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

[para80]

FH-97A sans the new landing gear has been shown before of course. Unless they changed a few other things important for carrier operations (such as different wing etc), I'd take it with a pile of salt. It looks like a company pitch more than being indicative of what Type 076 or Fujian would embark IMO.

 

[by78]

Two more photos of the FH-97A CATOBAR model.

 

[Deino]

Two more photos of the FH-97A CATOBAR model.

Sorry for that maybe stupid question, but which company is behind this UCAV?

 

[by78]

Sorry for that maybe stupid question, but which company is behind this UCAV?

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), of the Chinese space program fame.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Seems so, but it looks now more like a sensor UAV than an UCAV with thsi very long span?!

View attachment 138729

Yes, you're spot on. CH-7 is mainly a VLO ISTAR UAV platform. Something of a smaller-sized RQ-180 counterpart.

Not sure whether it has swappable modules for weapons payload, though.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1856716191579967711

 

[Blitzo]

A 16hr endurance and 8t MTOW, on a 27m wingspan aircraft is not too bad and I can see some export customers being interested in it.

But for the PLA I imagine a target requirement of something greater, like a 20-30hr endurance with a 20t+ MTOW would be more desired for higher end missions for westpac ISR roles beyond the first island chain