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

[by78]

A model of Wingloong-6 (WL-6) UAV.

 

[by78]

AUICS-3000 drone swarm. Designed to be thrown into the back of a pickup.

 

[by78]

A few more high-resolution images of Lanying (镧影) R6000 tiltrotor UAV.

One more.

 

[by78]

A formation of FH-95 UAVs on an attack run, where they cooperated to break through enemy air defenses to deliver destructive payload and assess the effectiveness of the attack.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

this is impressive, the main mission module can hold 4t of payload. You can put a lot of loitering drones in there. This thing is no joke.

Looking a couple steps forward:

Suitably expanding the dimension and capacity plus an additional non-AB WS-9 onto this UCAV - We could actually be looking at a slightly/moderately smaller, subsonic version of JH-7A as a generic/conventional, unmanned missile truck platform for standoff strike missions.

The potential is huge with such UCAVs to supplement if not eventually succeed the JH-7s, while also complementing the J-16s in similar roles.

 

[Blitzo]

Looking a couple steps forward:

Suitably expanding the dimension and capacity plus an additional non-AB WS-9 onto this UCAV - We could actually be looking at a slightly/moderately smaller, subsonic version of JH-7A as a generic/conventional, unmanned missile truck platform for standoff strike missions.

The potential is huge with such UCAVs to supplement if not eventually succeed the JH-7s, while also complementing the J-16s in similar roles.

I think if one was to add an additional non AB WS-9 onto this UAV would really require such a major redesign of this UAV (literally doubling the available thrust), that it would be an entirely different aircraft.

Also, if one wanted a subsonic UAV oriented for the strike mission, you'd probably end up with an aircraft that is potentially bigger than a JH-7/A in takeoff weight (certainly dimensions).
A twin non AB WS-9 subsonic strike or armed UCAV would really be better off with a flying wing planform rather than a generic MALE planform.


I also don't think there's any particular need to relate this UAV (or indeed, any other UCAV) with JH-7/A, whether if it's a UCAV oriented for the strike role, or whether it is powered by a non AB WS-9 or not (for example, non AB WS-13E/21 or non AB WS-10, etc would all equally be viable).
Probably better to view any medium to heavy weight strike UCAV on their own merits.

 

[Index]

Looking a couple steps forward:

Suitably expanding the dimension and capacity plus an additional non-AB WS-9 onto this UCAV - We could actually be looking at a slightly/moderately smaller, subsonic version of JH-7A as a generic/conventional, unmanned missile truck platform for standoff strike missions.

The potential is huge with such UCAVs to supplement if not eventually succeed the JH-7s, while also complementing the J-16s in similar roles.

Having just 1 cheap engine makes the whole drone cheap, which I'll wager is the whole reason for it to exist. They're like B-24s from ww2.