Chinese UAVs News & Discussions

[Deino]

View attachment 159134

@Deino
Can you notify them to make the changes?
The translation "Mysterious Dragon" is inaccurate.

The Chinese name for GJ-11 is "玄龙". Pinyin Xuanlong
The direct meaning of "玄" in Chinese is a very deep black. It is often used to describe something profound and difficult to understand.
"玄龙" is a type of dragon in Chinese mythology, also known as "黑龙(black dragon)" or "墨龙(ink dragon)".
This is a very complex and traditional Chinese name. Therefore, the simplest translation method is to use Pinyin, namely "Xuanlong".
View attachment 159136

You mean between the prototype and the production aircraft? In fact difficult since we (at least I) don't have that many clear images of the original "Sharp Sword" (= 利剑).

New at least to me and clearly different to the mock-ups seen at the parade in 2019 is the new IRST-dome, the refined nozzle and most of all the inboard elevon and clearly visible split rudder.

 

[Michael]

You mean between the prototype and the production aircraft? In fact difficult since we (at least I) don't have that many clear images of the original "Sharp Sword" (= 利剑).

New at least to me and clearly different to the mock-ups seen at the parade in 2019 is the new IRST-dome, the refined nozzle and most of all the inboard elevon and clearly visible split rudder.

View attachment 159492

You seem to have gone astray.
=====================================
The Chinese translation of GJ-11 in this article on TWZ.com is inappropriate.

China’s Stealthy GJ-11 'Mysterious Dragon' Soars Out Of The Shadows

The GJ-11 unmanned combat air vehicle has a new name and has been officially shown flying alongside J-20 and J-16D fighters. The drone, now named Mysterious Dragon, is shown accompanied by J-20 and J-16D crewed combat aircraft.

www.twz.com

Neither of these two translations is appropriate.
The simplest translation is: "玄龙" (Xuanlong).
=====================================
China's weapon system naming rules have some unique characteristics:

Projects directly initiated and started by the military are typically named by the military from the outset and remain so.
Projects initiated and started by enterprises usually have a name given by the enterprise. Once the military becomes involved and the system is officially put into service, the military will rename it according to its internal rules.

The GJ-11 belongs to the latter category. "利剑(Sharp Sword)" was the name given to it by the enterprise. After it officially entered service with the PLAAF, the PLAAF gave it a new name,"玄龙 (Xuanlong)". If its naval version (GJ-21) officially enters service with the PLA Navy, it will also have a unique naval name.

FC-31/J-35 series fighter jets
SAC Internal Name: 鹘鹰
PLAAF Version Name: 云龙
PLA Navy Version Name: 蓝鲨

 

[Deino]

You seem to have gone astray.
=====================================
The Chinese translation of GJ-11 in this article on TWZ.com is inappropriate.

China’s Stealthy GJ-11 'Mysterious Dragon' Soars Out Of The Shadows

The GJ-11 unmanned combat air vehicle has a new name and has been officially shown flying alongside J-20 and J-16D fighters. The drone, now named Mysterious Dragon, is shown accompanied by J-20 and J-16D crewed combat aircraft.

www.twz.com

View attachment 159493
Neither of these two translations is appropriate.
The simplest translation is: "玄龙" (Xuanlong).
=====================================
China's weapon system naming rules have some unique characteristics:

Projects directly initiated and started by the military are typically named by the military from the outset and remain so.
Projects initiated and started by enterprises usually have a name given by the enterprise. Once the military becomes involved and the system is officially put into service, the military will rename it according to its internal rules.

The GJ-11 belongs to the latter category. "利剑(Sharp Sword)" was the name given to it by the enterprise. After it officially entered service with the PLAAF, the PLAAF gave it a new name,"玄龙 (Xuanlong)". If its naval version (GJ-21) officially enters service with the PLA Navy, it will also have a unique naval name.

FC-31/J-35 series fighter jets
SAC Internal Name: 鹘鹰
PLAAF Version Name: 云龙
PLA Navy Version Name: 蓝鲨

Pardon, why do you think I "seem to have gone astray"??

The report is not from me as such I'm not responsible for the wrong names and the predecessor of the GJ-11 Xuanlong was - at least if I am not totally wrong - the 利剑(Sharp Sword)? IMO this was demonstrator's name in the same way, the FC-31 demonstrator is/was often designated Gyrfalcon. IMO it is not that uncommon, that an operation type gets a different name later?!!

 

[nang2]

Pardon, why do you think I "seem to have gone astray"??

The report is not from me as such I'm not responsible for the wrong names and the predecessor of the GJ-11 Xuanlong was - at least if I am not totally wrong - the 利剑(Sharp Sword)? IMO this was demonstrator's name in the same way, the FC-31 demonstrator is/was often designated Gyrfalcon. IMO it is not that uncommon, that an operation type gets a different name later?!!

Frankly, I wouldn't waste too much time on those sensational names. Those are only used for PR purpose. PLA has a long history of only using dull, enigmatic but practical code names. In practice, those sensational names easily cause confusion, particularly in Chinese.

 

[Michael]

Pardon, why do you think I "seem to have gone astray"??

What I mean is,

could you point out that there's a problem with the translation of "玄龙" (Xuanlong)?

But you explained the difference between "利剑" (Sharp Sword) and "玄龙" (Xuanlong).

These are two different things...

 

[Deino]

...
@Deino
Can you notify them to make the changes?
The translation "Mysterious Dragon" is inaccurate.
...

Oh my god! I'm sorry and need to apologise ... I totally misread your post: I read initially, I should explain, what changes were made between the initial dememonstrator and the GJ-11 Xuanlong.

Sorry.


By the way, in case someone is interested, a few weeks ago, I was invited to speak at a drone trade fair/symposium in Vienna about Chinese drone systems and development trends.

The Lockeed Martin (LM) team was also there to present their concepts for MUM-T / Loyal Wingman systems – especially Vectis. Of course, the familiar accusation quickly resurfaced that China is lagging far behind, currently just copying US concepts, etc. ...

My objection, that the USAF's two-stage testing and deployment program assumes that the truly large CCAs like Vectis won't fly until 2027/28, and that only after that will the integration of operational systems such as networking and control via F-22/F-35 begin, while China has already five comparable systems – and if you look at Type A & B (not even speaking about the WZ-X & GJ-X), even significantly larger and more capable CCAs available – in testing and is already training them with J-20s, a member from LM's team then confirmed in a confidential conversation after the presentation that they are well aware that the development of these systems and the operational concepts are essentially just a head-to-head race between China and the USA, and China is surprisingly ahead in certain areas.

 

[The Equalizer]

the aft tailend section of the underbody also seem to have been elongated (compared with the earliest mockpup models), in order to reduce the infrared footprint from the engine exhaust.

 

[Michael]

The R6000 of the United Aircraft completed the ground tethered suspension test.


Video: Link


The company’s other UAV (T1400) completed its maiden flight on October 30.

 

[Michael]

A fixed-wing UAV of a certain model, powered by the company's DB416B heavy fuel engine, successfully completed its first electromagnetic catapult launch and takeoff.
Original article link

=======================================================
The following is my personal speculation:
1. Based on the available information, it is highly likely that this UAV is the heavy fuel version of the CH-4 UAV.
2. The news report states that it completed its first electromagnetic catapult takeoff. However, it does not provide further details. If the relevant tests were conducted at a ground-based electromagnetic catapult testing facility, it would also be consistent with the news description. Therefore, this does not necessarily mean that it has completed shipboard testing.

 

[Shui]

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[Deino]

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As far as I remember this is indeed the first time we See a video of both a J-20 and a GJ-11 UCAV flying together. Seen here on final approach for landing.

 

[Michael]

A diagram of large and medium-sized Chinese drones created by Chinese military enthusiasts.

 

[Michael]

Someone unearthed an old photo. It shows the "FL-71" UCAV that appeared at an exhibition.
It seems to be very similar to a certain UCAV currently in use.

 

[Ak01]

Someone unearthed an old photo. It shows the "FL-71" UCAV that appeared at an exhibition.
It seems to be very similar to a certain UCAV currently in use.
View attachment 164110
View attachment 164109
View attachment 164111

FL-71 was a supersonic target drone made by Zhong Tian Guide Control CO.

FL-71 Supersonic VLO Target drone

Basic specifications;

3t MTOW

Mach 1.8 top speed @50,000ft

>800km range

I lost the Datasheet. I used to have it. Maybe i can find it another time from my documents

 

[niubi]

Yep those are all target drones.

Since the 2000s many small to medium companies made hundreds of types of target drones that are aimed to simulate the overall RCS of things like B-2 and F-22 and so on. By making the drones much smaller, they can more easily and cheaply achieve a tiny RCS despite the target drone not being made anywhere near the quality of a true VLO aircraft.

There are so many of these some even resembled the shape of the aircraft perfectly. Most obviously wouldnt have won any PLA contract to supply but PLA only shows a few target drones that are in use out of the many that are in use.