Chinese UAV/UCAV development

Unmanned vehicles formations at the parade (based on Chinese sources):

Formation I (recon): 2x WZ-8, 3x BZK-008A artillery spotting, 3x BZK-008 (aka CH-91) reconnaissance, 3x Ryu Ying (aka Sky Saker FH500)

Formation II (strike): 1x GJ-11 Li Jian (Sharp Sword), 1x GJ-2 Wing Loong II, 4x JWS-01 (copy of IAI Harpy)

Formation III (special): 6x BZK-008A ELINT, 3x BZK-008A EW jammer, 2x HSU-001 robotic mini-sub

Some good old stuff from last year: AVIC A-Hawk II ducted-fan VTOL UAV:

MTOW: 450 kg
Max. payload: 120 kg
Cruise speed: 60 km/h
Max. altitude: 5000 m
Endurance: 4 hours

I was wondering how they managed to cover the huge nozzle on the prototype GJ-11 and transformed it into a stealthy one. Then I stumbled upon the following diagram:



It turns out that they probably just removed the afterburner and reshaped the nozzle. In the diagram, the top figure is RD33/93 with afterburner. The middle figure shows RD33/93 with the afterburner removed. The bottom one shows the WP-7 engine without afterburner.

supercat said:

I was wondering how they managed to cover the huge nozzle on the prototype GJ-11 and transformed it into a stealthy one. Then I stumbled upon the following diagram:

View attachment 54500

It turns out that they probably just removed the afterburner and reshaped the nozzle. In the diagram, the top figure is RD33/93 with afterburner. The middle figure shows RD33/93 with the afterburner removed. The bottom one shows the WP-7 engine without afterburner.

Click to expand...

I remember that image from when the Sharp Sword prototype first emerged in 2013 and people were talking about the exhaust. I've been meaning to find that image again but wasn't able to find it, good job locating it.


The discussions back then about the non-stealthy nozzle was basically agreed that the most likely solution would be removing the AB nozzle and having an extended aft central fuselage with a stealthy nozzle. After all an aircraft of this configuration doesn't need an afterburner anyhow.
It was accepted that the RD33/93 powering Sharp Sword at the time was an interim measure.

and

the one below is pulled right after conducting a mission?

The one with the silver nozzle looks like it's been used. There are more signs of wear on the top surface. I don't see the supposed burn marks on the bottom highlighted by the Japanese twitter user.






It's not just an angle issue since it doesn't appear at all on the other drone in the images available.

But the black nozzled one also has signs of use if you zoom in on the detailed HD images.

If Sharp Sword demonstrator was using RD-93, I would expect GJ-11 to be using something of very similar (if not almost exact) dimensions. Thus, my most likely guess would be a non afterburning variant of the engine that the FC-1 based carrier fighter is going to be using. Providing that engine is close to being ready for serial production. There's also the possibility of original WS-13, but that engine seems to be an even more mythical beast. Mentioned a lot of times over the years but never actually seen; and by now it might be old enough tech that it never gets used. Of course, there's also a possibility that the carrier fighter and this drone might be using some advanced variant of WS-13.

supercat said:

I was wondering how they managed to cover the huge nozzle on the prototype GJ-11 and transformed it into a stealthy one. Then I stumbled upon the following diagram:

View attachment 54500

It turns out that they probably just removed the afterburner and reshaped the nozzle. In the diagram, the top figure is RD33/93 with afterburner. The middle figure shows RD33/93 with the afterburner removed. The bottom one shows the WP-7 engine without afterburner.

Click to expand...

But a WP-7 without afterburner??? ... would that be enough thrustwise?

Also not mentioned as far as I'm aware is what look like areas for fixings and attachments.



Looks like they've removed a certain component meant for the nozzle end of this drone.

ougoah said:

Also not mentioned as far as I'm aware is what look like areas for fixings and attachments.

View attachment 54522

Looks like they've removed a certain component meant for the nozzle end of this drone.

Click to expand...

Is it possible that there is an additional rocket stage?