Chinese UAV & UCAV development

Deino said:

To admit, I'm asking myself if it is indeed a stronger or more a stranger message?

Concerning this project, it is so much mysterious so that in the end we have two possibilities:

Option 1: Some day I wake up without any expectations and the news threads are full of discussions, images and so on since SAC unveiled this beast.

Option 2: Nothing will happen and even in 2025 some nice peoples cheer to the camera with still the old image in the background.

I'm really not sure, what's the more likely option.

Click to expand...

IMO, if this new years picture had emerged alone without any recent indications of Dark Sword being worked on in any form, then I probably wouldn't have put much stock in it.

But of course, this mysterious photo from 2018 (almost certainly a mock up) exists, so unfortunately we don't have the luxury of just dismissing the recent new years photo as something that can be ignored.

Deino said:

To admit, I'm asking myself if it is indeed a stronger or more a stranger message?

Concerning this project, it is so much mysterious so that in the end we have two possibilities:

Option 1: Some day I wake up without any expectations and the news threads are full of discussions, images and so on since SAC unveiled this beast.

Option 2: Nothing will happen and even in 2025 some nice peoples cheer to the camera with still the old image in the background.

I'm really not sure, what's the more likely option.

Click to expand...

I think option 2 but "this beast" is another machine entirely. This model's been paraded around so much it's become obvious without being front page news kind of high profile in the military watcher community. It's a deception. The real direction of "the next" when it comes to air superiority drones/fighters isn't this particular picture/model.

However China's been recently quite a lot more transparent with its military equipment than in the past. And the progression and revelation follows option 1's pattern. Certainly when it came to J-10, J-20, Sharp Sword, and the high altitude UAVs WZ-8 and divine eagle.

Does anyone know the name of the new three-engine drone from Tengoen?

New chinese UAV

Nagumo said:

New chinese UAV

Click to expand...

Chinese copy of the Firebee drone? Looks remarkably similar, down to the intake geometry. There was also a known Chinese copy of the Firebee but I forgot the name.

SinoSoldier said:

Chinese copy of the Firebee drone? Looks remarkably similar, down to the intake geometry. There was also a known Chinese copy of the Firebee but I forgot the name.

Click to expand...

You are referring to WuZhen-5 (Unmanned Surveillance-5) or DR-5 (Drone-5). It is China's first drone in production, just like the first fighter J(ian)-5, transport Y(un)-5, attack aircraft Q(iang)-5, and bomber H(ong)-5.

xyqq said:

You are referring to WuZhen-5 (Unmanned Surveillance-5) or DR-5 (Drone-5). It is China's first drone in production, just like the first fighter J(ian)-5, transport Y(un)-5, attack aircraft Q(iang)-5, and bomber H(ong)-5.
View attachment 57359

Click to expand...

Is this because of the superstition around number 4?

sangye said:

Is this because of the superstition around number 4?

Click to expand...

I have the impression that the designations start with 5 because China's aviation industry was established in 1950's.

xyqq said:

You are referring to WuZhen-5 (Unmanned Surveillance-5) or DR-5 (Drone-5). It is China's first drone in production, just like the first fighter J(ian)-5, transport Y(un)-5, attack aircraft Q(iang)-5, and bomber H(ong)-5.
View attachment 57359

Click to expand...

Did the Chinese get a Tu-2? That's pretty awesome, should be a priceless plane by now.

Tam said:

Did the Chinese get a Tu-2? That's pretty awesome, should be a priceless plane by now.

Click to expand...

Between 1953 and 1960, China received 12 Tu-4's from USSR, 11 of which were refitted with turboprop engines around 1970.
Out of them, 2 are on display at the China Aviation Museum:

1. Carrier of WuZhen-5 drones (#4134):


In operation:


2. KJ-1 prototype (#4114):

Note: In 1969, China developed its first airborne early warning aircraft based on the Tu-4 airframe. The project was named KJ-1 and mounted a Type 843 rotodome above the fuselage of the aircraft. However, due to clutter noise the KJ-1 failed to meet the PLAAF's requirements.

In flight: