China to supply 4 attack drones to Pak, prompts India to revive Predator-B plan

[Zarvan]

China has already been selling the reconnaissance and strike drone Wing Loong II to several countries in Asia and West Asia and emerged as the largest exporter of armed drones.
Updated: Jul 06, 2020 07:50 IST
By Shishir Gupta, Hindustan Times New Delhi

The supply of two systems (each has two drones and a ground station) to Pakistan comes ahead of Beijing’s plan to jointly produce 48 GJ-2 drones
China is in the process of supplying four armed drones to Pakistan, ostensibly to protect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s new base at Gwadar port, according to people familiar with the development said on Sunday.

Gwadar, in the highly restive southwestern province of Baluchistan, is described as the crown jewel of China’s $60 billion investment in Belt and Road Initiative projects in Pakistan.

The supply of two systems (each has two drones and a ground station) comes ahead of Beijing’s plan to jointly produce 48 GJ-2 drones, the military version of Wing Loong II, designed in China for use by Pakistan’s air force.

China has already been selling the reconnaissance and strike drone Wing Loong II to several countries in Asia and West Asia and emerged as the largest exporter of armed drones. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) arms transfer database, China had delivered 163 UAVs to a dozen-odd countries including Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates from 2008 to 2018.



Unlike the US that follows an elaborate process to determine and regulate the end-use of its high-end weapons, China has no such qualms.

China’s attack drone, said to be armed with 12 air-to-surface missiles, are currently being used by UAE-backed forces in Libya against the Turkish-backed government in Tripoli with limited success. Four of them were shot down in the last two months in Libya, according to data compiled by non profit Drone Wars UK.

China’s aggressive postures in Ladakh where the two armies are engaged in a standoff that has lasted two months and its supply to Pakistan has prompted India to conveyed to the US its renewed interest in the medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) armed Predator-B drone, which not only collects intelligence through surveillance and reconnaissance but also locates and destroys the target with missiles or laser-guided bombs.

The Indian Navy has been in negotiations with the US for its unarmed naval variant, but national security planners feel that due to the prohibitive cost of the UAV, it would be better to have an all-in-one drone rather than separate ones for surveillance and targeting. Also called the MQ-9 Reaper, the armed remotely piloted aircraft is battle-proven in the Iraq, Afghanistan and Syrian theatres with the capability of carrying four Hell-Fire missiles and two 500 pounds of laser-guided bombs.

For the future, Indian private sector companies on the outskirts of New Delhi are in the process of developing medium-altitude long-endurance drones for India. But the capacity to acquire armed drones within the country is some distance away. The Defence Research and Development Organisation also has plans to produce the Rustom drone prototype by the end of this year.

https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-...ofzh03LSzI_amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

Lol

They are also making a space station in skurdu where Pakistan will lunch strikes from mars and so India is building a space station on Jupiter to counter it.


Oh how I wish Pakistan was an island nation like Australia. Why did we have to be cursed with these kind of neighbors?

 

[Zarvan]

Lol

They are also making a space station in skurdu where Pakistan will lunch strikes from mars and so India is building a space station on Jupiter to counter it.


Oh how I wish Pakistan was an island nation like Australia. Why did we have to be cursed with these kind of neighbors?

I ask myself this question daily

 

[Indos]

I ask myself this question daily

Why did Pakistan buy Winglong 2 while it has already had CH4, how many CH4 does Pakistan have ? Is it CH4A or CH4B ?

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

I ask myself this question daily

Imagine the prosperity we could've had.

 

[Pakhtoon yum]

Why did Pakistan buy Winglong 2 while it has already had CH4, how many CH4 does Pakistan have ? Is it CH4A or CH4B ?

Doubt the authenticity of this news. Pakistan was in the process of devloping it's own drones. Also getting only 2 makes no sense at all.
Indian source = trash

 

[Cookie Monster]

Why did Pakistan buy Winglong 2 while it has already had CH4, how many CH4 does Pakistan have ? Is it CH4A or CH4B ?

I don't remember any news about Pakistan inducting CH4...
...there were rumors of Pakistan possibly evaluating Chinese drones(not sure if it was CH4 or Wing Loong or both)...but that was it.

 

[Zarvan]

Doubt the authenticity of this news. Pakistan was in the process of devloping it's own drones. Also getting only 2 makes no sense at all.
Indian source = trash

This particular news is doubtful but Pakistan will get a UAV from China. Which one it can't be said with full surety. Also Pakistan will develop one MALE UAV of its own also

 

[Zarvan]

New Drones Dominate China’s Airshow
By
Tamir Eshel
-
Nov 9, 2018
11332

XY-280 stealthy target drone. Photo by Huanqui


The Chinese Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) unveiled at AirshowChina a new jet-powered, long-range UAV called WJ-700. This drone is designed for reconnaissance and attack missions over land and sea. The drone has an endurance of 20 hours. At a maximum takeoff weight of 3,500 kg, it carries weapons and payloads on four underwing hardpoints, two for each wing. Unlike other MALE UAVs that are limited to relatively light weapons, this drone carries standard air to surface attack weapons, such as the CM-102 anti-radiation missile, C701, and C-705KD anti-ship missiles. Other loads include early warning and electronic warfare equipment.

The WJ-700 drone carries standard air to surface attack weapons, such as the CM-102 anti-radiation missile, C701, and C-705KD anti-ship missiles.
Another combat drone (UCAV) unveiled in AirshowChina this year is the stealthy Rainbow CH-7. The tailless flying-wing shaped aircraft displayed by the Chinese is similar to American designs, such as X-47 and X-45. Despite its large size – a wingspan of 22 meters and length of 10 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 13 tons, CH-7 is stealthy due to the smoothly curved shapes and use of radar absorbent materials. Designed for operation at subsonic speed and high altitude, CH-7 can reach a maximum speed of 0.75 Mach, cruising at an altitude of 30,000 – 43,000 ft. Its cruising speed is slower though, Mach 0.5 – 0.6, depending on the mission configuration. The drone is powered by a turbofan engine of an unknown type. The drone carries weapons in two internal weapon bays that maintains its low observable characteristics throughout the mission.



Like other drones of the ‘Rainbow’ family, CH-7 supports fully automatic operation, with mission control provided by a universal ground station. Stealth enables the drone to sustain operations in airspace dominated by enemy defenses, radars, and sensors. It can penetrate conduct reconnaissance missions or attack strategic radars, ships, missile sites, command centers, and other key assets.

Another view of the CH-7.

HK-5000G is designed for operation from aircraft carriers
The Chinese Navy is interested in unmanned aircraft for its new aircraft carrier fleet. China currently has one carrier, another is undergoing sea trials, and a third is under construction. Operating unmanned aircraft from the carrier would extend the surveillance and strike range of the surface fleet and improve its ability to maintain persistent surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions without the need for aerial refueling.

The Chinese consider using such drones either independently, or in coordination with fourth-generation combat aircraft. The current CH-7 is designed with fixed wings for operation from a runway, but the developers already explore its use from aircraft carriers, with folding wings.

Another fixed-wing drone proposed for operation from aircraft carriers is the HK-5000G. A model of this UAV designed with folded wings was on display at AirshowChina 2018 by the Aeromarine Intelligent Equipment Company, a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Corp. The drone is designed for maximum takeoff weight of five tons and use launch catapult, as the other aircraft on board. The drone can be used for reconnaissance and strike missions from aircraft carriers. It has an integral ER/IR payload, with weapons carried on two underwing hardpoints.

The JY-300 drone was modified to carry AESA radar arrays embedded in its skin and wing leading edges. Photo via Henri Kenhmann, East Pendulum
Another mission that could be assumed by those drones is Airborne Early Warning and Surveillance (AEW&S), utilizing an innovative radar array developed as a proof of concept and demonstrated by the 38th Institute of the CETC Group. Such a radar was recently flown for the first time. The JY-300 drone called ‘Tian Shao,’ a 1,300 kg MTOW drone designed to carry 400 kg of payload. Currently, the JY-300 is designed to operate for 15-hour missions, fly at a speed of 200 km/h and altitude of 25,000 ft., from a runway on land. The JY-300 can be configured with several AESA arrays, on both sides of the fuselage and wing leading edges.

The CH-10 tilt-rotor VTOL drone was unveiled few days before Airshow China.
Other naval applications are also considered for another member of the Rainbow family – Vertical take-off and landing is one path, already reflected by the CH-10 tilt-rotor drone unveiled at the airshow. With VTOL capability CH-10 is useful for military, law enforcement, and civilian uses, as it can operate from small islands and small maritime platforms.

Future Chinese drones are expected to include platforms that will offer extended range and endurance, aircraft that will operate at high-altitude as well as high-speed, supersonic drones.

FL71 high-speed drone. Photo: via Huanqiu
Some of these designs were shown in scale models at the exhibition. For example, the FL-71 platform depicts a high-speed unmanned aircraft designed for a maximum takeoff weight of three tons, designed for maximum speed of 2,200 km/h (Mach 1.8) at 50,000 ft or high subsonic cruising at 850 km/h. (0.71 Mach) at 30,000 ft, which enables the drone to carry a payload of 100 kg over 800 km on a single mission lasting about one hour, with a mission profile that could include a short supersonic dash.

FL-2 is another drone design optimized for transportation of heavy loads at high speed. At 22-ton MTOW it can fly autonomously up to 900 km/h (0.73 Mach) to a distance of 7,300 km.

The FL-2 will be able to deliver heavy cargo to a distance of 7,500 km. Photo via Huanqiu

A full-size mockup of Tengden TW-365 display at Airshow China 2018 Photo: Defense-Update
The Tengden company displayed a full-size mockup of the TW-356 twin-engine unmanned aerial system designed for the transportation of heavy cargo. TW356 can be configured to carry cargo on four underwing hardpoints, as payloads configured in pods, including cargo delivery, remote sensing, or electronic warfare packages. The company also develops a variant of the drone designed for operation at very high altitudes. The largest variant, TW-765 will be able to carry 22 tons of payload up to 7,500 km.

XY-280 stealthy target drone. Photo by Huanqui
A third drone displayed was the XY-280, claimed to be a highly maneuverable (6G), subsonic target drone designed to simulate adversary F-22/F-35 fighters. It is preprogrammed to fly a fully autonomous flight that mimics the maneuverability and flight characteristics of enemy aircraft. In this capacity it offers realistic training for naval forces and air defense missile units, To maintain the low observable characteristics (0.05-0.1 m2 radar cross-section) of those platforms XY-280 uses stealth design, including two integral payload bays that hint on its potential combat use as a stealthy strike drone. As many other target-drones, the XY-20 is launched from the ground with a rocket booster and is powered by a turbojet engine to a maximum speed of 860 km/h (Mach 0.72). Its length is 4.33 meters, and its wingspan is six meters. At an MTOW of 650 kg, it can carry up to 150 kg of payloads, including sensors and weapons, for missions up to 2 hours. The target drone is designed to sustain up to 25 sorties.

The canted tail and engine exhaust are designed with extensive low observable characteristics minimizing the XY280 radar and thermal signatures. Photo via Huanqiu

New Drones Dominate China's Airshow - Defense Update:

The number of Drone Programs China has is simply mind boggling

 

[Counter-Errorist]

New Drones Dominate China’s Airshow
By
Tamir Eshel
-
Nov 9, 2018
11332

XY-280 stealthy target drone. Photo by Huanqui


The Chinese Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) unveiled at AirshowChina a new jet-powered, long-range UAV called WJ-700. This drone is designed for reconnaissance and attack missions over land and sea. The drone has an endurance of 20 hours. At a maximum takeoff weight of 3,500 kg, it carries weapons and payloads on four underwing hardpoints, two for each wing. Unlike other MALE UAVs that are limited to relatively light weapons, this drone carries standard air to surface attack weapons, such as the CM-102 anti-radiation missile, C701, and C-705KD anti-ship missiles. Other loads include early warning and electronic warfare equipment.

The WJ-700 drone carries standard air to surface attack weapons, such as the CM-102 anti-radiation missile, C701, and C-705KD anti-ship missiles.
Another combat drone (UCAV) unveiled in AirshowChina this year is the stealthy Rainbow CH-7. The tailless flying-wing shaped aircraft displayed by the Chinese is similar to American designs, such as X-47 and X-45. Despite its large size – a wingspan of 22 meters and length of 10 meters, and a maximum takeoff weight of 13 tons, CH-7 is stealthy due to the smoothly curved shapes and use of radar absorbent materials. Designed for operation at subsonic speed and high altitude, CH-7 can reach a maximum speed of 0.75 Mach, cruising at an altitude of 30,000 – 43,000 ft. Its cruising speed is slower though, Mach 0.5 – 0.6, depending on the mission configuration. The drone is powered by a turbofan engine of an unknown type. The drone carries weapons in two internal weapon bays that maintains its low observable characteristics throughout the mission.



Like other drones of the ‘Rainbow’ family, CH-7 supports fully automatic operation, with mission control provided by a universal ground station. Stealth enables the drone to sustain operations in airspace dominated by enemy defenses, radars, and sensors. It can penetrate conduct reconnaissance missions or attack strategic radars, ships, missile sites, command centers, and other key assets.

Another view of the CH-7.

HK-5000G is designed for operation from aircraft carriers
The Chinese Navy is interested in unmanned aircraft for its new aircraft carrier fleet. China currently has one carrier, another is undergoing sea trials, and a third is under construction. Operating unmanned aircraft from the carrier would extend the surveillance and strike range of the surface fleet and improve its ability to maintain persistent surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions without the need for aerial refueling.

The Chinese consider using such drones either independently, or in coordination with fourth-generation combat aircraft. The current CH-7 is designed with fixed wings for operation from a runway, but the developers already explore its use from aircraft carriers, with folding wings.

Another fixed-wing drone proposed for operation from aircraft carriers is the HK-5000G. A model of this UAV designed with folded wings was on display at AirshowChina 2018 by the Aeromarine Intelligent Equipment Company, a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Corp. The drone is designed for maximum takeoff weight of five tons and use launch catapult, as the other aircraft on board. The drone can be used for reconnaissance and strike missions from aircraft carriers. It has an integral ER/IR payload, with weapons carried on two underwing hardpoints.

The JY-300 drone was modified to carry AESA radar arrays embedded in its skin and wing leading edges. Photo via Henri Kenhmann, East Pendulum
Another mission that could be assumed by those drones is Airborne Early Warning and Surveillance (AEW&S), utilizing an innovative radar array developed as a proof of concept and demonstrated by the 38th Institute of the CETC Group. Such a radar was recently flown for the first time. The JY-300 drone called ‘Tian Shao,’ a 1,300 kg MTOW drone designed to carry 400 kg of payload. Currently, the JY-300 is designed to operate for 15-hour missions, fly at a speed of 200 km/h and altitude of 25,000 ft., from a runway on land. The JY-300 can be configured with several AESA arrays, on both sides of the fuselage and wing leading edges.

The CH-10 tilt-rotor VTOL drone was unveiled few days before Airshow China.
Other naval applications are also considered for another member of the Rainbow family – Vertical take-off and landing is one path, already reflected by the CH-10 tilt-rotor drone unveiled at the airshow. With VTOL capability CH-10 is useful for military, law enforcement, and civilian uses, as it can operate from small islands and small maritime platforms.

Future Chinese drones are expected to include platforms that will offer extended range and endurance, aircraft that will operate at high-altitude as well as high-speed, supersonic drones.

FL71 high-speed drone. Photo: via Huanqiu
Some of these designs were shown in scale models at the exhibition. For example, the FL-71 platform depicts a high-speed unmanned aircraft designed for a maximum takeoff weight of three tons, designed for maximum speed of 2,200 km/h (Mach 1.8) at 50,000 ft or high subsonic cruising at 850 km/h. (0.71 Mach) at 30,000 ft, which enables the drone to carry a payload of 100 kg over 800 km on a single mission lasting about one hour, with a mission profile that could include a short supersonic dash.

FL-2 is another drone design optimized for transportation of heavy loads at high speed. At 22-ton MTOW it can fly autonomously up to 900 km/h (0.73 Mach) to a distance of 7,300 km.

The FL-2 will be able to deliver heavy cargo to a distance of 7,500 km. Photo via Huanqiu

A full-size mockup of Tengden TW-365 display at Airshow China 2018 Photo: Defense-Update
The Tengden company displayed a full-size mockup of the TW-356 twin-engine unmanned aerial system designed for the transportation of heavy cargo. TW356 can be configured to carry cargo on four underwing hardpoints, as payloads configured in pods, including cargo delivery, remote sensing, or electronic warfare packages. The company also develops a variant of the drone designed for operation at very high altitudes. The largest variant, TW-765 will be able to carry 22 tons of payload up to 7,500 km.

XY-280 stealthy target drone. Photo by Huanqui
A third drone displayed was the XY-280, claimed to be a highly maneuverable (6G), subsonic target drone designed to simulate adversary F-22/F-35 fighters. It is preprogrammed to fly a fully autonomous flight that mimics the maneuverability and flight characteristics of enemy aircraft. In this capacity it offers realistic training for naval forces and air defense missile units, To maintain the low observable characteristics (0.05-0.1 m2 radar cross-section) of those platforms XY-280 uses stealth design, including two integral payload bays that hint on its potential combat use as a stealthy strike drone. As many other target-drones, the XY-20 is launched from the ground with a rocket booster and is powered by a turbojet engine to a maximum speed of 860 km/h (Mach 0.72). Its length is 4.33 meters, and its wingspan is six meters. At an MTOW of 650 kg, it can carry up to 150 kg of payloads, including sensors and weapons, for missions up to 2 hours. The target drone is designed to sustain up to 25 sorties.

The canted tail and engine exhaust are designed with extensive low observable characteristics minimizing the XY280 radar and thermal signatures. Photo via Huanqiu

New Drones Dominate China's Airshow - Defense Update:

The number of Drone Programs China has is simply mind boggling

That's an impressive range of drones! Won't be long before they start phasing out manned flights.

 

[Counter-Errorist]

https://bit.ly/2Z3euoC

 

[Zulu]

yah @Caprxl kidhar gaib hai hamara drone expert dost ?

 

[Caprxl]

yah @Caprxl kidhar gain hai hamara drone expert dost ?

Am here brother, & not an expert bus aise he kuch crumbs mil jatay hain from here & there

Well, the news is legit, I hinted about it few weeks ago on another thread.

If not for Covid, progress was being made on very fast pace as it (induction) was on very high priority, but still Allhumdulliah boyses are all trained, ready & set

No comments on the package with the UAV, have been asked to stay mum for some time but rest assured it is damn good & operators are very happy with the sensors how they perform & paint the picture.

 

[TsAr]

Am here brother, & not an expert bus aise he kuch crumbs mil jatay hain from here & there

Well, the news is legit, I hinted about it few weeks ago on another thread.

If not for Covid, progress was being made on very fast pace as it (induction) was on very high priority, but still Allhumdulliah boyses are all trained, ready & set

No comments on the package with the UAV, have been asked to stay mum for some time but rest assured it is damn good & operators are very happy with the sensors how they perform & paint the picture.

Would it be possible for you to write something about the capabilities of this drone and its usage?

 

[Caprxl]

I added this in my 1st post before reading your comment,

No comments on the package with the UAV, have been asked to stay mum for some time but rest assured it is damn good & operators are very happy with the sensors how they perform & paint the picture.

Would it be possible for you to write something about the capabilities of this drone and its usage?

To be more specific, cannot say more about capabilities but I can say this about the Usage that it has been decided by higher ups to make Armed Forces including LEAs independent & self sufficient in their own assets/resources.