Chinese UAV/UCAV development

Check out the first pic you posted #430 that everyone was speculating. It has no tail fins. Then you see some of the newspaper clippings... not sure if it's the same model but they don't have tailfins either.

Sorry not newspaper clipping like in Redsky's post #465. This one.

Deino said:

Here with its designer ! (?)

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Arms folded behind your UAV like a bawwwsss1!!

no_name said:

It just feels too front heavy for me for a version with actual missiles.

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That's just a matter of adjusting the missiles' placement. Other than that, they still have to solve the problem of propulsion that's powerful enough for the two heavy missiles, and guidance. Whether anyone will buy it is another matter.

AssassinsMace said:

Check out the first pic you posted #430 that everyone was speculating. It has no tail fins. Then you see some of the newspaper clippings... not sure if it's the same model but they don't have tailfins either.

Sorry not newspaper clipping like in Redsky's post #465. This one.

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The little article said that the UAV landed on a platform that is the same size as the Varyag deck.

tphuang said:

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Is this an arresting hook?

T-U-P said:

The little article said that the UAV landed on a platform that is the same size as the Varyag deck.


Is this an arresting hook?

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See post 444 and 446.

And I think they're trying to say the same configuration as varyag deck or something, cause the landing strip the UAVs landed on definitely was not full size

New paint job.

Interesting circular section at the front of the nose which remains unpainted while the rest of the satcom bulge has been coated. Suggestive of a forward facing radar sensor operating in a different band? It would make sense to include some form of detect, sense and avoid capability to allow for air traffic integration? Odd that all the leading edges are left in raw metal, or is that just and effect of light?

IMO they look like some sort of tape coverings. Is this of comparable size to the US global hawk?

Would RAM paint go there?

RAM paint being used as part of LO signature reduction would normally see its application to all forward facing surfaces (and the need for its constant retouching is part of what drives up the in service costs of LO aircraft). RAM paint over a microwave sensor radome obviously causes problems for the sensor concerned. A parallel example is the USAF sending their CTD configuration Global Hawks into operational service in OIF-OEF with a tuxedo colour scheme comprising LO grey for everything save the Ku-band SATCOM radome above the nose. That was only changed to all over LO grey once the later series Block 10 Global Hawks entered operational service. Clearly this new photo shows a Soar Dragon that is only part way through receiving its paint scheme - note the absence of treatment beneath the engine intake where one would assume RAM would be extremely necessary given the complexity of the shaping. Perhaps the explanation is that this demonstrator is in fact still to receive RAM paint - and the unpainted surfaces now seen are in fact the signposts of where the bulk of that LO treatment is to be applied?