Chinese unmanned aircraft. After saturating all branches of the armed forces with unmanned aerial vehicles and comprehending the experience of their use, the command of the People's Liberation Army of China set the designers the task of designing highly specialized miniature UAVs designed to solve special tasks. First of all, it was about the development of inconspicuous compact devices intended for use by special-purpose units. Also of great interest was the so-called "kamikaze drones" - small loitering disposable drones carrying an explosive charge. The miniaturization of electronic components and the creation of light, high-capacity electric storage batteries made it possible to begin the creation of vehicles delivered to a given area using a large-caliber multiple launch rocket system. Unmanned robots should be included in the arsenal of warplanes and helicopters. They are supposed to be used for reconnaissance in areas protected by ground air defense systems, as well as in the role of decoys and jammers. Chinese submariners, in turn, expressed interest in a reconnaissance UAV that could be launched through a torpedo tube from a submarine in a submerged position.
Light unmanned reconnaissance aircraft of the PLA Ground Forces
Small, relatively simple drones with an electric motor, equipped with television cameras, are intended for use on the line of contact with the enemy. As a rule, these devices are launched from the hands or from the simplest launcher. Although miniature drones are not so impressive against the background of heavy and medium UAVs shown at the parade dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, their role can hardly be overestimated. Lightweight winged cars with a propeller, similar to children's toys, allow you to look into the folds of the terrain or check the "green" for the presence of an ambush and save the lives of soldiers.
In 2007, the PLA entered service with the CH-802 UAV (export name Rainbow 802). This light-class apparatus was created by specialists from the 701st Research Institute, which is part of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and is intended for use by special forces and in the battalion level of the ground forces.
The device, weighing about 6.5 kg, has a relatively short cylindrical fuselage, a straight wing and a vertical V-shaped tail, placed on a long tail boom. The wing is attached to the rear of the fuselage with a vertical rectangular pylon. The CH-802 UAV is propelled by a two-blade propeller that rotates an electric motor located in the middle of the leading edge of the wing at the level of the support pylon. The drone can take off either from the hand or from a portable rubber catapult and stay aloft for up to 60 minutes. The distance from the control panel is 15 km. The maximum speed is up to 90 km / h. Cruising 50-70 km / h. Ceiling - 4000 m. Patrolling height 300-1000 m.
After returning to the launch area, he lands by parachute. Deployment of the CH-802 complex, consisting of three UAVs, a transmitter and a control panel, takes 30 minutes, preparing the drone for the next flight - no more than 20 minutes. The CH-802 drone and a set of spare parts are carried in one backpack.
The payload of the CH-802 unmanned aerial vehicle uses interchangeable modules in the front of the fuselage. These can be night or day cameras. Video information obtained using the onboard equipment of the UAV CH-802 is transmitted to the ground control station in real time. The entire CH-802 complex, which is designed as a portable one, includes three UAVs, ground control stations and a launch catapult.
Although the CH-802 does not boast very high performance, its main advantages are its low cost and simplicity of design, which has made it widespread in the PLA ground units.
UAV CH-802 is the most widespread light drone of the Chinese army. The PLA also has other devices of this class. More advanced, but somewhat more expensive, is the GY-SMG-220 UAV created by the Beijing company China Eagle Aviation Science and Technology Co. The device is made of carbon fiber and Kevlar. According to the aerodynamic design, this is a high-winged plane with a pushing propeller and a classic tail assembly carried out on a long beam. A lithium rechargeable battery provides energy to the electric motor rotating a three-blade propeller. The device is started manually, landing is carried out on a skid landing gear.
With a fuselage length of 1.2 m, the wingspan of the UAV is 2.2 m. The device with a take-off weight of 5 kg has a practical flight range of 70 km. The battery energy is enough for 40-60 minutes of flight. Maximum speed - up to 90 km / h, cruising speed - 60 km / h. Depending on the specific flight mission, one of the options for replaceable equipment is installed. Despite the small payload weighing 0.5 kg, the drone is capable of aerial photography of the area, visual reconnaissance, and monitoring of the radiation situation. The flight can take place in both remote-controlled and programmed modes.
In 2009, the LT MAV UAV created by AVIC Corporation appeared at the disposal of the Chinese military. This drone is built on a "flying wing" scheme and is launched from a compact portable catapult. Landing takes place on the fuselage.
The takeoff weight of this vehicle with an electric engine is 4 kg. Flight duration - up to 45 minutes. The maximum speed is 90 km / h. The ceiling is 1200 m. Like other drones of this class, the LT MAV is primarily intended for visual observation of the terrain at a distance of several kilometers from its front edge.
Disposable remotely piloted artillery scout Sky Eye
Several years ago it became known that the PRC is developing small disposable drones delivered to a given area by artillery ammunition. Devices of this type are designed to correct artillery fire and target illumination with a laser designator. Apparently, the most successful in this was achieved by the "helicopter" division of the AVIC corporation - China Helicopter Research and Development Institute (CHRDI), whose specialists have created a compact helicopter-type UAV Sky Eye. It is reported that the Sky Eye one-time "artillery drone" is currently undergoing trial operation in the military.
According to information published in the Chinese media, the UAV can be placed in shells with a caliber of at least 155 mm. At the same time, it is obvious that the shot must be sufficiently "soft", which provides for a special design of the artillery ammunition. It is clear that a multiple launch rocket system is best suited as a delivery vehicle for a disposable flying spotting robot. But, judging by the advertising materials published by the AVIC corporation, it is also envisaged to fire from the 155-mm PLZ-04 self-propelled howitzer.
After a shot from an artillery gun or launch of an MLRS rocket, the projectile flies along a ballistic trajectory, and, at the timer signal, at a given point, it opens and brakes with a parachute. When the speed drops to the minimum value, the drone separates from the projectile and deploys the propeller blades, rotated by an electric motor. The device hovers at a certain height and, with the help of a TV camera, begins to search for a target.
Having detected a target on the monitor screen, the operator illuminates it with a laser. Search, tracking and highlighting of both stationary and mobile objects are possible. The battery power of the Sky Eye UAV is enough to detect and illuminate multiple targets.
Development of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft launched from under water
Another promising development is a disposable reconnaissance drone launched through a torpedo tube from a submerged submarine. A model of the XC-1 Flying Shuttle from Civil Aviation University of China (CAUC) was demonstrated in 2012 at the 5th Aircraft Design Competition for the Future China Innovation Cup, held in Beijing.
A drone of a similar purpose is also being developed by the UAV laboratory of the Beijing University of Astronautics and Aeronautics (BUAA). The device resembling the American Lockheed Martin Cormorant was demonstrated in 2013 at the Challenger Cup, organized by the AVIC Corporation. Currently, all the detailed information on the development of drones based on Chinese submarines is classified.
Loitering "kamikaze drones"
As mentioned in the previous part of the review, devoted to Sino-Israeli cooperation in the creation of UAVs, the PLA is armed with the JWS01 loitering ammunition, which is an unlicensed copy of the Israeli "kamikaze drone" Hapry. Chinese disposable UAV JWS01 and its improved version ASN-301 are equipped with broadband passive radar seeker and are designed to destroy enemy air defense systems. Taking into account the global trends in the development of remotely controlled loitering ammunition, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) in 2012 created a disposable miniature UAV CH-901 carrying an explosive charge. Although this device was originally designed as a multipurpose one and could be reused if a reconnaissance module and a parachute rescue system were installed, later on its reusable use was abandoned.
The CH-901 kamikaze drone combines the advantages of an unmanned aerial vehicle and a bomb, and is capable of staying aloft for 40 minutes before detecting an object to attack. Loitering ammunition can be used both during combined arms combat and in anti-terrorist operations. The Chinese portable "killer drone" with an electric motor weighs 9 kg, has a flight range of 15 km and a speed of up to 150 km / h. The minimum loitering speed is 70 km / h. The set, consisting of three transport-launch containers and guidance equipment, weighs 46 kg and can be carried by two military personnel. The resolution capability of the television camera allows detecting targets at a distance of more than 1.5 km from a height of 450 m. The hitting accuracy is 3-5 m. Depending on the combat mission, the device is equipped with a fragmentation or cumulative warhead. The fragmentation warhead has a continuous radius of 6 m, and the cumulative one is capable of penetrating up to 150 mm of homogeneous armor.
In May of this year, at the Civil-Military Integration Expo 2019 arms exhibition held in Beijing, a reconnaissance and strike UAV complex on the chassis of the Yanjing YJ2080C all-terrain vehicle, which can move at speeds of up to 125 km / h, was presented. A module is installed on the roof of the car, similar to a small-sized MLRS installation, with launch tubes of different calibers.
In fact, in the pipes of smaller diameter there are four small reconnaissance UAVs SULA30, which are capable of staying in the air for 1 hour, transmitting data to the operator about the terrain and the location of the enemy. SULA89 "kamikaze drones" are placed in eight larger pipes. The release of unmanned reconnaissance and loitering ammunition occurs with a powder charge. Each unmanned kamikaze carries a warhead weighing more than 2 kilograms and crashes into a target at a speed of 180 kilometers per hour. They can be used to destroy vehicles, light armored vehicles, field fortifications, and enemy manpower. Among the priority targets are command and observation posts, command and staff vehicles, field communication centers, artillery and mortar batteries, as well as military air defense systems. According to information published in the media, all twelve disposable drones can be launched at short intervals, and are able to form a swarm and attack a target almost simultaneously. They can also act alone, consistently destroying various targets on the battlefield. One such unmanned complex is capable of detecting and destroying a small convoy of equipment in the enemy's near rear.
Unmanned reconnaissance aircraft SW6, launched from a helicopter
The Z-11WB reconnaissance and attack helicopter was presented at the Airshow China 2016 aerospace exhibition in Zhuhai, China. One of the main tasks of the new helicopter is to monitor the situation and detect various objects both for the purpose of obtaining reconnaissance data and for carrying out an attack. For this, it is proposed to use optoelectronic equipment capable of monitoring the terrain at any time of the day and in any weather conditions, as well as disposable SW6 UAVs launched from external suspension nodes. When dropped from a carrier helicopter, the device unfolds its wings and begins an independent flight under the control of the operator.
In the front part of the SW6 UAV there are articulated mounts for folding wing consoles equipped with ailerons. There is an additional vertical plane in front of them. Closer to the tail, two more consoles with vertical stabilizers are attached to the hinges. The propeller-driven group is located in the aft fuselage. In the transport position, the high-positioned front wing is folded backward, while its planes lie on the fuselage. The rear wing of a larger span fits under the fuselage, turning forward.
A reconnaissance helicopter equipped with a drone, operating in areas with strong ground air defense, is exposed to less risk and is able to obtain more information. A small-sized UAV has less acoustic, radar and visual signature. If necessary, a module with a jammer can be installed on it to suppress and distract air defense equipment. In theory, such a device is also capable of carrying a small charge of explosives, which expands its combat capabilities.
The Chinese military, border guards and police are increasingly using commercial multi-rotor remotely piloted vehicles to patrol and observe in the near zone. Often, the capabilities of commercial vehicles that are on free sale are quite enough to promptly monitor the perimeter of the protected object in the event of an alarm, or to record the actions of military units and individual servicemen during exercises for subsequent analysis.
Multi-rotor commercial drones in the power structures of the PRC
The Chinese military, border guards and police are increasingly using commercial multi-rotor remotely piloted vehicles to patrol and observe in the near zone. Often, the capabilities of commercial vehicles that are on sale are quite enough to promptly monitor the perimeter of the protected object in the event of an alarm or to record the actions of military units and individual servicemen during exercises for subsequent analysis.
On the civilian market, drones have appeared that can soar in the air for up to 1 hour, move 5 km away from the operator and, in case of loss of communication, independently return to the launch point. Taking into account the fact that quadrocopters are relatively inexpensive, equipped with satellite navigation systems, high-resolution cameras, quickly prepare for flight and do not require highly qualified operators for use, they are popular in the power structures of the PRC. Currently, a large number of models, originally intended for civilian use, are operated in the army, police, border guards and are used by the Chinese special services.
