Chinese UAV/UCAV development

A CH-4 with its optical turret in retracted position, which is a very rare sight.

A concept 'transformer' wing design for loitering attack munitions/UAVs. The wings are fully extended during loitering/patrol flights. They retract for attack mode once a target has been identified and locked on.

Anti-submarine patrol UAV concept with sonobuoy launcher.

An illustration from a paper on a high-speed flying wing UCAV. I don't have the time to give a translation, but it has to do with how maneuvers are accomplished by the control surfaces.

An illustration from a study on cooperative engagement of UCAVs and manned platforms. The UCAVs are capable of communicating targeting info among themselves and to the manned stealthy platform, which serves as a battlefield supervisor of sorts. Further away from the contested airspace, a non-stealthy AWACS probably provides the overall battle space picture.

What's interesting with combined sensor nodes behind Chinese attempts at fighting adversary VLO is the inherent capability of small, low RCS stealth UAVs in building enough resolution on adversary VLO for CEC to engage. Somewhere between the J-20 and the AWACS will probably be a lot of J-16s and J-10s. Adversary will attempt to do the same to erode the line though. Small stealthy UAVs can get much closer to F-22/F-35s than a J-20 could.

Wasn't there a leaked paper and hints from CAS or someone working somewhere else that they've developed a networked solution which is totally effective against stealth platforms but relatively complex and delicate since it relies on dozens of sensory nodes to fuse target information.

A fuselage part for a certain UCAV with canards.

by78 said:

A fuselage part for a certain UCAV with canards.

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For Anjian (Dark Sword) of Inst 601?

Xsizor said:

For Anjian (Dark Sword) of Inst 601?

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Wing shapes are completely different.

Xsizor said:

For Anjian (Dark Sword) of Inst 601?

Click to expand...

Given the distance of the wings and the cutouts for the mechanical connections for the canards, the proportions seem a bit off compared to the known models of the Dark Sword. Also, the trailing sweep angles are wrong as well. That is not to discount possible revisions the Dark Sword may have gone through, but we simply have to too little information to make a judgement. That said, this illustration does appear to show a single-engined airframe and a fuselage that's not as long as that of the Dark Sword.