I don’t think “fr6” said anything about the cancellation of the Dark Sword. He mentioned “MY”.
Can you think of any other Chinese weapons program that actually shows steady developmental progress? Almost all Chinese new weapons suddenly appear as mature products. The J-20 is a good example of it. Nobody knew anything about it until people suddenly started talking about it about a month before it took off in Chengdu. What was know about the vectored turbofan? Did we know anything about it before those cartoons and a handful of actual photos? People only discussed some wild rumors about it because it seemed to the natural thing to do. People thought that the PLA bought the Su-35 because they were having trouble with their own vectored engine development. No one expected the engine to be at such advanced level of development. Then the cartoons and a photo...
It appeared at an air show in 2006 because it was a concept and the designers were shopping around and trying to bring some attention to their design. It disappeared because it got picked up by the PLA, which we know is very good at keeping secrets. It now appeared again because the development has matured to a level to be shown.
I honestly don’t think they are looking for foreign investors or buyers. This is not any typical UAV. Like I said before, this is a potentially 6 gen fighter concept. No one else can afford it. No one has the infrastructure to even serious consider it. They won’t find any investors. The only motivation behind the showing is to show off. And that also explains the group photo. The Chinese are careful about group photos. They don’t take those photos unless they are very proud and want to celebrate.
But there was also a group photo in front of the Lavi
different context.
Agreed that there is just no effing way this thing is for export even if it is an existing and ongoing project aimed at eventual service within PLAAF. If the performance is no good and it's for export, why won't the customers just buy existing drones likely for far less and far quicker? If the performance is better than current UCAVs, the price will be too high for all except the few "military powers" all of which have their own industries to purchase from and political alliances to maintain. Also why would Chinese government release this for export if it were a performer. They'd want to equip themselves ASAP even if there are safe customers (no sharing of info) to be found for massive profits.
Potential 6th gen is a definite and there is so far nothing to indicate that this is anything but a supersonic replacement of manned fighters like J-20. At least one that complements existing 4th and 5th gen fighters. Not an expert by any means but looks like frame is optimised for high speeds and doesn't seem like it does low altitude and low speed well. So probably not geared to be a ground attack/ striker unless it comes with variable geometry wings? Could be a cheap and quick production platform that is aimed at intercepting key assets like AWACs and tankers. Knock them out by rushing in with high speeds. Low RCS helps get them through as close as possible. Fire missiles at those big important targets, imparting high initial velocity. If they get taken out, no problem because they are quick and cheap enough to build in numbers? Production line efficiency can win wars and they are aiming for a bit of a T-34 effect. No pilots need to be replaced by the most resource and time costly factor in aerial combat. This platform could address the issue of pilot value for PLAAF. A combined effort to deny carriers and supporting assets anywhere near the island chains will mean guaranteed victory in this current set-up. F-35s and F-22s are next to useless if they can't be rearmed and refueled to go on fighting. Their weapons capacity means little to no effect once their support assets are gone. Either one side then stops the aggressions or escalates to MAD.
Ignoring the nature of these action and reaction arms race dynamics (ie opponents will counter with new hardware to defeat the strategic gains), showing something like this off is done very intentionally. Could be a simple response to the recent discussions for PCA (6th gen USAF) or offering the US a reason to avoid military conflict in any of the three tension points. China wants to avoid being treated like the next Iraq, Libya, Syria. The western world has build up various reasons for justifying aggressions against China in the last few decades. They just need the assurance of coming out of such a conflict alive and well. China is being forced to reveal certain things to ensure it is mostly left alone (at least physically) outside of the mountains of continuous slandering and shit-talking. Having already met the US in MAD requirements, China wants to show that it can defend itself well enough even conventionally.
We'll need to wait longer for more news and photos to ascertain whether this object is similar to J-9, just shown many years after the thing's been rejected in a couple of one off photos which dates to the previous years when it was active. If it ends up being an ongoing development, it is probably quite mature already. They've never shown something unless it is long rejected or near service/ at least in testing phase.
