Chinese UAV/UCAV development
- Thread starter AssassinsMace
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I'm a huge fan of that last photo. Really nice clear shot. The interesting part is that this prototype or demonstrator looks completely different from what I first thought was XiangLong.
This is the one we saw out of CAC in 2009
At that time, I was confused on whether this UAV's name is sky wing or xiang long. And I thought this was supposed to be CAC's HALE UAV, but now they also have this Xiang Long (soar dragon). And soar dragon looks to be much larger than Sky Wing. CAC also has the predator-like UAV (YiLong). I'm not sure what that project is intended for. Either way, I agree with Deino. The UAV development in China is extremely confusing.
This is the one we saw out of CAC in 2009
At that time, I was confused on whether this UAV's name is sky wing or xiang long. And I thought this was supposed to be CAC's HALE UAV, but now they also have this Xiang Long (soar dragon). And soar dragon looks to be much larger than Sky Wing. CAC also has the predator-like UAV (YiLong). I'm not sure what that project is intended for. Either way, I agree with Deino. The UAV development in China is extremely confusing.
tanlixiang28776
Junior Member
Re: Clearest Soar Dragon picture to date
I thought the thing was on a padded platform at first but now I see that it is actually on foam RAM covered pyramids like the ones you see in Anechoic chambers. Its also surrounded by the same kind of foam RAM pyramids all around.
This prototype seems to be in the advanced stages of RCS measurement and testing.
Clearest Soar Dragon picture to date
[Note: Thank you to Marchpole for the picture.]
I thought the thing was on a padded platform at first but now I see that it is actually on foam RAM covered pyramids like the ones you see in Anechoic chambers. Its also surrounded by the same kind of foam RAM pyramids all around.
This prototype seems to be in the advanced stages of RCS measurement and testing.
Re: Clearest Soar Dragon picture to date
RCS testing outdoors?
I thought the thing was on a padded platform at first but now I see that it is actually on foam RAM covered pyramids like the ones you see in Anechoic chambers. Its also surrounded by the same kind of foam RAM pyramids all around.
This prototype seems to be in the advanced stages of RCS measurement and testing.
RCS testing outdoors?
tanlixiang28776
Junior Member
Re: Clearest Soar Dragon picture to date
Yes. You have to test it outdoors as well after its tested in anechoic chambers.
Yes. You have to test it outdoors as well after its tested in anechoic chambers.
Martian
Senior Member
Innovative New Chinese UAV Emerges
Clearest Soar Dragon picture to date
"Innovative New Chinese UAV Emerges
By David A. Fulghum, Bill Sweetman
Jul 1, 2011
The latest unmanned aircraft pictures from China show a reconnaissance truck with a joined wing and tail that could considerably increase range and payload and produce better handling at high altitudes.
U.S. analysts already are suggesting that the new Chinese UAV design — with its 60,000-ft. cruising altitude, 300-mi. radar surveillance range and low radar reflectivity if it uses the right composite structure — could serve as the targeting node for China’s anti-ship ballistic missiles. The ASBM threat against carriers finally has U.S. Navy officials worried.
Photographs emerging from Chinese Internet sources, depicting the aircraft on what is likely Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s (CAC) ramp, show a new design featuring a novel joined-wing layout. In the same size class as the General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc. Avenger, and powered by a single turbofan engine, the new UAV is the most advanced Chinese design seen to date and the largest joined-wing aircraft known to have been built.
The company also makes the J-10 strike fighter, the J-20 stealth fighter prototype and a Global Hawk-like maritime reconnaissance UAV called the Xianglong, or Soaring Dragon, which flew in December 2009. CAC officials say it has a wingspan of 75 ft., length of 45 ft. and a cruise altitude of 55,000-to-60,000 ft. Chinese sources credited it with a 7,500-kg (16,500-lb.) takeoff weight and 3,800 nm range. The forebody is bulged to accommodate a high-data-rate satcom antenna.
Joined wings — a subset of closed-wing systems — comprise a sweptback forward wing and a forward-swept aft wing.
In the new Chinese UAV (as in many such configurations) the rear wing is higher than the forward wing to reduce the effect of the forward wing’s downwash on the rear wing’s lifting qualities. The rear wing has a shorter span than the front wing and its downturned tips meet the front wing at a part-span point.
Advocates of the joined wing claim that its advantages stem from the fact that the front and rear wings are structurally cross-braced.
This allows a higher aspect ratio while keeping down weight and staying within flutter limits. A higher aspect ratio reduces drag due to lift, and because the wings are both slender and short-span (relative to a single wing with equivalent lift) the wing chords are short, which makes it easier to achieve laminar flow. The joined wing also can reduce trim drag.
Studies of joined wings go back to the earliest years of aviation, but modern work is traceable to Julian Wolkovitch, a California aerodynamicist.
Wolkovitch worked with Burt Rutan on an early design study, the Model 58 Predator agricultural airplane, and drew up plans to develop a flight demonstrator based on the fuselage of the Ames-Dryden AD-1 skewed-wing aircraft. However, the project was still unfunded when Wolkovitch died in 1991. (Rutan went on to build a different Predator design.)
More recently, Boeing used a joined-wing configuration in its contribution to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) SensorCraft project, aimed at developing an aircraft capable of carrying an airframe-integrated, 360-deg.-coverage, high-resolution radar and remaining on station for 30 hr. at 2,000 nm range.
A small, low-speed free-flight model known as VA-1, with a 14-ft. wingspan, was completed by AFRL in 2003 and test flown.
A model of Boeing’s Joined Wing SensorCraft was tested last year in NASA Langley’s Transonic Dynamics Tunnel under the Air Force’s Aerodynamic Efficiency Improvement program."
[Note: Thank you to Qwerrty for the news link.]
Clearest Soar Dragon picture to date
"Innovative New Chinese UAV Emerges
By David A. Fulghum, Bill Sweetman
Jul 1, 2011
The latest unmanned aircraft pictures from China show a reconnaissance truck with a joined wing and tail that could considerably increase range and payload and produce better handling at high altitudes.
U.S. analysts already are suggesting that the new Chinese UAV design — with its 60,000-ft. cruising altitude, 300-mi. radar surveillance range and low radar reflectivity if it uses the right composite structure — could serve as the targeting node for China’s anti-ship ballistic missiles. The ASBM threat against carriers finally has U.S. Navy officials worried.
Photographs emerging from Chinese Internet sources, depicting the aircraft on what is likely Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s (CAC) ramp, show a new design featuring a novel joined-wing layout. In the same size class as the General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc. Avenger, and powered by a single turbofan engine, the new UAV is the most advanced Chinese design seen to date and the largest joined-wing aircraft known to have been built.
The company also makes the J-10 strike fighter, the J-20 stealth fighter prototype and a Global Hawk-like maritime reconnaissance UAV called the Xianglong, or Soaring Dragon, which flew in December 2009. CAC officials say it has a wingspan of 75 ft., length of 45 ft. and a cruise altitude of 55,000-to-60,000 ft. Chinese sources credited it with a 7,500-kg (16,500-lb.) takeoff weight and 3,800 nm range. The forebody is bulged to accommodate a high-data-rate satcom antenna.
Joined wings — a subset of closed-wing systems — comprise a sweptback forward wing and a forward-swept aft wing.
In the new Chinese UAV (as in many such configurations) the rear wing is higher than the forward wing to reduce the effect of the forward wing’s downwash on the rear wing’s lifting qualities. The rear wing has a shorter span than the front wing and its downturned tips meet the front wing at a part-span point.
Advocates of the joined wing claim that its advantages stem from the fact that the front and rear wings are structurally cross-braced.
This allows a higher aspect ratio while keeping down weight and staying within flutter limits. A higher aspect ratio reduces drag due to lift, and because the wings are both slender and short-span (relative to a single wing with equivalent lift) the wing chords are short, which makes it easier to achieve laminar flow. The joined wing also can reduce trim drag.
Studies of joined wings go back to the earliest years of aviation, but modern work is traceable to Julian Wolkovitch, a California aerodynamicist.
Wolkovitch worked with Burt Rutan on an early design study, the Model 58 Predator agricultural airplane, and drew up plans to develop a flight demonstrator based on the fuselage of the Ames-Dryden AD-1 skewed-wing aircraft. However, the project was still unfunded when Wolkovitch died in 1991. (Rutan went on to build a different Predator design.)
More recently, Boeing used a joined-wing configuration in its contribution to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) SensorCraft project, aimed at developing an aircraft capable of carrying an airframe-integrated, 360-deg.-coverage, high-resolution radar and remaining on station for 30 hr. at 2,000 nm range.
A small, low-speed free-flight model known as VA-1, with a 14-ft. wingspan, was completed by AFRL in 2003 and test flown.
A model of Boeing’s Joined Wing SensorCraft was tested last year in NASA Langley’s Transonic Dynamics Tunnel under the Air Force’s Aerodynamic Efficiency Improvement program."
[Note: Thank you to Qwerrty for the news link.]
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
last 6 months and coming 6 months has proved to be a massive year for Chinese military developments
SinoSoldier
Colonel
The recently released Soar Dragon U/CAV is also capable of carrying C-701 anti ship / air to surface missiles.
StrategyCenter also suggested that China may be developing (or has developed) a delta wing jet powered UCAV capable of carrying the BA-7 anti tank missile. It apparently would be the world's first CAS (close air support) UCAV.
China also revealed a model of an UCAV (similar in shape to the WZ-2000) that carries TY-90 missiles and an unknown antitank missile.
These also might be included in the PLAAF's future jet powered UCAV program, in the league of the General Atomics Avenger.
I did not include the Combat Eagle heavy stealth UCAV because that is a heavy UCAV.
StrategyCenter also suggested that China may be developing (or has developed) a delta wing jet powered UCAV capable of carrying the BA-7 anti tank missile. It apparently would be the world's first CAS (close air support) UCAV.
China also revealed a model of an UCAV (similar in shape to the WZ-2000) that carries TY-90 missiles and an unknown antitank missile.
These also might be included in the PLAAF's future jet powered UCAV program, in the league of the General Atomics Avenger.
I did not include the Combat Eagle heavy stealth UCAV because that is a heavy UCAV.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
I'm a huge fan of that last photo. Really nice clear shot. The interesting part is that this prototype or demonstrator looks completely different from what I first thought was XiangLong.
This is the one we saw out of CAC in 2009
At that time, I was confused on whether this UAV's name is sky wing or xiang long. And I thought this was supposed to be CAC's HALE UAV, but now they also have this Xiang Long (soar dragon). And soar dragon looks to be much larger than Sky Wing. CAC also has the predator-like UAV (YiLong). I'm not sure what that project is intended for. Either way, I agree with Deino. The UAV development in China is extremely confusing.
That would be the WZ-2000, which is a U/CAV similar to that of the Xiang Long, but different.
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