Movable wingtips are pretty obvious. Looks like that the frontal edges of these control surfaces are shielded by the main wings.
Real question is where did they put the actuators for the wingtips?
Chinese UCAV/CCA/flying wing drones (ISR, A2A, A2G) thread
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Movable wingtips are pretty obvious. Looks like that the frontal edges of these control surfaces are shielded by the main wings.
Real question is where did they put the actuators for the wingtips?
I'm pretty sure they are visible on the underside on the wings, see here.
Chinese UCAV/CCA/flying wing drones (ISR, A2A, A2G) thread
I think the biggest problem that needs to solved for CCA or fighter like drones is coming to the fight. They likely don't have the long range that j-20 or J-16 has. But they are expected to fight with them. So, there should be a way to launch these drones near the actual theater. Likely...
www.sinodefenceforum.com
Just goes to show that they are actually in service. If they are just models there is no point in putting different engine nozzles.
Anyhow, the lambda winged one seems to be relatively lower end of the two. No DAS nor EOTS system, worse engine and smaller in size.
I guess it is kind of J-36 vs J-50 dynamics going on between the two types.
Any idea why the two big boys have exposed nozzles? Most of the decisionmaking (general shape, lack of vertical stabilizers) would suggest extreme stealth, so the engine does stick out quite a bit.
This is not to suggest that this makes them them non-LO from side and rear angles, and the decisionmaking for the F-35 and J-20 shows that an F-22-like nozzle cover isn't strictly necessary for a modern VLO plane, but I'm still curious. As shown by the other drones and the 6th-gen designs, China has no issues building planes with all-aspect stealth.
This is not to suggest that this makes them them non-LO from side and rear angles, and the decisionmaking for the F-35 and J-20 shows that an F-22-like nozzle cover isn't strictly necessary for a modern VLO plane, but I'm still curious. As shown by the other drones and the 6th-gen designs, China has no issues building planes with all-aspect stealth.
Most likely it's a matter of cost since UADF are most certainly disposable, and wouldn't such nozzles reduce total thrust output? This is especially important when they are using one engine.
Presumably because integrating fully optimized VLO engines would substantially increase cost for a platform (CCA) that is meant to be produced in large numbers and reasonably attritable, albeit not exactly cheap.
Stealth nozzles will increase cost and weight. Considering this is an aircraft similar in size to the JF-17, the slight RCS (Radar Cross-Section) increase is acceptable—it might even make it appear like a larger manned aircraft on radar.