrated by @钢铁机机 on Weibo.
View attachment 112211
Looks like the WZ-8 with rocket boosters has enough ground clearence, whether for it to take off on its own or carried by H-6 and launched afterwards.

Then, there's this from 2012 or later by @angadow on Weibo.
View attachment 112212

Note the two circled phrases.

Translation:

Thanks

 

[drowingfish]

oh wow this changes a lot of our assumptions about wz-8. with those boosters it might have a longer range than previously thought.

 

[Blitzo]

And I really thought that @大包CG is merely fooling around (which he does sometimes) when I saw his CGI of a WZ-8 strapped with two rocket boosters. Turns out this is true...

View attachment 112200
View attachment 112201
View attachment 112202

Looks like the WZ-8 will jettison the rocket booster pair soon after takeoff/during climb?

Crude, but effective.

Seriously though, it's time for China to work on a counterpart to the American SR-72. Having to jettison those rocket boosters into the ocean/marshes every time a WZ-8 is self-launched is a big waste of time, space and material involved.

America doesn't even have an equivalent to SR-72 because it only exists as a concept lol.

 

[aubzman]

And I really thought that @大包CG is merely fooling around (which he does sometimes) when I saw his CGI of a WZ-8 strapped with two rocket boosters. Turns out this is true...

View attachment 112200
View attachment 112201
View attachment 112202

Looks like the WZ-8 will jettison the rocket booster pair soon after takeoff/during climb?

Crude, but effective.

Seriously though, it's time for China to work on a counterpart to the American SR-72. Having to jettison those rocket boosters into the ocean/marshes every time a WZ-8 is self-launched is a big waste of time, space and material involved.

Would they tell us if they had one either in service or development given the world as it is?

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

America doesn't even have an equivalent to SR-72 because it only exists as a concept lol.

Strange, given that Lockheed Martin is known to be already working on the SR-72, and that a F-22-sized prototype will take flight in 2025? They also (repeatedly) hinted about the plane...

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Though, if anything, I believe that WZ-8's active service with the PLAAF means that there is indeed a need for a very high speed ISR (or ISTAR) platform by the PLA. Hence, my basing on the need to introduce a Chinese counterpart to the SR-72 that should have greater speed, longer range, better theater coverage and ISR/ISTAR capabilities than the present WZ-8, whether it be manned or unmanned.

(As a sidenote - In the meantime, in order to complement the very high speed ISR/ISTAR platform (SR-72 equivalent), a slow but very-low-observability (VLO) ISR/ISTAR platform, i.e. RQ-180 equivalent is required too - Perhaps as a high-low, fast-slow pair.)

Would they tell us if they had one either in service or development given the world as it is?

When the WZ-8 with rocket boosters starts showing up in photographs, then we'll know.

 

[Blitzo]

Strange, given that Lockheed Martin is known to be already working on the SR-72, and that a F-22-sized prototype will take flight in 2025? They also (repeatedly) hinted about the plane...

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Though, if anything, I believe that WZ-8's active service with the PLAAF means that there is indeed a need for a very high speed ISR (or ISTAR) platform by the PLA. Hence, my basing on the need to introduce a Chinese counterpart to the SR-72 that should have greater speed, longer range, better theater coverage and ISR/ISTAR capabilities than the present WZ-8, whether it be manned or unmanned.

(As a sidenote - In the meantime, in order to complement the very high speed ISR/ISTAR platform (SR-72 equivalent), a slow but very-low-observability (VLO) ISR/ISTAR platform, i.e. RQ-180 equivalent is required too - Perhaps as a high-low, fast-slow pair.)

It goes without saying that the PLA is actively working on a more technologically advanced high speed ISR aircraft. The fact that they showed WZ-8 to the public in 2019 is testament to that.

However, do not write about SR-72 as if it is a confirmed project.
Yes, there is a good possibility that the US (perhaps through lockheed or others) is working on its own air breathing advanced hypersonic ISR platform as well, but that doesn't mean it is the SR-72 concept that we saw before.


If your previous post was "it's time for China to work on a counterpart to US air breathing hypersonic platforms" then that would be a bit more correct, but then the natural reply would still be "why do you think China isn't?"...