*56" wheels
Indian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter bd popeye
- Start date
Can't help but feel the sarcastic comments undermine the effort of my post since this forum doesn't make it easy posting multiple pics into one post.
The taxi demonstrator (flying wing model) I'd estimate to be around 2.5m wingspan so an average person is roughly between box A and box B sized. If that model is even 4m wingspan, those wheels would be about the same size as the landing gears of a Su-35.
The actual flight demonstrator model (the one with a vertical stabiliser) shouldn't be much larger than the tax demonstrator just going by an estimation of the runway width. We don't have clear photos of the flying demonstrator to look at scale.
The taxi demonstrator (flying wing model) I'd estimate to be around 2.5m wingspan so an average person is roughly between box A and box B sized. If that model is even 4m wingspan, those wheels would be about the same size as the landing gears of a Su-35.
The actual flight demonstrator model (the one with a vertical stabiliser) shouldn't be much larger than the tax demonstrator just going by an estimation of the runway width. We don't have clear photos of the flying demonstrator to look at scale.
Looking at the landing gear, it looks like they've taken them from an existing plane or platform. They definitely aren't retractable, you can't even see flaps for them to retract into.
I also doubt its jet powered. Look at this picture:
I also doubt it's jet powered. Whoever tried censoring it did a bad job. The machine behind him is this:
It's a commercial injection molding machine for making plastic parts.
You can also see foam and plastic parts behind the man.
That mock up is probably a plastic mock up that's been rattle can painted hilariously poor.
Wow nice find, you can even see the model number 60TL.
Don't think it's a mockup unless Indians are doing a Qaher 313 as a bit of a cringe placeholder. The thing he's working on is probably some demonstrator or test model otherwise it wouldn't need that much wiring and access panels... unless all this is for show like those "laser weapons" they revealed during exercise.
Plastic injection molding machine could be used in that workshop for quick parts production.
The whole thing is more RC toy level than proper demonstrator though. Not that the DRDO program don't learn things from these small tests flying 2m x 3m models that are relatively far from simulating things like engine performance, actual aerodynamic loads of what the final product is supposed to be, weapons bays, avionics of actual end product, and things of that nature... What they can gain from these tests is flying wing aerodynamics but they did a flight with a vertical stabiliser.
Anyway point is flying wing drone is a piece of piss RC builders can do it in their garage. DRDO can do it. What they wanted to test with the vertical stabiliser model is a bit of a strange one. Perhaps evaluating certain aerodynamic differences between flying wing model and one with a stabiliser? who knows but if they flew a pure flying wing then they would have used that video like they have with the taxiing test.
Bruh you're looking at something that will take a while to enter service, and would generously speaking be equivalent to a 093A in capability. In the 2030s.
I think you just deal with it in peacetime by following it. And in wartime, it's not gonna survive outside the bay of bengal.
The navy undersea force size expansion and next generation vessels already planned for countering USN buildup also provides enough resources to handle a couple of very mid Indian vessels a decade down the line.
I don't think the wiring loom means much. Maybe they motorised ailerons, maybe the wheels are actually what provides traction, it could just be some flashing LEDs on it.
The engine cowling looks to be held on with tape. There's no way any metal or composite structure would need that.
I doubt they would use an injection molding machine for a prototype. More likely this is some plastic component manufacturing workshop that has been tasked to make a model.
I just realised, you can even see the paint they used splashed on the floor....lol
I doubt that thing can fly. Even if it could, it certainly can't carry 1 ton of payload.
Thi
That explains the tape that is holing on the center rear panel of the aircraft
Just saw this post from Damien Symon
I find it incredulous how anyone could claim an Indian Air Force advantage with respect to China in 2023, but it appears that this is the concensus not only among the Jai Hind crowd but also the professional policy-making circles in India.
Which lead me to wonder, what are India's intelligence capabilities towards China? They have very few Mandarin speakers and probability very limited HUMINT assets. Not a whole lot of satellites in orbit. Cyber capabilities probabilty aren't world-class, either. Institutionally, Indian intelligence probably has a Pakistan/anti-terror focus. Historically, they were completely unprepared in 1962.
Could it be that Indians genuinely know very little about Chinese capabilities? Do they get their intel from second hand Western sources? If they buy Deino's books, would it be all new information?
Thoughts?
I find it incredulous how anyone could claim an Indian Air Force advantage with respect to China in 2023, but it appears that this is the concensus not only among the Jai Hind crowd but also the professional policy-making circles in India.
Which lead me to wonder, what are India's intelligence capabilities towards China? They have very few Mandarin speakers and probability very limited HUMINT assets. Not a whole lot of satellites in orbit. Cyber capabilities probabilty aren't world-class, either. Institutionally, Indian intelligence probably has a Pakistan/anti-terror focus. Historically, they were completely unprepared in 1962.
Could it be that Indians genuinely know very little about Chinese capabilities? Do they get their intel from second hand Western sources? If they buy Deino's books, would it be all new information?
Thoughts?
I did some research on this topic and found an Indian think tank called , which is semi-official with director generals made up of retired Indian Air Marshalls (3 star generals) and articles penned by current high ranking IAF officers.
Behold this gem from SP Singh, an Air Commodore (1 star general) titled , published in Spring 2022 (keep this time in mind) in the Journal Air Power (presumably aimed at a specialist/professional audience).
Some highlights from the segment on the PLAAF:
"The PLAAF has also dedicated a large portion of its strength of about 1600 combat-worthy aircraft that include primarily Su-27s and Su-30s with few J-11s."
"In the near future Su-35s are also likely to dominate the skies over the SCS."
"With an envious record rate of modernisation and upgrade of about 70 aircraft/year, the PLAAF has enhanced its fleet of fourth-generation fighters to almost 30 per cent of the combat-worthy fighter force."
"The carrier based 4.5 Generation fighter JF-15 of PLAN, would augment the desired capability level to achieve China’s naval dominance in the region."
"The J-20 aircraft, once operational, would meet the PLAAF requirements of a high speed stealth interceptor against AWACS and other High Value Air Assets (HVAAs) of USAF."
"Though J-31 is not expected to enter service until 2035, the PLAAF appears to be focussed on early roll out of this highly capable platform that may prove to be a game changer."
"While Y-20 with 60 tonnes lift capability is yet to be fully operationalised, with only about 20 Il-76 of just 40 tonnes lift capability each, PLAAF will be in no position to support the massive airlift requirements during operations against USAF."
------
Frankly, I am in shock. I must conclude that the average SDF member is more knowledgeable than the IAF high command.