(cont)
Excerpts of two patents filed by CETC 38th on the application of drone compliant radars (Image: CETC 38th)
Note that the drone
Tian Shao could actually be the JY-300, an "AEW system without a pilot", presented in the month of June by the same institution at the Radar Show in Nanking.
If this is the case, it will be a 1,300-kg take-off UAV with a carrying capacity of 400 kg, capable of flying at a maximum speed of more than 200 km / h and a ceiling of 7 500 meters. The autonomy of the machine is greater than or equal to 15 hours.
According to the description provided by its manufacturer, the JY-300 is designed for the surveillance of naval targets such as ships, aircraft and anti-ship missiles, but there is no indication today that it act of an embedded drone as claims some Chinese media. It seems to be delicate in all cases given the size of the aircraft, 17 meters according to a source close to the backrest, and without the mechanism to fold the wings.
Apart from the performance of the vector itself, one can also observe on the model and also in the manufacturer brochure the locations where the compliant antennas are installed. The images show that they are on both sides of the cell, on the leading edges of the wing and possibly towards the fins.
Yellow bands indicate locations for radar antennas on the JY-300
Given the images released so far, it is difficult to say if the drone
Tian Shao is already equipped with radar compliant at this stage, but any logic should first validate the characteristics in flight of the craft before the party embedded is not installed and tested in turn.
Also remember that CETC is not a specialized entity in aeronautical design, unlike AVIC, so it is not surprising that the platform itself is developed in collaboration with a third party, but this remains to be confirmed.
The satellite images taken on October 1 at Pucheng Neifu Airport, the day after the first flight of
Tian Shao , show that the drone and its support teams have already left. Other flight tests are probably necessary for the rest of the program, we will have the opportunity to return to the subject soon.
Pucheng airport where the drone Tian Shao made its first flight. Image dated 1st October 2018.
To be continued.
Henri K.
