The NYT has an article about a Chinese exhibit showcasing that country’s pursuit of drone-based air power:
“This is the direction all aviation is going,” said Kenneth Anderson, a professor of law at American University who studies the legal questions surrounding the use of drones in warfare. “Everybody will wind up using this technology because it’s going to become the standard for many, many applications of what are now manned aircraft.”
Military planners worldwide see drones as relatively cheap weapons and highly effective reconnaissance tools. Hand-launched ones used by ground troops can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. Near the top of the line, the Predator B, or MQ9-Reaper, manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, costs about $10.5 million. By comparison, a single F-22 fighter jet costs about $150 million.
The video at the exhibit shows a jet-powered MQ-9 equivalent targeting a military-style jeep in the middle of some trackless waste, which is all very good I suppose, as far as it goes. But China has no need to plink solitary vehicles in the middle of nowhere.
At the 2:30 mark we see an aircraft carrier and her accompanying escorts targeted for destruction, which probably hits a nearer mark to Chinese naval strategy.
The crucial flaw in the Dong Feng DF-21D “carrier killer” missile system has always been locating data. A long-range, low observable drone that could provide such data to missile batteries ashore could be an important element in an anti-access/area denial capability.
Contra the video, it will not, I suspect, use a line-of-sight link back to the shore to transport that data.
I’m just saying.
CHI-COMS are getting ahead of themselves…..they are like the feckless POL in our WH and they are starting to believe their own PR…
Do they bear watching – Sure. Are they some unstoppable force ? Nope. They will face an issue internally before long as the people see that the ” COM ” in CHI-COM no longer serves any purpose…Can you say ” GLASTNOST ” in Chinese ????
For reference: While “Glasnost” is associated with freedom of speech, the main goal of this policy was to make the country’s management transparent and open to debate, thus circumventing the narrow circle of apparatchiks who previously exercised complete control of the economy. Through reviewing the past or by opening up the censored literature in the libraries and a greater freedom of speech: a radical change, as control of speech and suppression of government criticism had previously been a central part of the communist system. There was also a greater degree of freedom within the media….
Egads, one wonders when we will have a drone over Washington DC looking for targets of opportunity and controlled by some raghead in some shipping container on a freighter off the coast. Would NOT be a technological challenge on the drone side, on the weapon part of the equation – maybe.
Wait until they perfect the “dragon-fly”-sized UAVs, G-Man. Put a vial of poison in it with a spike tip and one has the perfect assassination wpn controlled out of the bed of the family suv parked across the street from Congress, etc.
You suddenly scare me, Virgil.
You need to watch the SciFi channel version of “Dune.” The idea isn’t new.
Not much of a Sci Fi guy. I’m more of a Lord of the Rings/Game of Thrones kinds guy.
Nah. We’ll all carry flyswatters.
You know what the Chinese are really working on? Toys. Dining Room Dogfights, with your 1/72 scale Sopwith Camel against my Fokker Triplane. They’ll have them ready just in time for the Great War Centennial.
Frightening, to think of, indeed!
Long-range and LO together are quite a mouthful. The U.S. tried in the early ’90s – and the Tier III (not Tier III-, mind) proposals were reported to have a price tag estimated in the $200 million range. Or more.
At present…mid century now…
Ah, me. Go to the Kindercare; look at the little boys. Weep.
Avoidable. Too late now.
And all made, by the way, by the same Chinese government “corporation” that now owns Cirrus Aircraft (and thus the USAF T-53A) lock-stock-and-composite-construction-techniques.
Were it not for an obscenely down economy with much more owed the bank than it’s worth, I’d be listing my SR-22, I’m thinking.
You won’t be giving anything to Cirrus unless you need parts from them.
I was surprised that the Chinese bought Cirrus and Continental motors. I won’t be buying anything with an O-200 in it.
QM, check your email
Beat me to the punch, Comjam.
Meanwhile, ever notice how our stuff seems to look a lot like *their* stuff? We really shouldn’t copy their stuff, y’know??