PRC/PLAAF & PLANAF 2015 Victory Parade Thread

[SpicySichuan]

HQ-9, HQ-12 (KS-1), HQ-6A, HHQ-10

 

[Insignius]

No HQ-17?

Too bad...

 

[delft]

Why can't they have these drones fly in formations over Tiananmen Square? Pilots not skillful enough, yet?

It must be easy to arrange for drones to fly in formation. There are many ways do measure the distance and direction of a reference drone. You then have just to place the drones near their proper place in the formation and leave the rest to the computers. Then let the the leading drone follow a described path at the right time over the city. Of course this has no military value but it might be a nice demonstration of some capabilities of the drones.

 

[JayBird]

It must be easy to arrange for drones to fly in formation. There are many ways do measure the distance and direction of a reference drone. You then have just to place the drones near their proper place in the formation and leave the rest to the computers. Then let the the leading drone follow a described path at the right time over the city. Of course this has no military value but it might be a nice demonstration of some capabilities of the drones.

Too many things could go wrong with remote controling drones flying in formation with hundreds other flying planes already in the sky. Not to mention the heavy interferences with the radio wave and satellite signal due to all the media gathering in Beijing for the Victory Parade.

 

[delft]

Too many things could go wrong with remote controling drones flying in formation with hundreds other flying planes already in the sky. Not to mention the heavy interferences with the radio wave and satellite signal due to all the media gathering in Beijing for the Victory Parade.

Use light, not radio waves, to connect the drones.

 

[no_name]

View attachment 17724
HQ-9, HQ-12 (KS-1), HQ-6A, HHQ-10

Is the truck with the HQ-10 just showing the module or is it an actual operating system. Seems too big for the truck platform.

 

[SpicySichuan]

Is the truck with the HQ-10 just showing the module or is it an actual operating system. Seems too big for the truck platform.

I think all the naval SAMs are modules.

 

[no_name]

^^^ I'm not asking whether the trucks are the complete system or that the missiles are live, but whether for the HQ-10 one it is intended to be fired from the truck in the shown setup.

 

[Blitzo]

^^^ I'm not asking whether the trucks are the complete system or that the missiles are live, but whether for the HQ-10 one it is intended to be fired from the truck in the shown setup.

No. All of the trucks displaying UAVs and missiles or launchers on those "open stands" are merely displays, not actually part of any launch system. They are there just to show off the weapon, after all they can't send an 052D to cruise in front of the forbidden city to show off the actual operable system like they can to roll down some AFVs or TELs.

 

[Blitzo]

Why can't they have these drones fly in formations over Tiananmen Square? Pilots not skillful enough, yet?

Others have already answered elements of your question, but we should also remember that MALE and HALE drones and even smaller drones are typically not very "display" friendly because they have a relatively small profile and cross section compared to fighter jets, transports or bombers.

And also, drones are not super PR friendly, given their stereotype as silent hunter-killers, so flying them over a parade might have weird connotations.

I think those are the reasons why it is so uncommon to see drones flying at parades or air shows.

Like delft said, skill doesn't really come into it.