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.

 

[Atomicfrog]

One more.

Landing gears position to have nice stability on the ground and out of payload area.

 

[sutton999]

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.

What, WS-9 variant is very fitting for this configuration, it has a low fuel consumption rate, high efficiency at medium latitiude.
Nineday will stay outside of medium-range SAM, deliver standoff muniations (these hive drones can easily do 200km with few kg payload or act as decoy in SEAD). Hence, all drones are expendable, it is not su34.

 

[Blitzo]

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.

For HALE UAVs like this, a single WS-9 class engine isn't cheap per se.