Chinese MALE, HALE (and rotary, small, suicide) UAV/UCAV thread

[siegecrossbow]

Since no one is talking about this new loitering munition developed by NorthWestern Polytechnical University I'll bring it up here.

There are several important innovations at work here. Here are two major ones:

1) Instead of using tandem wing structure like those seen on other tube launched suicide drones (switchblade for instance), this drone uses a conventional configuration. This is achieved by folding the main wings in a Z-shape. Using a conventional configuration has many advantages over the tandem wing structure, which essentially a bi-wing structure that not only adds significant drag but limits the aerodynamic performance of the drone like its AOA.
2) This drone could be launched from underwater. This allows a submarine to carry them to the enemy shore in a relatively stealthy fashion and unleash hell.

 

[latenlazy]

Since no one is talking about this new loitering munition developed by NorthWestern Polytechnical University I'll bring it up here.

There are several important innovations at work here. Here are two major ones:

1) Instead of using tandem wing structure like those seen on other tube launched suicide drones (switchblade for instance), this drone uses a conventional configuration. This is achieved by folding the main wings in a Z-shape. Using a conventional configuration has many advantages over the tandem wing structure, which essentially a bi-wing structure that not only adds significant drag but limits the aerodynamic performance of the drone like its AOA.
2) This drone could be launched from underwater. This allows a submarine to carry them to the enemy shore in a relatively stealthy fashion and unleash hell.

“Million man swim” looking more and more like million drone swarm.

 

[Philister]

You'd be surprised how much military equipment runs front end with windows around the world.

So long as it is secure, there's nothing really wrong with it.

It’s fine for now, but when AI and all kinds of software solutions kick in , the fragility of Chinese software ecosystem is indeed very concerning , windows XP has its limit and we’ve touched the ceiling already.
I think ARM architecture ,even the old version that domestic chip designing companies have bought, along with harmony OS would be an ideal solution for that, keep it similar with civilian devices would both reduce the cost and keep the software updated.

 

[Michaelsinodef]

It’s fine for now, but when AI and all kinds of software solutions kick in , the fragility of Chinese software ecosystem is indeed very concerning , windows XP has its limit and we’ve touched the ceiling already.
I think ARM architecture ,even the old version that domestic chip designing companies have bought, along with harmony OS would be an ideal solution for that, keep it similar with civilian devices would both reduce the cost and keep the software updated.

Same applies for everyone else as well though.

 

[Philister]

Same applies for everyone else as well though.

not really for the western countries, especially the US

 

[by78]

The second Rainbow Cup UCAV design competition will be

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. The first edition of the competition was so popular and successful that organizers have decided to continue it.

With future combat scenarios in mind, participants are asked to design a UAV or a set of UAVs that satisfy the following requirements:
1) Must be capable of cooperating with China's existing combat systems in performing missions.
2) Must be able to perform one or more of the following types of missions: recon, early warning, strike, aerial combat, anti-submarine, combat support, etc.

 

[supersnoop]

It’s fine for now, but when AI and all kinds of software solutions kick in , the fragility of Chinese software ecosystem is indeed very concerning , windows XP has its limit and we’ve touched the ceiling already.
I think ARM architecture ,even the old version that domestic chip designing companies have bought, along with harmony OS would be an ideal solution for that, keep it similar with civilian devices would both reduce the cost and keep the software updated.

I've been keeping an eye on this for quite some time in a literal sense, that is just from pictures, so do not take this as a formal analysis.

- That is NOT Windows XP, I have not seen Windows XP in any of these shots for at least 3 years. The default XP desktop background was the sky with rolling green hills. That is definitely the Windows 7 desktop. I'm not sure why people continue to confuse XP with Win7.

I have seen some with Windows 8/10 in the more recent exhibition show pictures.

Chinese UAV/UCAV development

A civilian airport in Tibet being utilized for UAVs

www.sinodefenceforum.com

- Most of the shots of Windows systems seem (at this point) to be export-oriented. As you see above, that is for a brochure.
Windows 7 from 2020

Chinese UAV/UCAV development

Capturing small, slow and low UAV.

www.sinodefenceforum.com

Obviously Windows software is ideal for export customers due to the use of COTS hardware to keep costs low, ease of training and maintenance as 90% of people are already familiar with it.

I find that most PLA screens are usually blurred out, so it is difficult to see exactly what system they are using. When it isn't blurred out, I don't always see the telltale signs of Windows (i.e. start menu)

I believe in the Semiconductor thread, it was said that the military is a big buyer of Longsoon chips which are based on MIPS, not ARM. Longsoon had some logic to accelerate x86 translation, perhaps as a transition away from Windows/x86. I believe the latest chips no longer have this as they moved to “LongArch”. Also on the commercial side, basically all firms are moving away from windows architecture to OpenAndroid and Linux. You only have to see the explosive growth in Chinese OSS projects as evidence.

Digressing a lot here, but the prevalence of Windows in the Chinese military domain was basically an offshoot of its commercial dominance at the time. Now that OSS has taken root in China, we are seeing things like digital soldier android tablets. The importance of windows will naturally erode over time (if not significantly already)

 

[Philister]

I've been keeping an eye on this for quite some time in a literal sense, that is just from pictures, so do not take this as a formal analysis.

- That is NOT Windows XP, I have not seen Windows XP in any of these shots for at least 3 years. The default XP desktop background was the sky with rolling green hills. That is definitely the Windows 7 desktop. I'm not sure why people continue to confuse XP with Win7.

I have seen some with Windows 8/10 in the more recent exhibition show pictures.

Chinese UAV/UCAV development

A civilian airport in Tibet being utilized for UAVs

www.sinodefenceforum.com

- Most of the shots of Windows systems seem (at this point) to be export-oriented. As you see above, that is for a brochure.
Windows 7 from 2020

Chinese UAV/UCAV development

Capturing small, slow and low UAV.

www.sinodefenceforum.com

Obviously Windows software is ideal for export customers due to the use of COTS hardware to keep costs low, ease of training and maintenance as 90% of people are already familiar with it.

I find that most PLA screens are usually blurred out, so it is difficult to see exactly what system they are using. When it isn't blurred out, I don't always see the telltale signs of Windows (i.e. start menu)

I believe in the Semiconductor thread, it was said that the military is a big buyer of Longsoon chips which are based on MIPS, not ARM. Longsoon had some logic to accelerate x86 translation, perhaps as a transition away from Windows/x86. I believe the latest chips no longer have this as they moved to “LongArch”. Also on the commercial side, basically all firms are moving away from windows architecture to OpenAndroid and Linux. You only have to see the explosive growth in Chinese OSS projects as evidence.

Digressing a lot here, but the prevalence of Windows in the Chinese military domain was basically an offshoot of its commercial dominance at the time. Now that OSS has taken root in China, we are seeing things like digital soldier android tablets. The importance of windows will naturally erode over time (if not significantly already)

Thx for the information! Didn’t know they are using Win7 now
About longsoon and MIPS, I personally don’t think they are good solutions, due to their tiny market share,both hardware and software would be much less cost effective, and there aren’t that many developers out there, agile developing would be crucial to future software and that’s why I root for harmony OS, a deeper bonding with commercial ecosystem .

 

[by78]

An excerpt from a paper that describes a simulation in which Red Force's carrier group comes under attack from Blue Force. Of interest is the use of UCAVs in the simulation:

Upon detecting Blue Force's incoming attack force, Red Force quickly launches two manned AWACs, two manned EW planes, 10 manned fighters, and two transport planes from its carrier. The two transport planes then deploy 24 combat UAVs and 8 recon UAVs, and these quickly form a cooperative formation with the manned fighters and AWACs.

 

[by78]

A scene from a Chinese militia skills competition.

https://imgur.com/Fyc9jhQ