Chinese MALE, HALE (and rotary, small, suicide) UAV/UCAV
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
I think there is definitely a niche for this kind of drone due to the sheer amount of loitering fire power it could bring to a fight. However you have to come up with the proper strategy for using it. For all the military enthusiasts claiming that it is a good JH-7 replacement it is far less survivable than the former.
Do people not know what a ferry range is? If its ferry range is truly only 7000km combat radius with ordnance is probably something like ~2000km, still useful but not what some making it out to be.. glide bomb range will also be severely handicapped by the speed, unless one of those jet boosted versions etc.
lcloo
Major
I can see the usefulness of Jetank in logistic supplies to islands far offshore and remote border outposts in Western China, especially the islands in South China Sea. A formation of large number of Jetanks could resupply the islands quickly.
Its modular payload tank/bay made it versatile in many different situations, from normal low altitude economy, enviroment monitor and control, law enforcement, military and to disaster relief.
Its modular payload tank/bay made it versatile in many different situations, from normal low altitude economy, enviroment monitor and control, law enforcement, military and to disaster relief.
Screenshots from CCTV1 news reporting on the Jetank UAV's first flight, now with the new name "九天苍穹" (Sky of Nine Heavens/Nine Heavens Firmament*). Posted by @沉默的山羊 on Weibo.
*Translation courtesy of Deepseek.
*Translation courtesy of Deepseek.
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Which could only mean that the actual first flight was conducted some months ago instead of just recently.
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I respectfully disagree. At its flight altitude it is going to have a radar horizon of 500 km. It could utilize high-end Harop-like UAVs for strikes. Such drones are normally limited by their communications range. It would be a DEAD (horrible acronym, BTW) monster against battlefield air defenses using such UAVs. Only the SM-6 might be reaching an effective range over 400km , whose land based deployment is a unicorn. With a good EW suite the Jiutian would be quite survivable. I think it would the ideal platform against all the IPFC, Patriot and PrSM batteries the US is looking to bring to Okinawa and the Philippines.