Drones need low-medium power high bypass turbofans not low bypass engines for maximum efficiency.
PLA strike strategies in westpac HIC
- Thread starter SEAD
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Technically speaking anything more than 5 can be considered "High BPR" but IMO definition is sorta of murky. AE3007 used by the RQ-4 is a bizjet engine with a BPR of exactly 5. Your right that smaller drones usually use medium bypass engines with 2-4 BPR.
BTW do anyone know what engine WZ-9 is using? It's approximately RQ-4 classed if not heavier but I'm not aware of any medium-high BPR engine in the range that is sufficient to power this drone.
Even a low bypass turbofan should have much better fuel efficiency than a turbojet. But yeah a medium bypass engine would be better for a high endurance drone.
The problem with the high bypass engines is you get more drag. It worsens top speed and agility.
If you want a high bypass turbofan of that kind of power level you need some kind of exotic complex three shaft or geared turbofan engine like this I think:
The problem with the high bypass engines is you get more drag. It worsens top speed and agility.
If you want a high bypass turbofan of that kind of power level you need some kind of exotic complex three shaft or geared turbofan engine like this I think:
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If it's missing the PLAGF's rocket artillery then this misses out on some of the most potent weapons against Taiwan itself. Still, it does show how ugly this scenario looks for American planners. It almost doesn't matter how many planes the USAF has if their airbases can be largely neutralized for the duration of the conflict.