Chinese UCAV/CCA/Loyal Wingman (sensor, A2A and A2G) thread

[by78]

CH-7 model on display.

 

[plawolf]

You would be better off using an afterburner.

Normally, yes, but look at the intake design - it’s top mounted. The benefit is better RCS against ground based radars, the downside is restricted flight envelope due to being easier to stall out the intake.

Now, this being a UCAV, a lot of the downsides can be managed by having it pull negative Gs, since there isn’t a pilot to worry about. But having the rockets provide added insurance if the intake does stall out, you can fire off a pair of those rockets to break you out of the stall. That’s not something afterburners can help you with, since you need airflow through your engine in the first instance to make effective use of afterburners.

 

[by78]

Better screen caps of CH-7 prototype.

 

[by78]

A much better image of the CH-7 scaled model at Zhuhai.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

CATOBAR variant of FH-97A model exhibited at Zhuhai. Posted by @这丫头有点风 on Weibo.

 

[no_name]

Could go on the 076.

 

[by78]

FH-97A CATOBAR variant.

 

[lcloo]

FH-97A CATOBAR variant.

FH-97A is likely to be deployed on type 076. The only question is whether PLAN has decided to buy them?

 

[Miyayaya]

Questionable.

Also, GJ-11 is strangely invisible (pun not intended) at this airshow, only a scaled mockup in the aviation hall iirc.

 

[lcloo]

Questionable.

Also, GJ-11 is strangely invisible (pun not intended) at this airshow, only a scaled mockup in the aviation hall iirc.

In what situation do you expect a navalised catobar UCAV to launch a swam of relatively short range suicide drones? Against enenmy flotilla hundreds of miles away (and put your ship inside their missile range) or beach defense positions 30-80 km away from an amphibious assault ship?